I think the most fans of Ensiferum know that the name means "sword bearer".
But I like the name very much, I like the logo and I like the band, so I want to explain the structure of the word to honour them in a way I can.
The latin word "ensis" means "sword", but it's a very poetic and sophisticated word, mostly used in epics. E.g. it's often found in Vergil's "Aeneis", the most popular latin epic telling the story of Aeneas, the founding father of Roman civilisation.
But back to Ensiferum. All of you know the "normal" latin word for "sword": it's gladius, and he who needed it was called the "gladiator".
The ending -fer always means "bringer of...", "bearer of...". Actually, the male form would be "ensifer" (with the stress on the first "e"), and "ensiferum" (with the stress on the "i") is the neutral form, but for reasons of symmetry the band used that one.
The best known "bringer" is the "bringer of light", better known as "lucifer", but that's another story...
I started with Latin studies this year, and at first I looked up the word Ensiferum in my dictionary, and of course, only Ensifer appeared, and I though Ensiferum was like the Acc case or something (that was after my very first lesson). Now, some months, later, I began curious again, gladly found your blog, and checked again in my dictionary, and behold: it's crystal clear! It's EnsIferum and it's the neutral form, just as you said! :D
AntwortenLöschenBtw, Rhapsody of Fire, in their song Reign of Terror, has some latin in it!
Cheers!