Meaning & use
Tarquin
Last updated
Meanings
proper nounproper
The name of the family of kings that ruled early Rome, last of whom, Tarquin the Proud, was driven out around 509 BC.
Grammar: Capitalized and usually used with a number or title: Tarquin the Proud.
Patterns
- Tarquin the Proud
Tarquin the Proud was the last king of Rome before the Republic began.
Roman writers described the Tarquins as harsh and arrogant rulers.
The revolt against Tarquin ended royal rule in the city.
proper nounproperBritish
A male first name of Latin origin, found mostly in Britain and sometimes associated with upper-class families.
Grammar: Used as a given name: his name is Tarquin.
Tarquin joined the rowing club at university.
In the sitcom, a character called Tarquin is always late for dinner.
Common combinations
- Tarquin the Proud
- Tarquin the Proud lost his throne after a popular uprising.
- the Tarquins
- The Tarquins were an Etruscan-linked royal family.
- the last of the Tarquins
- The last of the Tarquins fled Rome with his family.
- expel Tarquin
- The citizens swore to expel Tarquin and never accept a king again.
Word family
- Tarquinian adjective
- relating to the Tarquin family or its rule
- Tarquinius proper noun
- the Latin form of the name
Commonly confused: Tarquin or Tarquinia?
Tarquin vs Tarquinia
Tarquinia is an Italian town and ancient Etruscan city, not the royal family itself.
Practice
In Roman tradition, who was Tarquin the Proud?
Choose one answer.
Tarquin the Proud was the final king, expelled around 509 BC. The Republic's first consuls came after him, and Romulus is the legendary founder.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Tarquin”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.