Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Verbum Hodiernum: REGNUM
Today's word is the noun, REGNUM, from the noun root rex (reg-). The basic meaning of regnum is "kingdom," the thing that is ruled by the king (quod rex regit). By metaphorical extension, it also comes to mean other kinds of authority and dominion, not just that exercised by a king. By a different metaphorical extension, the word regnum can also refer to a place, the place (or people) ruled by a particular king.
Via Old French reigne, the Latin regnum gives us the word "reign" in English. You can also see the Latin word unaltered in the English word "interregnum."
From the noun root in regnum, Latin derives the related verb regnare, "to reign, be king," and also in the more general sense, "to dominate, conquer."
Here are some sayings and proverbs that use today's word, regnum, and also regnare:
Peritura regna omnia.
Regna custodit metus.
Florent concordia regna.
Discordia dilabuntur regna.
Regnum non capit duos.
Idem regnum non fert duos tyrannos.
Nulla fides regni sociis.
Omne regnum divisum desolaretur.
Iniqua numquam regna perpetuo manent.
Columna regni sapientia.
Rex imperator in regno suo.
Potius est felicitas regno.
Quaerite primum regnum Dei.
Effugere cupiditatem regnum est vincere.
Deum cole, regnum serva.
Vae regno cuius rex puer est.
Divide et regna.
Divide ut regnes.
Si vis regnare, divide.
Sola pecunia regnat.
Nummus regnat ubique.
Regnant qualibet urbe lupi.
Ubi Bacchus regnat, Venus saltat.
Aliud regnum alios mores postulat.
Nescit regnare, qui nescit dissimulare.
Legem servare est regnare.
Deo servire regnare est.
Rex regnat, sed non gubernat.
Inter pygmaeos regnat nanus.
Inter caecos regnat luscus.
In caecorum regno regnant strabones.
Monoculus rex in regno caecorum.
Beati monoculi in regno caecorum.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Verbum Hodiernum: NOS
Today's word is the first-person plural personal pronoun, NOS. The nominative and accusative forms are nos, and the dative and ablative forms are nobis. Note also that with the preposition cum the resulting combination is nobiscum, as in the phrase Pax vobiscum.
For the genitive, nostrum is the most common form as you can see in these phrases: nostrum Fortuna, "our Fortune," domus nostrum, "our house." However, when the genitive is being used objectively in relation to a verb or verbal noun, you will find the form nostri; for example, miserere nostri, "have mercy on us."
As you can guess, these genitive forms are actually derived not from the pronoun itself, but from the possessive adjective: noster, nostra, nostrum.
In English, you can see some glimpses of these Latin words, as in the word "paternoster" which comes from the first words of the Lord's Prayer in Latin: Pater noster, qui es in caelis. There is also an English word "nostrum," which is short for the Latin phrase nostrum remedium, and it refers to any kind of quack remedy or home remedy.
Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more information, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below, as well as additional proverbs:
Non mihi, non tibi, sed nobis.
Non nobis, sed omnibus.
Nos iubere volumus, non iuberi.
Frater est amicus quem nobis dedit Natura.
Si Deus pro nobis, quis contra nos?
Nemo enim nostrum sibi vivit.
Omnia vincit amor, et nos cedamus amori.
Hora horis cedit; pereunt sic tempora nobis.
Nos duo turba sumus.
Tempora mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis.
Omnia mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis.
Adhuc aliquis deus respicit nos.
Uterque nostrum idem simul trahit iugum.
Ultima nos omnes efficit hora pares.
Patria est communis omnium nostrum parens.
Non nobis solum nati sumus.
Non nobis nascimur.
Vita est nobis aliena magistra.
Aliena nobis, nostra plus aliis placent.
Quis nostrum sine vitiis est?
Friday, November 26, 2010
Verbum Hodiernum: ITAQUE
Today's word is ITAQUE, a word that may be most familiar to you from the vociferous arguments about its pronunciation on the various Latin online discussion boards.
