"alma mater" meaning in Latin

See alma mater in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: [ˈaɫ.ma ˈmaː.tɛr] [Classical-Latin], [ˈal.ma ˈmaː.ter] (note: modern Italianate Ecclesiastical)
Etymology: From alma (“nourishing”) + māter (“mother”). Etymology templates: {{ety|la|:af|alma<t:nourishing>|māter<t:mother>|text=+|title=alma māter|tree=1}} [nourishing]]", "children" : [ ], "lang_name" : "Latin", "term" : "alma", "status" : "missing", "lang" : "la" }, { "gloss" : "mother", "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "id" : "mother", "children" : [ { "terms" : [ { "id" : "mother", "children" : [ ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Indo-European", "term" : "*méh₂tēr", "lang" : "ine-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "status" : "ok", "lang_name" : "Proto-Italic", "term" : "*mātēr", "lang" : "itc-pro" } ], "keyword_label" : "Inherited from", "keyword" : "inherited" } ], "lang_name" : "Latin", "term" : "māter", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "la" } ], "keyword_label" : "From", "is_group" : true, "keyword" : "affix" } ], "lang_name" : "Latin", "term" : "alma māter", "status" : "ok", "lang" : "la" }" data-lang="la" data-title="alma māter"> From alma (“nourishing”) + māter (“mother”). Head templates: {{la-noun|alma<+> māter<3.F>}} alma māter f (genitive almae mātris); third declension Inflection templates: {{la-ndecl|alma<+> māter<3.F>}} Forms: alma māter [canonical, feminine], almae mātris [genitive], no-table-tags [table-tags], alma māter [nominative, singular], almae mātrēs [nominative, plural], almae mātris [genitive, singular], almārum mātrum [genitive, plural], almae mātrī [dative, singular], almīs mātribus [dative, plural], almam mātrem [accusative, singular], almās mātrēs [accusative, plural], almā mātre [ablative, singular], almīs mātribus [ablative, plural], alma māter [singular, vocative], almae mātrēs [plural, vocative]
  1. (Ancient Rome) mother goddess Tags: Ancient-Rome, declension-3
    Sense id: en-alma_mater-la-noun-t~oBLRDI Categories (other): Ancient Rome, Pages with 5 entries, Pages with entries, Latin entries referencing missing etymons, Latin entries with etymology texts, Latin entries with etymon, Latin entries with incorrect language header, Latin feminine nouns in the third declension, Pages using etymon with no ID, Pages with etymon Disambiguation of Pages with 5 entries: 9 2 38 20 2 6 17 6 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 5 1 47 11 1 8 19 7 Disambiguation of Latin entries referencing missing etymons: 82 14 5 Disambiguation of Latin entries with etymology texts: 78 17 5 Disambiguation of Latin entries with etymon: 84 12 4 Disambiguation of Latin entries with incorrect language header: 87 10 3 Disambiguation of Latin feminine nouns in the third declension: 38 45 16 Disambiguation of Pages using etymon with no ID: 38 28 3 7 18 6 Disambiguation of Pages with etymon: 38 28 3 7 18 6
  2. (Medieval Christianity) Virgin Mary Tags: Medieval, declension-3
    Sense id: en-alma_mater-la-noun-JwmtM5Y6 Categories (other): Latin feminine nouns in the third declension Disambiguation of Latin feminine nouns in the third declension: 38 45 16 Topics: Christianity
  3. (Medieval Latin) university Tags: Medieval-Latin, declension-3
    Sense id: en-alma_mater-la-noun-rbpsDsio Categories (other): Medieval Latin, Latin feminine nouns in the third declension Disambiguation of Latin feminine nouns in the third declension: 38 45 16
{
  "etymology_links": [
    [
      "nourishing",
      "nourishing"
    ],
    [
      "mother",
      "mother"
    ],
    [
      "alma",
      "alma#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "nourishing",
      "nourishing"
    ],
    [
      "māter",
      "mater#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "mother",
      "mother"
    ]
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "alma<t:nourishing>",
        "4": "māter<t:mother>",
        "text": "+",
        "title": "alma māter",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "[nourishing]]\", \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"alma\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"la\" }, { \"gloss\" : \"mother\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"mother\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"mother\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*méh₂tēr\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*mātēr\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"māter\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"alma māter\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" }\" data-lang=\"la\" data-title=\"alma māter\">\nFrom alma (“nourishing”) + māter (“mother”).",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From alma (“nourishing”) + māter (“mother”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "alma māter",
      "links": [
        [
          "alma",
          "almus"
        ],
        [
          "māter",
          "mater"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "canonical",
        "feminine"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almae mātris",
      "links": [
        [
          "almae mātris",
          "almae matris"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "genitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "no-table-tags",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "table-tags"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "la-ndecl",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "inflection-template"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "alma māter",
      "links": [
        [
          "alma māter",
          "alma mater#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "nominative",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almae mātrēs",
      "links": [
        [
          "almae mātrēs",
          "almae matres#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "nominative",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almae mātris",
      "links": [
        [
          "almae mātris",
          "almae matris#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "genitive",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almārum mātrum",
      "links": [
        [
          "almārum mātrum",
          "almarum matrum#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "genitive",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almae mātrī",
      "links": [
        [
          "almae mātrī",
