rubicon

rubicon · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*h₁rewdʰ-“red”
2. Latin · derived fromRubicō
3. English todayrubicon

The noun is derived from the phrase cross the Rubicon (“to make an irreversible decision or to take an action with consequences”). Julius Caesar’s crossing of the Rubicon, a small river in northeastern Italy, on 10 January 49 B.C.E., indicated his intention to start a civil war with Pompey. Rubicon is derived from Latin Rubicō, Rubicōn (“the Rubicon”), possibly from rubeus (“red, reddish”), from rubeō (“to be red”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rewdʰ- (“red”), an allusion to the colour of the river caused by mud deposits. The verb is derived from the noun.

Rubicon · proper noun, noun²

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*h₁rewdʰ-“red”
2. Latin · derived fromRubicō
3. English todayRubicon

From Latin Rubicō, Rubicōn (“the Rubicon”), possibly from rubeus (“red, reddish”), from rubeō (“to be red”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁rewdʰ- (“red”), an allusion to the colour of the river caused by mud deposits.

Words from the same roots