Here's an overview of the problem:
There is a Latin adverb ita, meaning "thus" or "so," and like any other word in Latin, you can add the particle -que on to the end of the word. The result: ita-que, meaning "and thus" or "and so." Most people pronounce this with the stress on the second syllable, itáque, following the rule for the pronunciation of enclitics (although this is a rule people love to argue about).
There is also itaque regarded as a word of its own where -que is no longer supplying the additive sense of "and" (as also in denique, undique, etc.). The meaning of the word is still essentially the same as ita ("thus," "so," "therefore," etc.), but it is no longer carrying out the function of providing a conjunction between two clauses. Because the -que is not perceived as an enclitic, the stress is on the first syllable: ítaque.
Now, I am not the kind of person to worry about Latin pronunciation ... but for those of you who do worry about it, whenever you see itaque in a text at the beginning of a clause, you have to ask yourself: is this ita-que (itáque), or is it itaque (ítaque)...? Based on the context, is there a need for itaque to be doing the work of a conjunction (itáque), or is it just expressing a sense of logical consequence or conclusion (ítaque)? If the word itaque appears anywhere other than in first position in the sentence or clause, you can safely assume you're dealing with ítaque, but if you're looking at the beginning of a clause or sentence you need to study its connection to the previous clause or sentence and see what connection there might be.
Just practically speaking, though, when in doubt, pronounce the word ítaque, and no one is likely to be offended (although, when it comes to Latin pronunciation, there are some folks out there - mirabile visu - who have a powerful desire to be offended no matter what you might say).
Here are some examples of itaque in some Latin proverbs and sayings:
Vigilate itaque, quia nescitis diem, neque horam.
Optimum est itaque ad primum mali sensum mederi sibi.
Concupiscentia itaque sapientiae deducit ad regnum perpetuum.
Remota itaque iustitia, quid sunt regna nisi magna latrocinia?
Of course, because a word like itaque is more commonly found in the flow of ideas from sentence to sentence, you won't find many examples in the proverbs. So, to make up for that lack, here are ten very short Aesop's fables that show the use of itaque. These fables are taken from my Mille Fabulae et Una book (available in PDF format gratis here), so the numbering follows the numbering in that book:
141. Hyaenae, Masculus et Femina
Hyaenas singulis annis naturam mutare ferunt, et qui modo mas fuit, deinde in feminam converti. Cum olim itaque hyaena masculus contra Naturae leges cum femina coire vellet, “Heus tu,” illa ait, “ne quid tale facias; haec eadem enim mox ipse patieris.”
191. Castor et Venator
Castor est animal in paludibus sese nutriens, cuius testiculi variis medelis utiles esse dicuntur. Itaque cum quispiam eum sequitur, venationis causam non ignorans, fugit ad speluncam ubi, ab hominum conspectu canumque odoratu securus, testes dentibus exscindit et venatoribus appropinquantibus relinquit, et hoc pacto se securum praestat.
249. Asinus Res Sacras Portans
Asinus quidam res sacras portabat, ratus sese venerari homines. Itaque erectus incedebat, tamquam sibi tus illud atque carmina acciperet. Cuius errorem cum mox vidit aliquis, “Mi asine,” inquit, “istam vanitatem tibi excute. Non te, sed istas res sacras caerimoniis colunt; isti divo haec religio debetur.”
439. Corvus et Vulpes Mortem Simulans
Esuriens vulpes, ut aliquam simplicem avem fallere posset, abiecit se in viam, quasi mortua esset, ne vererentur illae advolare ad se. Corvus autem intuitus illam diligentius, spirare vulpem animadvertit. Itaque circumvolitans, “Non meus,” inquit, “oculus minus est subdolus quam cor tuum.”
584. Crocodilus et Homicida
Caedem quidam fecerat, eumque propterea hominis interfecti cognati persequebantur. Ad Nilum itaque cum pervenisset, leonem obvium videns ac timore correptus, in arborem adscendit. Ibi vero cum anguem summis in ramis delitescentem invenisset, novo metu perculsus, se in flumen proiecit, ibique a crocodilo devoratus est.