          "almae matri#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "dative",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almīs mātribus",
      "links": [
        [
          "almīs mātribus",
          "almis matribus#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "dative",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almam mātrem",
      "links": [
        [
          "almam mātrem",
          "almam matrem#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "accusative",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almās mātrēs",
      "links": [
        [
          "almās mātrēs",
          "almas matres#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "accusative",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almā mātre",
      "links": [
        [
          "almā mātre",
          "alma matre#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "ablative",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almīs mātribus",
      "links": [
        [
          "almīs mātribus",
          "almis matribus#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "ablative",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "alma māter",
      "links": [
        [
          "alma māter",
          "alma mater#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "singular",
        "vocative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almae mātrēs",
      "links": [
        [
          "almae mātrēs",
          "almae matres#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "plural",
        "vocative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "alma<+> māter<3.F>"
      },
      "expansion": "alma māter f (genitive almae mātris); third declension",
      "name": "la-noun"
    }
  ],
  "inflection_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "alma<+> māter<3.F>"
      },
      "name": "la-ndecl"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Latin",
  "lang_code": "la",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "la",
          "name": "Ancient Rome",
          "orig": "la:Ancient Rome",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "9 2 38 20 2 6 17 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 5 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "5 1 47 11 1 8 19 7",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "82 14 5",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Latin entries referencing missing etymons",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "78 17 5",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Latin entries with etymology texts",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "84 12 4",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Latin entries with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "87 10 3",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Latin entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "38 45 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Latin feminine nouns in the third declension",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "38 28 3 7 18 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages using etymon with no ID",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "38 28 3 7 18 6",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with etymon",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "mother goddess"
      ],
      "id": "en-alma_mater-la-noun-t~oBLRDI",
      "links": [
        [
          "Ancient Rome",
          "Ancient Rome"
        ],
        [
          "mother goddess",
          "mother goddess"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(Ancient Rome) mother goddess"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Ancient-Rome",
        "declension-3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "38 45 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Latin feminine nouns in the third declension",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Virgin Mary"
      ],
      "id": "en-alma_mater-la-noun-JwmtM5Y6",
      "links": [
        [
          "Virgin Mary",
          "Virgin Mary"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(Medieval Christianity) Virgin Mary"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Medieval",
        "declension-3"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "Christianity"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Medieval Latin",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "38 45 16",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Latin feminine nouns in the third declension",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "university"
      ],
      "id": "en-alma_mater-la-noun-rbpsDsio",
      "links": [
        [
          "university",
          "university"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(Medieval Latin) university"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Medieval-Latin",
        "declension-3"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "[ˈaɫ.ma ˈmaː.tɛr]",
      "tags": [
        "Classical-Latin"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[ˈal.ma ˈmaː.ter]",
      "note": "modern Italianate Ecclesiastical"
    }
  ],
  "word": "alma mater"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "Latin compound terms",
    "Latin entries referencing missing etymons",
    "Latin entries with etymology texts",
    "Latin entries with etymon",
    "Latin entries with incorrect language header",
    "Latin feminine nouns",
    "Latin feminine nouns in the third declension",
    "Latin lemmas",
    "Latin multiword terms",
    "Latin nouns",
    "Latin terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European word *méh₂tēr",
    "Latin terms with IPA pronunciation",
    "Latin third declension nouns",
    "Pages using etymon with no ID",
    "Pages with 5 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Pages with etymon"
  ],
  "etymology_links": [
    [
      "nourishing",
      "nourishing"
    ],
    [
      "mother",
      "mother"
    ],
    [
      "alma",
      "alma#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "nourishing",
      "nourishing"
    ],
    [
      "māter",
      "mater#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "mother",
      "mother"
    ]
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "alma<t:nourishing>",
        "4": "māter<t:mother>",
        "text": "+",
