Talk:Novus homo

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[edit] Nouveau riche?

Can novo homo also mean nouveau riche (new rich) or upstart; and is it safe to put it on Wikipedia? To quote the "Pocket Oxford LATIN Dictionary", in the Latin section under "homo" verbatim:

Homo, -inis m human being, person: man, woman; fellow
* novus ~ nouveau riche, upstart.

This meaning can also be found in William's Whitaker's Words which I find very trustworthy, as I have used it for almost a year now, and it has helped me a lot. Also if one googles the words novus homo + nouveau riche one finds many results. So is it safe to add "new rich" as an additional meaning of this phrase? --BiT 13:30, 8 February 2007 (UTC)

I wouldn't consider it safe putting that on this page. I would make 'Noveau Riche' its own page. Being a 'Novus Homo' actually had the very specific definition of being the first in you family to hold the position of consul. 'Noveau Riche' is a more general term referring to those who have only recently become wealthy, specifically later wealthy plebeian families (such as the Sempronii Gracchi) 8:10 3 March 2008 user:Imperator101

Nouveau riche is an economic description whereas novus homo is political. Trimalchio is nouveau riche. Cato is a novus homo.

[edit] Novus Vir?

Wouldn't a new man, in a non condescending tone be novus vir, not novus homo? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.126.148.250 (talk) 18:05, 3 February 2008 (UTC)

Homo, I believe, is used as a reference to man in general where as Vir refers to a specific man (eg that man over there). I believe that to be correct. 8:13 3 March 2008 user:Imperator101

Homo is also used to refer to a "man" in the meaning of a "human being". Although the title of novus homo was only given to males. --BiT (talk) 12:05, 3 March 2008 (UTC)