600. Rana et Leo
Ranam magna vi crocitantem cum leo olim audisset, ad eam vocem protinus sese convertit, magnum aliquod animal esse arbitratus. Paulisper itaque cum substitisset, ubi illam ex palude prodeuntem adspexit, accedens illico proculcavit, haec intra se aiens, “Neminem, re nondum perspecta, vox audita conturbet; nec quispiam, antequam viderit, ab ullo deterreatur.”
611. Ranae Duae et Puteus
Ranae duae in palude quadam degebant. Aestivis autem diebus cum arefacta palus esset, ea relicta, sibi aliam quaesiverunt. Nec longius progressae, profundum puteum invenere. Altera itaque, ut eo una descenderent, proponebat; sed altera “Verum,” inquit, “si hic etiam aqua defecerit, quonam pacto remeare poterimus?”
616. Serpens et Feles
Serpens et feles in quadam domo pugnabant. Inquilini itaque mures, qui ab utrisque continuo devorabantur, ubi decertantes eos videre, cavis illico exiere suis. Ipsi vero simul ac mures videre, iris sepositis proeliisque dimissis, omnes in illos conversi sunt.
655. Cicada et Auceps
Auceps, audita cicada, magnam aliquam praedam capturum se speravit, quam, cum forte praeteriret, aestimabat ex cantu. Sed cum arte adhibita cepisset, nihil quidem praeter cicadae cantum reportavit. Tunc itaque opinionem incusavit, quod mendax multis in rebus ferret iudicium.
766. Iuppiter et Apollo
Iuppiter et Apollo de iaculandi arte contendebant. Phoebus itaque cum arcum intendisset sagittamque emisisset, Iuppiter tantum spatii uno gressu confecit quantum Apollinis emissa sagitta.
773. Iuppiter et Serpens
Cum Iuppiter nuptias celebraret, animalia cuncta, suis quaeque pro viribus, ei munera obtulerunt. Serpens itaque, rosam decerptam ore ferens, ad Iovem accessit, qui simul ac eum vidit, “Ceterorum,” inquit, “omnium dona excipio, sed tuo ab ore nihil prorsus sumo.”
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Verbum Hodiernum: INQUAM
Today's word is the defective verb INQUAM, "I say," with these additional commonly found forms: inquit and inquiunt.
You can think about the third-person form inquit as being something like quotation marks in verbal form, since the verb is usually used to signal the presence of quoted direct speech.
Meanwhile, the first-person form inquam is used to add emphasis.
Since these verbs are not commonly found in proverbs, here are ten very short Aesop's fables that show the use of inquit. These fables are taken from my Mille Fabulae et Una book (available in PDF format gratis here), so the numbering follows the numbering in that book:
3. Leo Furens et Caprea
Conspecto leone furente, “O miseram et infelicem conditionem bestiarum,” inquit caprea, “siquidem etiam furiosos habiturae sumus leones, quorum mentis et rationis compotum saevitiam intolerabilem esse experimur.”
37. Vulpes et Uva
Vulpes, extrema fame coacta, uvam appetebat, ex alta vite dependentem. Quam cum summis viribus saliens attingere non posset, tandem discedens, “Nondum matura est,” inquit; “nolo acerbam sumere.”
56. Vulpes et Asinus Pelle Leonis Indutus
Asinus, pelle leonis indutus, per nemora, reliqua bruta perterrens, vagabatur. Vulpe autem conspecta, ipsi quoque timorem iniicere conatus est. Sed haec, ubi casu eius vocem audivit, “Scias velim,” inquit, “quod et ego te sane pertimuissem, nisi rudentem audivissem.”
84. Lupus et Pastorum Convivium
Pastores, caesa ove, convivium celebrabant. Quod cum lupus cerneret, “Ego,” inquit, “si agnum rapuissem, quantus tumultus fieret, at isti impune ovem comedunt!” Tum unus illorum “Nos enim,” inquit, “nostra, non aliena, ove epulamur.”