        "title": "alma māter",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "[nourishing]]\", \"children\" : [ ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"alma\", \"status\" : \"missing\", \"lang\" : \"la\" }, { \"gloss\" : \"mother\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"mother\", \"children\" : [ { \"terms\" : [ { \"id\" : \"mother\", \"children\" : [ ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Indo-European\", \"term\" : \"*méh₂tēr\", \"lang\" : \"ine-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang_name\" : \"Proto-Italic\", \"term\" : \"*mātēr\", \"lang\" : \"itc-pro\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"Inherited from\", \"keyword\" : \"inherited\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"māter\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" } ], \"keyword_label\" : \"From\", \"is_group\" : true, \"keyword\" : \"affix\" } ], \"lang_name\" : \"Latin\", \"term\" : \"alma māter\", \"status\" : \"ok\", \"lang\" : \"la\" }\" data-lang=\"la\" data-title=\"alma māter\">\nFrom alma (“nourishing”) + māter (“mother”).",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From alma (“nourishing”) + māter (“mother”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "alma māter",
      "links": [
        [
          "alma",
          "almus"
        ],
        [
          "māter",
          "mater"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "canonical",
        "feminine"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almae mātris",
      "links": [
        [
          "almae mātris",
          "almae matris"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "genitive"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "no-table-tags",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "table-tags"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "la-ndecl",
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "inflection-template"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "alma māter",
      "links": [
        [
          "alma māter",
          "alma mater#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "nominative",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almae mātrēs",
      "links": [
        [
          "almae mātrēs",
          "almae matres#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "nominative",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almae mātris",
      "links": [
        [
          "almae mātris",
          "almae matris#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "genitive",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almārum mātrum",
      "links": [
        [
          "almārum mātrum",
          "almarum matrum#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "genitive",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almae mātrī",
      "links": [
        [
          "almae mātrī",
          "almae matri#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "dative",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almīs mātribus",
      "links": [
        [
          "almīs mātribus",
          "almis matribus#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "dative",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almam mātrem",
      "links": [
        [
          "almam mātrem",
          "almam matrem#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "accusative",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almās mātrēs",
      "links": [
        [
          "almās mātrēs",
          "almas matres#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "accusative",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almā mātre",
      "links": [
        [
          "almā mātre",
          "alma matre#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "ablative",
        "singular"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almīs mātribus",
      "links": [
        [
          "almīs mātribus",
          "almis matribus#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "ablative",
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "alma māter",
      "links": [
        [
          "alma māter",
          "alma mater#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "singular",
        "vocative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "almae mātrēs",
      "links": [
        [
          "almae mātrēs",
          "almae matres#Latin"
        ]
      ],
      "source": "declension",
      "tags": [
        "plural",
        "vocative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "alma<+> māter<3.F>"
      },
      "expansion": "alma māter f (genitive almae mātris); third declension",
      "name": "la-noun"
    }
  ],
  "inflection_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "alma<+> māter<3.F>"
      },
      "name": "la-ndecl"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Latin",
  "lang_code": "la",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "la:Ancient Rome"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "mother goddess"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Ancient Rome",
          "Ancient Rome"
        ],
        [
          "mother goddess",
          "mother goddess"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(Ancient Rome) mother goddess"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Ancient-Rome",
        "declension-3"
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "Virgin Mary"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Virgin Mary",
          "Virgin Mary"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(Medieval Christianity) Virgin Mary"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Medieval",
        "declension-3"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "Christianity"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Medieval Latin"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "university"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "university",
          "university"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(Medieval Latin) university"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "Medieval-Latin",
        "declension-3"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "[ˈaɫ.ma ˈmaː.tɛr]",
      "tags": [
        "Classical-Latin"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "[ˈal.ma ˈmaː.ter]",
      "note": "modern Italianate Ecclesiastical"
    }
  ],
  "word": "alma mater"
}

Download raw JSONL data for alma mater meaning in Latin (5.1kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Latin dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-10-03 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-09-02 using wiktextract (1a05e46 and e3d6d4e). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.