Hiatus

This project is on hiatus right now while I am working mostly on the Latin Distich project - but you can still check out the Verbum Hodiernum!

Verbum Hodiernum: FUMUS

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FUMUS Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is FUMUS, which is a second-declension masculine noun.

Latin meaning and usage: The basic meaning of the word is "smoke" or "steam" or "fumes."

Latin word formation: The root is highly productive, giving rise to many verbs such as fumo, fumesco, fumifico, and compound verbs like effumo. There are also various nouns such as fumator and fumarium, as well as adjectives like fumosus and fumifer.

English cognates and derivatives: We get the English word "fume" from this Latin word, along with "fumigation."

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more examples, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

De fumo ad flammam.

Defecerunt sicut fumus dies mei.

Flamma fumo est proxima.

Fumum fugiens, in ignem incidi.

Fumus, ergo ignis.

Homo humus, fama fumus, finis cinis.

Post mortem fumus, pulvis et umbra sumus.

Semper flamma fumo proxima est.

Vita mortalium cinis est et fumus.

Vitandus fumus, in ignem ne incidas.

Dum vito fumum, flammam in ipsam decido.

Fumum pro fulgore dat.

Praenuntiat fumus incendium.

Fumus sumus, fimus fimus.

Non est fumus absque igne.

De fumo disceptant.

Patriae fumus igni alieno luculentior.

Ex fumo dare lucem.

Ex igne ut fumus, sic fama ex crimine surgit.

Fumo comburi nihil potest, flamma potest.

Verbum Hodiernum: RES

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RES Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is RES, which is a fifth-declension noun (gen. rei).

Latin meaning and usage: The range of meaning for the Latin word res is simply astounding; sometimes you can make do with the word "thing," but there is simply no English equivalent for the wide-ranging meanings of this Latin word. Take a read through the Lewis & Short dictionary entry to get a sense of the many possible English translations.

Latin word formation: You can find the word res used in many different expressions and compounds. One of the most famous, of course, is res publica, sometimes written respublica. The phrase quam ob rem can also be written as one word: quamobrem. You can also see the word res in the expression quare = quā rē? Be careful also with the verb refero; there is a typical compound re+fero, meaning "carry back, bring back, report," etc., but there is a different compound, rē+fert, meaning "it is somebody's business" - meā rēfert, "it is my business," tuā rēfert, "it is your business," etc.

English cognates and derivatives: You can see the Latin rē (= in rē) in the "re:" line used in the subject line of memos and letters. We also get the word "republic" (and its derivatives) from this Latin word.

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more examples, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

Verbum Hodiernum: IUBEO

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IUBEO Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is IUBEO, which is a second-conjugation verb: iubere, iussi, iussum.

Latin meaning and usage: The basic Latin meaning is to command. It can take an infinitive complement, with the person(s) commanded in the accusative. It can also take an ut (ne) clause, or a subjunctive clause without a conjunction. You can also see the person commanded in the dative as well as in the accusative.

Latin word formation: The etymology of this word might be a contraction of ius and habere. There are various compounds of the verb in Latin: adiubeo, coniubeo, etc. There are also derivatives such as iussor and its compounds: fideiussor and confideiussor.

English cognates and derivatives: The only English derivative I know of is the word "jussive" which is used to describe the use of the subjunctive in Latin - a so-called "jussive subjunctive" - which expresses a command.

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more examples, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

Nos iubere volumus, non iuberi.

Si regnas, iube.

Lex universa est, quae iubet nasci et mori.

Lex iubet, aut permittit, aut vetat.

Hominem experiri multa paupertas iubet.

Lex iubet, non suadet.

Iubeat lex, non suadeat.

Deus impossibilia non iubet.

Deus nos scire pauca, multa mirari iubet.

Qui recte vivit, contemnit iussa superbi.

Non qui iussus aliquod, sed qui invitus facit, miser est.

Taurum ferre iubes, nequeam cum ferre capellam.

Dicere quae puduit, scribere iussit amor.

Fari iubes tacere quae suadet metus.

Iubet igitur nos Pythius Apollo noscere nosmet ipsos.

Nudo detrahere vestimenta me iubes.

Qui non prohibet cum potest, iubet.

Renuis quod tu, iubet alter.

