English Explanatory Dictionary

hostis humani generis

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A person who has committed a criminal act so grave – originally maritime piracy and slave-trading, and now torture as well – that any nation may put on trial and, upon conviction, punish him or her.

Pronunciation

/ˈhəʊstɪs ˈhjuːməni ˈd͡ʒɛnəɹɪs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-hostis humani generis.wav

Word forms

hostis humani generis hostes humani generis

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin hostis hūmānī generis (“enemy of the human race”): hostis (“enemy of the state”) + hūmānī, genitive singular neuter of hūmānus (“of man”) + generis, genitive singular of genus (“race”).

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