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Definition of claudius

claudius

/ˈklɔː.di.əs/
clau · di · us
Adjective:Claudian
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claudius Lexical Profile

• noun

1

The fourth Roman emperor (Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, 10 BC – AD 54), who ruled from AD 41 to 54 and oversaw the expansion of the Roman Empire, including the conquest of Britain.

Example

"Historians have reevaluated the reign of Claudius, recognizing him as an capable and ambitious administrator despite his physical disabilities."

2

The primary antagonist in William Shakespeare's tragedy Hamlet, who murders his brother to seize the throne of Denmark and marry the queen.

Example

"In the third act of the play, King Claudius reveals his profound guilt while attempting to pray for forgiveness."

3

A monotypic genus of small, aquatic mud and musk turtles (family Kinosternidae) native to southern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala, represented solely by the narrow-bridged musk turtle (Claudius angustatus).

• Nearby Words

clattery
claude
claudia
claudius
clause
claustrophobe
claustrophobia

Word Origin & Etymology

From the Roman family name Claudius, traditionally derived from the Latin adjective claudus, meaning 'lame' or 'limping'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Claudius. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/claudius
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