Si inimicos iubemur diligere, quem habemus odisse?

Silentium non est consensus, nisi lex loqui iubeat.

Verbum Hodiernum: CAMPUS

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CAMPUS Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is CAMPUS, which is a masculine second-declension noun.

Latin meaning and usage: The basic meaning of the Latin campus is a flat place, such as a "plain" or a "field." The Campus Martius was a grassy field along the Tiber river in Rome where the comitia centuriata met. The word campus could also refer to a place of action, such as a field of battle.

Latin word formation: You can see the Latin root in the place name Campania. There are also compounds like campidoctor, also spelled campi doctor, which is the term for the drill-master who trained the soldiers in the Campus Martius.

English cognates and derivatives: Of course, we use the word "campus" in English! We also get "camp" and "campaign" from Latin campus. The English "scamper" also comes from this same root, via the Old French eschamper, from the Late Latin excampare, meaning to decamp, to leave the field. From the Late Latin word campionem we get English "champion." The name of "Camembert" cheese is from a village in Normandy once called Campus Maimberti.

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more examples, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

Campus habet oculos, silva aures.

Quot campo flores, tot sunt in amore dolores.

Redeunt iam gramina campis, arboribusque comae.

Quot campus mures, tot alis, Mars improbe, fures.

Quot campo lepores, tot sunt in amore dolores.

Gramina quot campis, tot sunt in amore pericula.

Campus habet lumen, et habet nemus auris acumen.

Lumina campus habet; nemus aures fertur habere.

Magnus est in re publica campus, multis apertus cursus ad laudem.

Verbum Hodiernum: MORS

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MORS Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is MORS, which is a a third-declension feminine noun, genitive mortis.

Latin meaning and usage: The Latin word means "death," with a range of metaphorical meaning quite similar to the English word.

Latin word formation: The root -mort is extremely production in Latin, and can be seen also in the participle of the verb morior - mortuus. Some of the most common are the adjectives mortalis (immortalis), and mortifer, along with the abstract nouns mortalitas (immortalitas).

English cognates and derivatives: In English we still use the Latin phrases rigor mortis and post mortem, along with words like "mortal" and "immortal." We also get the verb "amortize" from the Latin Latin admortire.

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more examples, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

Mors nec bonum nec malum est.

Mors tua, vita mea.

Post mortem nihil est, ipsaque mors nihil.

Quis est vir qui vivat et non videat mortem?

Nihil nisi mors certum est.

Nihil morte certius.

Mors sequitur; vita fugit.

Vita sine litteris mors est.

Fac bene dum vivis, post mortem vivere si vis.

Omnium finis mors est.

Mors omnibus parata est.

Mors omnia solvit.

Somnus est frater mortis.

Qualis vita, mors est ita.

Beata morte nihil beatius.

Nemo ante mortem beatus est.

Mors et vita in manibus linguae.

Mors sua quemque manet.

Mors servat legem: tollit cum paupere regem.

Ubi omnis vita metus est, mors est optima.

Verbum Hodiernum: FRATER

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FRATER Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is FRATER, which is a third-declension masculine noun, gen. fratris.

Latin meaning and usage: The basic meaning of the Latin word is "brother," with many of the same metaphorical extensions that we have in English.

Latin word formation: There is the diminutive fraterculus, and the abstract noun fraternitas, along with the adjective fraternus. There is the compound fratricida, and there are also kinship terms, such as fratria, sister-in-law (uxor fratris) and fratruelis, a paternal cousin.

English cognates and derivatives: The English "brother" derives from the same Indo-European root as Latin frater. In English we have "fraternities," of course, and the adjective "fraternal." The word "friar" comes via Old French frere, and "confrere" comes via French from medieval Latin confrater.

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:

Quis amicior quam frater fratri?

Frater est amicus quem nobis dedit Natura.

Omnes vos fratres estis.

Somnus est frater mortis.

Frater est amicus quem donat Natura.

Quid mihi prodest scire agellum in partes dividere, si nescio cum fratre dividere?

Melior est vicinus iuxta, quam frater procul.

Proximus est melior vicinus fratre remoto.

Utilior praesto vicinus fratre remoto.

Tu quid iudicas fratrem tuum?

Qui diligit fratrem, placat Deo patrem.