100. Lupus Monachus
Lupus, in senium deductus, cum non amplius venari posset, sese religioni addixit, sumptoque monachi habitu, cibum ostiatim mendicabat. Reprehensus ab alio lupo, “Quid vis,” inquit, “faciam? Dentes deciderunt, currere non valeo, quare aliter vivere posse diffido.”
133. Ursus et Apes
Ursus, ab ape ictus, tanta ira incensus est ut alvaria unguibus discerperet. Tunc autem apes universae ursum aggressae sunt aculeis et paene necaverunt. Cum vix effugisset, secum “Sane,” inquit, “melius erat unius apis tolerare aculeum quam tot in me hostes excitare iracundia mea.”
201. Mus in Olla
In ollam iusculi plenam quae carebat operculo, mus cecidit et, suffocatus adipe, iamque expirans animam, “Edi,” inquit, “bibique, et cunctis implevi me cibis. Mihi tempus est mori.”
217. Asinus et Lyra
Asinus lyram vidit in prato iacentem; accessit et chordas temptavit ungula. Tactae, sonuere. “Bella res, mehercules, male cessit,” inquit, “quia artis sum nescius. Si hanc reperisset aliquis prudentior, divinis cantibus aures oblectasset.”
230. Asina Aegrota et Lupus
Febri correptam et graviter laborantem asinam, cum morbus saevus esset, invisit lupus et, tangens aestuans corpus illius, ubi doleret potissimum interrogat. “Ibi,” inquit asina, “vel tantum vel maxime dolet, ubi tu me contingis.”
272. Equus et Equiso Eius
Hordeum equi surreptum divendens, equiso eum quotidie et comere et perfricare solebat. At equus “Heus tu,” inquit, “si vere me pulchrum esse cupis, hordeum, quo nutrior, quaeso ne vendas.”
Meanwhile, here's a fable that shows the use of emphatic inquam:
260. Equus Superbus et Asinus
Equus phaleris sellaque ornatus cum ingenti hinnitu per viam currebat. Currenti onustus asellus forte obstabat, cui equus, fremebundus, “Quid,” inquit, “ignave, obsistis equo? Cede, inquam, aut te proculcabo pedibus!” Asellus, rudere non ausus, cedit tacitus. Equo provolanti crepat inguen. Tum, cursui inutilis, ornamentis spoliatur. Postea cum carro venientem asinus affatur, “Heus, mi amice! Quis ille ornatus est? Ubi aurea sella? Ubi splendidum frenum? Sic, amice, necesse fuit evenire superbienti.”
Monday, November 22, 2010
Verbum Hodiernum: LEX
Today's word is the noun LEX (genitive singular, lēgis - feminine). Etymologically, the word is possibly related to the verb ligare, "to bind," which makes sense, given that laws are binding! Consider, for example, this saying: Ex aequo lex alligat omnes. For other possible etymologies of the Latin word, see the comments to this post at the Dennis McHenry's Campus blog.
As you can see from the genitive form, the root of the word lex is lēg- with a long ē. Compare for example the verbs legere and lēgare. The verb legere (with a short e) means "to gather, collect," etc. The verb lēgare, on the other hand, has the same root as lex, and it means "to send as an ambassador or deputy" or "to bequeath as a legacy."
The English words derived from this Latin word are innumerable: "legal," "legislature," "legitimate," "legacy," etc. Via French, we even get "loyalty," via Old French loial from Latin legalis. One thing that is tricky, though, is that there are also English words derived from the Latin verb legere, which can lead to some confusion as to just which Latin word you might be dealing with! So, for example, the English word "privilege" is from the Latin lēg- root (a law for just one person), while the English word "sacrilege" is from the leg- root (someone who gathers up and steals sacred things).
Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more information, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below, as well as additional proverbs:
Habet et bellum suas leges.
