Translation
cross; torture, torment
Examples
.
A tall cross stood on the hill.
Christus .
Christ died on the cross.
.
He made the sign of the cross over the people.
portabat.
The soldier was carrying the cross through the streets.
damnaverunt.
They condemned the slaves to the cross.
Crux, crucis, f., third declension. The x of the nominative is a spelling of c plus s, so the stem underneath is cruc-, exactly as with rex and lux.
Before it was a symbol it was a method: the most degrading execution Rome had, reserved for slaves, rebels and provincials, and Cicero calls it the extreme and ultimate punishment of slavery. That is why the abusive phrase i in malam crucem, roughly "go and be hanged", worked as an insult. The metaphorical sense "torment" is classical, and it gave English the crux of a problem, the point that will not yield, along with excruciating and crucial. The verb is crucifigo, literally to fasten to a cross.
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crux: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Latin word "crux" (cross; torture, torment): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 6.