Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
ad fontes. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
ad fontes, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
ad fontes in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
ad fontes you have here. The definition of the word
ad fontes will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
ad fontes, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Latin
Etymology
Ad (“to”) + fontēs, accusative plural form of fōns (“fountain”, “spring”, “source”) = literally, “to the springs or sources”; probably drawn from Psalm XLII, verse 1[1] of the Latin Vulgate by Spanish humanists.[2]
Pronunciation
Phrase
ad fontēs
- (idiomatic) Go to the sources: An expression emphasizing the importance of conducting fundamental research and of consulting primary sources.
Usage notes
- A motto of Renaissance humanists. Similarly, the Protestant Reformation called for the return to the Bible as the primary source of Christian faith. The idea in both cases was that sound knowledge depends on the earliest and most fundamental sources.
See also
References