locus amoenus

noun

A literary motif of an idealised place of safety or comfort, typically comprising a meadow, trees (for shade) and water; sometimes evoking connotations of Eden or Elysium.

OriginLatin locus amoenus →
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Meanings

nounlocus amoenus (plural loci amoeni)

plural loci amoeni

  1. communicationsA literary motif of an idealised place of safety or comfort, typically comprising a meadow, trees (for shade) and water; sometimes evoking connotations of Eden or Elysium.

Origin

  1. Latinlocus amoenus“pleasant place”
  2. Englishlocus amoenus

Learned borrowing from Latin locus amoenus (“pleasant place”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French locus amoenus
  • locus amoenusliterary motif
German locus amoenus
  • locus amoenusliterary motif
Cite this entry
APA

locus amoenus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/locus%20amoenus

MLA

“locus amoenus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/locus%20amoenus. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “locus amoenus,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/locus%20amoenus.

Source: locus amoenus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.