rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryRoot: magnus
Latin

magnus

great or large

Forms

  • magnus
  • magn- — Used before other endings.
  • magni- — Used in some compounds.

Origin

An ancient Indo-European size word with relatives in Greek and Germanic.

Note

Size readily extends to importance, force, or esteem.

6 / 6
noun / adjective

magnum

MAG-num/ˈmæɡnəm/

An unusually powerful firearm cartridge.

Each magnum cartridge lies beside the large revolver designed to fire it.

An isolated still life of a large-frame magnum revolver with its cylinder swung open and two matching cartridges beside it, illustrating the firearm-and-ammunition sense without people.
Etymology
magnumLatingreat or large

Latin magnus conveys greatness in size or power, an idea applied to a powerful handgun. In this sense, the name emphasizes the power of the ammunition or the firearm using it.

In context

Cinemapod37:14
since this is a 44 magnum the most powerful handgun in the world and would blow your head clean off
Dirty Harry: Well do you, punk?

More examples

  • The box holds twenty magnums.
  • This rifle uses magnum ammunition.
  • A magnum revolver is designed for especially powerful cartridges.

Forms

magnum · magnums

Similar words

cartridge
Names an ammunition unit without implying unusually high power.
round
Means one unit of ammunition, regardless of its power.