English language use, Etymology, Latin Emmett Stone English language use, Etymology, Latin Emmett Stone

2534: aquarium, terrarium, vivarium Nov 20, 2021

In Latin, the word 'aquārius' as either a noun or an adjective referred to anything water-related, including an aquarium (hence the English) but also aqueducts and workers thereon. Still, in its association with artificial animal-enclosures this led to 'terrarium' on the same pattern. Latin also had the word 'vīvārium' which does exist in English but is significantly less common, denoting any sort of enclosure for raising animals.

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