Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • The form of the Latin language used in scholarly and scientific works since the Renaissance period, approximately after 1500 AD. It is characterized by its use in creating modern scientific terminology and biological nomenclature.

Usage

• New Latin is used primarily as a written language for scientific classification, especially in fields like biology, medicine, and taxonomy. It is not a spoken vernacular but a scholarly tool for creating precise, internationally recognized names.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The species name "Homo sapiens" is a product of New Latin.
  • Many botanical terms are derived from New Latin.

Advanced Usage

• In Taxonomic Nomenclature: New Latin provides the grammatical and lexical rules for naming organisms. For example, the binomial system (Genus species) follows New Latin conventions.
  • The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature mandates the use of New Latin for naming animal taxa.

Variants and Related Words

• Neo-Latin: A synonym for New Latin.
• Scientific Latin: A term sometimes used interchangeably with New Latin, emphasizing its application in the sciences.

Synonyms

• Neo-Latin
• Modern Latin (less common)

Notes on Different Meanings

• This term refers specifically to the historical stage of the Latin language. It is distinct from:
  • Classical Latin: The literary language of the Roman Republic and Empire.
  • Medieval Latin: The Latin used in the Middle Ages.
  • Ecclesiastical Latin: The Latin used by the Roman Catholic Church.

Noun

1. Latin since the Renaissance; used for scientific nomenclature