A Deo rex, a rege lex.
Novus rex, nova lex.
Rex est lex.
Legem non habentes, ipsi sibi sunt lex.
Plus legibus arma valent.
Quid leges sine moribus?
Ibi valet populus, ubi valent leges.
Rex est lex vivens.
Legis manus longa.
Amor legem non habet.
Ex malis moribus fiunt bonae leges.
Aurum lex sequitur.
Lumen Dei, lex diei.
Dura lex, sed lex.
Durum est, sed ita lex scripta est.
Patere legem, quam ipse tuleris.
Cedant arma legibus.
Arma nesciunt leges.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Verbum Hodiernum: SECUNDUS
Today's word is the adjective SECUNDUS, which literally means "following" (from the verb sequi) but which comes to mean "second" in the sense that the second thing follows the first thing. The word can also have the metaphorical sense of being secondary in quality, inferior.
By means of a nautical metaphor, it can also mean "favorable," in the sense that winds (or currents of water) which follow the same course as your ship favor your journey, making it easier. From this metaphor, the word can refer to anything or anyone that is supportive, favorable, etc.
The neuter form, secundum, is used as a preposition taking the accusative, meaning "following, according to." For example, the gospels are sometimes referred to as Secundum Lucam, Secundum Marcam, etc.
The English use of "second" as a measure of time is not something that was known to the Romans. The English "second" dates to the late 14th century in English, from the Old French seconde, from Medieval Latin secunda in the phrase secunda pars minuta, "the second part made small," which is to say, "the second minute" - the prima pars minuta being what we call a "minute" in English today.
Here are some Latin sayings and proverbs and that use today's word:
Dis secundis.
Ventis secundis.
Secundis dubiisque rectus.
In secundis time, in adversis spera.
Fidem secunda poscunt, adversa exigunt.
Amicos res secundae parant, adversa probant.
Invidia est aegritudo ex alterius rebus secundis.
Ex adversis secunda, ex secundis adversa nascuntur.
Nemo confidat nimium secundis.
Nimium rebus ne fide secundis.
Res animos inflant secundae.
Otium fortunas secundas perdit.
I secundo omine.
Secundo flumine natare.
Secundo vento navigare.
Secundum naturam vivere.
Nulli secundus.
Virtute nemini secundus.
Nemo sibi secundus.
Hodie, et cras, et secundum cras.
Medicus garrulus aegrotanti secundus morbus.
Malo hic esse primus quam Romae secundus.
Mores secundum tempus.
Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.
Reddam unicuique secundum opus suum.
Unicuique secundum propriam virtutem.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Verbum Hodiernum: DUO
Today's word is a number, DUO. You can see that it is etymologically related to the English word "two," reflecting the shared Indo-European heritage of both Latin and English - not to mention the fact that we also use "duo" as a word in English, too! The reconstructed Indo-European root of the word is *dwṓu, and you can see a list here of the derived forms of this root in the various Indo-European languages.
In Latin, the ending -o reflects the old dual plural. In the most archaic form of Latin, as in Indo-European, there was the singular form and the plural form - but also the dual form, which was used for things that came in pairs. If you have never read about the grammatical dual form, you might enjoy this Wikipedia article. You can see the same dual -o ending in the Latin word ambo, which also refers to something that comes in a pair.
The form duo is used for masculine and neuter nominative nouns, and there is a form duae for feminine nouns. For the genitive, you will see the familiar plural forms duorum and duarum, and for the dative and ablative, duobus and duabus. For the accusative, even the Romans were a bit uncertain whether to use the dual or plural form, so you will sometimes see duo for the masculine accusative, and sometimes duos. (The neuter accusative is the same as the nominative, as is always true for neuters.)
Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more information, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below, as well as additional proverbs:
Mundus non capit duos soles.
Nos duo turba sumus.
Unus nihil, duo plurimum possunt.
E duobus malis, eligendum est minus.
Duobus dominis ne servias.
