caput mortuum

English

Etymology

From the Latin caput mortuum (literally “dead head”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈkæpət ˈmɔː(ɹ)tjʊəm/

Noun

caput mortuum (uncountable)

  1. Worthless residue, useless substance.
  2. Cardinal purple, a variety of haematite iron oxide pigment.

Latin

Etymology

Literally, "dead head". Figurative use from alchemical literature.

Noun

caput mortuum n (genitive capitis mortuum); third declension

  1. a dead man's head, a skull
  2. worthless residue, useless substance
    • 1591 "Caput mortuum, ut est apud Paracelsum, sign. materias, quae sunt in fundo vasis chimici" (Antonio Ricciardo, Commentaria symbolica, p. 138)
  3. Cardinal purple, a variety of haematite iron oxide pigment

Inflection

Third declension neuter.

Case Singular Plural
Nominative caput mortuum capita mortuum
Genitive capitis mortuum capitum mortuum
Dative capitī mortuum capitibus mortuum
Accusative caput mortuum capita mortuum
Ablative capite mortuum capitibus mortuum
Vocative caput mortuum capita mortuum
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