Varro

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A Roman general and politician known for his role in the Second Punic War and the Battle of Cannae against Hannibal
2. A historical figure representing military strategy and politics in ancient Rome, often studied for his writings on agriculture and warfare
3. An important personality in Roman history, particularly noted for his contributions to military tactics and agricultural literature during the Republic era

Etymology: The Roman general Gaius Terentius Varro, consul in 216 BC, led the army that Hannibal annihilated at Cannae, one of the worst defeats in Rome's history. Livy reports that the Senate nonetheless thanked him for not despairing of the republic. The name was a cognomen, a family nickname, of the Terentius clan. It comes from Latin "varus," meaning "bent" or "bow-legged," and it was likely first given to an ancestor for his legs. The name is best known through Marcus Terentius Varro (116–27 BC), a scholar and writer so prolific that Augustine later called him the most learned of the Romans. He wrote on the Latin language and on farming. "Varro" has survived mainly as a proper name, appearing in English chiefly as a surname and a personal name rather than as a common word.