[ˈpɛ.kʊs], [ˈpɛː.kus]
OrigoFrom Proto-Italic *pekos, from Proto-Indo-European *péḱ-os (“livestock”). Related to pecū, from Proto-Indo-European *peḱu- (“livestock, domestic animals”). Cognates include Sanskrit पशु (páśu, “cattle”), Old Armenian ասր (asr, “fleece”), Old Saxon fehu, Old English feoh, Gothic 𐍆𐌰𐌹𐌷𐌿 (faihu), Old Norse fé, Swedish fä and Lithuanian pēkus (“cattle”).
The origin of the suffixal -d- in pecus ~ pecudis is unknown.
- declension-3, neuterA group of large domestic animals: a herd of cattle, horses, or donkeys; such animals in a collective sense: cattle and equines.
“1st century bc, M. Terentius Varro, Rerum Rusticarum, Book II, Ch. 1, §12” — ...there is a knowledge of tending and feeding livestock so that the greatest profit is siezed from it... It has nine parts, three divisions of three items each, such that one is about the lesser dome
“1st century bc, G. Iulius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Book. VI, Ch. vi” — Caesar... enters their country in three divisions, burns their houses and villages, and gets possession of a large number of animals and men.
- declension-3, figuratively, neuterAny other group of animals, imagined as a herd or flock; such animals collectively: beasts.
“1st century, L. Iunius Moderatus Columella, De Re Rustica, Book VIII, Ch. iv” — ...volatile pecus...
...flying herd [i.e., birds]...
“1st century, L. Iunius Moderatus Columella, De Re Rustica, Book VIII, Ch. xvii, Sect. 7” — With our 'stables' arranged on this principle, we will lead in our watery 'herd' [i.e., fish]...
- Late-Latin, declension-3, neuterAny individual animal, conceived as a member or usual member of a flock or herd.
- declension-3, feminineA single herd animal, especially a head of cattle, a horse.
- declension-3, feminineA single animal, a beast, especially smaller livestock or livestock taken generally.
“1st century bc, M. Terentius Varro, Rerum Rusticarum, Book II, Ch. 1, §12” — ...there is a knowledge of tending and feeding livestock so that the greatest profit is siezed from it... It has nine parts, three divisions of three items each, such that one is about the lesser dome
“29 bc. Vergil. Georgics, III
omne adeo genvs in terris hominvmqve ferarvmqve
et genvs æqvorevm pecvdes pictæqve volvcres
in fvrias ignemqve rvvnt
So far does every species on earth of man and beast,
w”
- form-of, genitive, singulargenitive singular of pecū̆
Formaepecoris(genitive) · pecus(nominative, singular) · pecora(nominative, plural) · pecoris(genitive, singular) · pecorum(genitive, plural) · pecorī(dative, singular) · pecoribus(dative, plural) · pecus(accusative, singular) · pecora(accusative, plural) · pecore(ablative, singular) · pecoribus(ablative, plural) · pecus(singular, vocative) · pecora(plural, vocative) · pecudis(genitive) · pecudēs(nominative, plural) · pecudis(genitive, singular) · pecudum(genitive, plural) · pecudī(dative, singular) · pecudibus(dative, plural) · pecudem(accusative, singular)
Fons: Vicitionarium