Nemo potest duobus dominis servire.
Nemo potest dominis digne servire duobus.
Nemo potest dominis pariter servire duobus.
Noli pugnare duobus.
Uni cum duobus non est pugnandum.
Una domus non alit duos canes.
Duobus malis resistere, difficillimum.
Deficit ambobus, qui vult servire duobus.
Duo illa nos maxime movent, similitudo et exemplum.
Nemo potest dominis simul inservire duobus.
Bonum est duabus niti ancoris.
Duos insequens lepores, neutrum capit.
Ne Hercules quidem adversus duos.
Unicum arbustum haud alit duos erithacos.
Plus Federicus uno oculo vidit quam ceteri principes duobus.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Verbum Hodiernum: AMO
Today's word is a verb that everyone loves to love: AMO (amo, amare, amavi, amatum). A few weeks ago, I blogged about the noun form, amor, so you might want to take a look at that entry, too.
Of course, there are lots of English words from this Latin root - "amatory," "amorous," etc. Via French, we get English "paramour" and "amateur," too!
Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more information, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below, as well as additional proverbs:
Ut ameris, amabilis esto.Si vis amari, ama.
Ut ameris, ama.
Deus ante omnia amandus.
Qui nihil amat, quid ei homini opus vita est?
Vivamus et amemus.
Vivamus atque amemus.
Vere amat qui gratis amat.
Est miser omnis amans.
Quem amat deus, moritur iuvenis.
Nihil amantibus durum est.
Parentes ama.
Ama proximum.
Cum amamus, tum perimus.
Qui amat periculum, in illo peribit.
Pacem amo.
Praestat amari quam timeri.
Litus ama, altum alii teneant.
Coniugem ama.
Amicum proba; probatum, ama.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Verbum Hodiernum: COEPI
Today's word is the verb COEPI. As you can see from the ending, this is a very that exists only in its perfect form: coepi, coepisse, coeptum. The compound form of the verb, incipio, does exist in the present system: incipio, incipere, incepi, inceptum. You can expect to find both of these verbs when reading Latin, as they are both quite common.
The Latin word incipit is used in English to refer to something like the title of a manuscript. Because manuscripts usually did not have titles as such, the opening words are used instead, and this is called an "incipit" in English. Compare also the English word "inception" which is derived from incipio via the participle inceptum.
Coepta tene.
Annuit coeptis.
Christus bene coepta secundet.
Est melius regredi, quam male coepta sequi.
Quaelibet orta cadet, et finem coepta videbunt.
Coepisse multorum est, perficere autem paucorum.
Non bene coepisse, sed bene perfecisse laudis est.
Dimidium facti est coepisse.
Dimidium facti, qui coepit, habet.
Ubi coepit ditem pauper imitari, perit.
Quae desiit amicitia, nec coepit quidem.
Persevera ut coepisti.
Perge quo coepisti.
Perge qua coepisti, ut quam maturrime merita invenias.
Quo bene coepisti, sic pede semper eas.
Non qui coepit, sed qui perfecit, praemium capit.
Nec cito desisto, nec temere incipio.
Qui incipit dubitare, incipit sapere.
Piscis a capite olere incipit.
Prima caritas incipit a seipso.
Aegrotare incipimus mox ubi nascimus.
Incipe pollicitis addere facta tuis.
Antequam incipias, consulta.
A capite incipiendum.
Melius est non incipere quam desinere.
Dii nostra incepta secundent.
Optimi eventus sequuntur egregium inceptum.
Hoc facile est inceptu, difficile confectu.
Omnibus in rebus gravis est inceptio prima.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Verbum Hodiernum: IBI
Today's word is the adverb IBI, which means "there, in that place" in terms of space and "then, at that time" in terms of time. To learn more about ibi, read the essay about ubi from a few weeks ago, as the words ibi and ubi are correlative adverbs.
From ibi comes the Latin word ibidem, "in that same place," which gives us the bibliographical abbreviation ibid. in English.
Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more information, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below, as well as additional proverbs:
Terrae, ad quam pergis, cape mores, quos ibi cernis.
Ubi thesaurus, ibi oculus.
Ubi thesaurus tuus, ibi et cor tuum.
Ubi dolor, ibi digitus.
Ubi timor, ibi et pudor.
Ubi panis, ibi patria.
Ubi lupus iudex, ibi abeant oves.
Ubi libertas, ibi patria.
Ubi sunt divitiae, ibi est invidia.
Ubi veritas, Deus ibi est.
Ubi meum invenio, ibi vindico.
Ubi plurimae segetes, ibi manifesta fortitudo bovis.
Ubi periculum, ibi lucrum.
Nidus testatur ibi qualis avis dominatur.
Ubi concordia, ibi victoria.
Ibi semper est victoria, ubi concordia est.
Ubi Petrus, ibi et Ecclesia.
Ubi tranquilla tibi omnia videntur, ibi nocitura non desunt sed quiescunt.
Ubi apes, ibi mel.
Ubi mel, ibi apes.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Verbum Hodiernum: IN
Today's word is the preposition in. When it takes the ablative, it means "in" much as in English. When it takes the accusative, it means something more like "into" in English.
You can also find in- commonly used as a prefix to form Latin verbs: induco, infero, etc. Just to make life a bit confusing, however, the prefix in- can also be used to negate nominal forms: incredibilis, for example, means "unbelievable." So beware: when you see in- at the beginning of a Latin word, it could either be something like the preposition "in" or it could be a negating "un-" type of prefix.
Notice that the in- prefix is transformed in some combinations. Before -b and -p it becomes im-, as in imbibo or impeto. Before -l, -m, and -r, it assimilates, as in these verbs: illudo, immitto and irrideo.
There are a few Latin sayings with this word that are sometimes used in English: in situ, in toto, in loco parentis, in vitro, in absentia, in flagrante delicto, and in medias res. Remember also R.I.P, requiescat in pace.
Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more information, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below, as well as additional proverbs:
Est modus in rebus.
Pars est in toto, sed totum non est in parte.
Terra es, et in terram ibis.
Nihil in terra sine causa fit.
Solus in pluribus.
Vive in diem.
In tuum ipsius caput.
In aqua scribis.
Omnis in modo est virtus.
In mari aquam quaeris.
In medio stat virtus.
in medias res
Ducis in consilio posita est virtus militum.
Oculi sunt in amore duces.
Sic erat in fatis.
In loco parentis
Nec satis rationis in armis.
In hoc signo vinces.
Anima in amicis una.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Verbum Hodiernum: ERGO
Today's word is ERGO, a Latin adverb which is sometimes used in English, too!
When used on its own in Latin, ergo means "therefore, consequently, so." It is often, but not always, used in second position in the sentence or clause. It can even be used in questions: cur ergo hoc facis, "so why do you do this?"
It is also used following a genitive, meaning as a consequence of something, as in the phrase victoriae ergo, "as a consequence of the victory."
Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more information, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:
Post hoc, ergo propter hoc.
Bibo, ergo sum.
Sum, ergo bibo; bibo, ergo sum.
Edo, ergo sum.
Sum, ergo edo.
Cogito, ergo sum.
Rideo, ergo sum.
Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur.
Populus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur.
Dubito, ergo sum, vel, quod idem est, cogito, ergo sum.
Fumus, ergo ignis.
Nolite ergo solliciti esse in crastinum.
Estote ergo prudentes sicut serpentes, et simplices sicut columbae.
Paulatim, ergo certe.
Propter frigus piger arare noluit; mendicabit ergo aestate.
Scit connivere Deus, ergo Deum reverere.
Otia dant vitia, fugias ergo procul illa.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Verbum Hodiernum: SED
Today's word is the conjunction SED, which means roughly the same as "but" in English.
In addition to being used on its own, you can see sed used in these coordinated phrases: non modo... sed... and also non tantum... sed etiam... and so on, much like "not only... but also..." in English.
Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more information, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below, as well as additional proverbs:
Non vi, sed virtute.
Non vi, sed iure.
Pauci, sed boni.
Pauca, sed bona.
Non verbis, sed rebus.
Dura lex, sed lex.
Durum est, sed ita lex scripta est.
Non sibi, sed aliis.
Non sibi, sed mundo.
Non sibi, sed omnibus.
Non nobis, sed omnibus.
Non nova, sed nove.
Non quantus, sed qualis.
Non sibi, sed bono publico.
Sol stat, sed terra movetur.
Unus Deus, sed plures amici parandi.
Magna ne iactes, sed praestes.
Non mihi, non tibi, sed nobis.
Non vivere, sed valere, vita est.
Nemo sibi soli, sed aliis nascitur.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Verbum Hodiernum: MAGNUS
Today's word is the adjective MAGNUS. Its basic meaning is "great, large," along with connotations of "grand, important," etc. Note the irregular comparative forms: maior (maius) is the comparative form and maximus is the superlative.
This word can also refer to someone "great in years," so the maiores refers to the "elders, ancestors, forebears."
There are many English words that are derived from Latin magnus and its related forms: magnify, maximize, magnitude, magnificence, magnanimity, major, majesty, mayor, and magnate. The Latin phrase magnum opus is also commonly used in English! The phrase magna cum laude is also used in English.
Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more information, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below, as well as additional proverbs:
magnum opus
Magna opera Domini.
A magnis, maxima.
Ne magna loquaris.
Fuge magna.
Vive tibi et longe nomina magna fuge.
Magna vis auri.
Magna est res scire vivere, maior scire mori.
Magnum in parvo.
Magna ne iactes, sed praestes.
Nil sine magno vita labore dedit mortalibus.
Nil sine magno labore.
Nil magnum nisi bonum.
Secunda felices, adversa magnos probant.
Adversa magnos probant.
Magna fortunae dona non sunt sine metu.
Magna vis pecuniae.
Vicinum habere malum magnum est malum.
Res est magna tacere.
Magnum magna decent.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Verbum Hodiernum: AD
Today's word is the preposition AD, meaning "to, towards," which always takes the accusative case. You can also see it compounded in verbs: admoneo, advoco, etc. As a result of being used in verbal compounds, you can also see ad- as a prefix in nouns and adjectives that are derived from those compound verbs: admonitio, advocatus, etc.
When ad- is being used in compounds, you need to be aware of assimilation. So, for example, ad-capio yields accipio, ad-fero yields affero, ad-ludo yields alludo, ad-peto yields appeto, ad-ripio yields arripio, and so on.
There are some Latin phrases using ad that are commonly used in English, such as ad hoc, ad lib (ad libitum), ad nauseam, ad absurdum, and ad infinitum.
The phrase ad hominem is commonly used, too, and is part of a long list of different types of fallacious arguments that you can read about at the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. My favorite is the argument ad baculum, in which you invoke the "stick" you could use to beat someone with if they don't agree with you!
Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more information, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below, as well as additional proverbs:
Ne ignem ad ignem.
Ad maiora veniamus.
Sua cuique natura est ad vivendum dux.
Hominum tota vita nihil aliud quam ad mortem iter est.
Multi ad fatum venere suum, dum fata timent.
Cor ad cor loquitur.
Iter ad mortem durius quam ipsa mors.
Patientes estote ad omnes.
Ad mala facta malus socius socium trahit.
Nemo timendo ad summum pervenit locum.
Omnes viae ad Romam ferunt.
Mille viae ducunt hominem ad Romam.
Mille viae ducunt homines per saecula ad Romam.
Ad meliora vertamur.
Ab imo ad summum.
Ad finem fidelis.
Esto fidelis usque ad finem.
Nulli ad aliena respicienti sua placent.
Non omnes ad omnia natura apti sumus.
Dum tempus habemus, operemur bonum ad omnes.
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