Num custos fratris mei sum?

Acerba sunt bella fratrum.

Fratrum inter se irae sunt acerbissimae.

Non oderis fratrem tuum in corde tuo.

Fratrum concordia rara.

Iam frater fratrem, natus fraudare parentem nititur, et servus dominum, coniunxque maritum.

Mors dirimit fratres, absentia perdit amicos.

Si videas fratres inter se bella gerentes, neutri confer opem, sed eorum corrige mentes.

Concordes duo sunt in caelo sidera fratres; in terra unanimes vix reor esse duos.

Verbum Hodiernum: LONGUS

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LONGUS Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is LONGUS, which is a regular first-second declension adjective.

Latin meaning and usage: The basic meaning of the Latin word is "long," but note that it can also mean "tall," as well as "distant." It can also refer to something "long-lasting." As often an adjective that refers to space can also be applied to time!

Latin word formation: There is an adverbial form, longe, meaning "a long way off, at a distance" and also "for a long time." There are many words derived from this root in Latin, such as the adjective longinquus, as well as compounds such as longaevus. There is also an abstract noun, longitudo. Don't forget the intensive forms, too: perlongus and perlonginquus, too.

English cognates and derivatives: Of course, we have English "long" as well as "longitude" and "longevity," along with comopunds such as "oblong," "prolong" and "elongation." We get "purloin" from this root via the Old French porloigner and "lunge" via the Old French alongier. (But note that "belong" is not from Latin; it is from a Germanic root, which you can see in German belangen.)

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more examples, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

Longae regum manus.

Nullus agenti dies longus est.

Nox tibi longa venit nec reditura dies.

Vive tibi et longe nomina magna fuge.

Legis manus longa.

Longa est vita, si plena est.

Alta a longe cognoscuntur.

Vita beatior non fit, si longior.

Vita, si scias uti, longa est.

Ars longa, vita brevis.

Breve tempus aetatis, satis longum ad bene vivendum.

Brevis ipsa vita est, sed malis fit longior.

O vita misero longa, felici brevis!

Vita misero longa, felici brevis.

Longa via est: propera.

Nil agenti dies longus est.

Mutat via longa puellas.

Brevis via per exempla, longa per praecepta.

Recede longius, et ride.

Sapientia longe praestat divitiis.

Verbum Hodiernum: LUMEN

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LUMEN Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is LUMEN, which is a third-declension neuter noun, gen. luminis.

Latin meaning and usage: The basic meaning of lumen is "light." It can also refer to a source of light, such as a lamp or torch. There are also many metaphorical meanings, such as "daylight" or "life" (in the sense of the "light of life"). In addition, lumen can also refer to the eye in the sense of "the light of the eye," according to the ancient belief that the eye was an emitter of light; you can read about this emission theory of light at Wikipedia.

Latin word formation: The word is from the same root as in the verb luceo. So, luc-men yields the noun lumen. You can find many derivative words such as lumino (and its compounds), adjectives like luminosus, and nouns like luminator and illuminatio, etc.

English cognates and derivatives: We use the word "lumen" in English as a measure of brightness or "luminosity" (adjective: "luminous"). Someone who is illustrious is a "luminary." To shine light on something is to "illuminate" it. Something that glows is "luminescent."

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more examples, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

A deo lumen.

Lumen Dei, lex diei.

Vos estis lumen mundi.

Surgite; lumen adest.

Lumina inter umbras clariora sunt.

Luminis umbra comes.

Aspiciunt oculi duo lumina clarius uno.

Astra castra, Numen lumen.

Scientia lumen vitae.

Lumen caeleste sequamur.

Deus ipse solem, quasi lumen, accendit.

Ingenii lumen est eloquentia.

Ratio est radius divini luminis.

Imbribus obscuris succedunt lumina solis.

Lumen accipe et imperti.

Dulce lumen, et delectabile est oculis videre solem.

Campus habet lumen, et habet nemus auris acumen.

Si lumen alteri de suo lumine accendit, nihilo minus ipsi lucet.

Qui procul ex oculis, procul est a lumine cordis.

Saepe precare numen, dabiturque in pectore lumen.

Verbum Hodiernum: VELOX

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VELOX Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is VELOX, which is a third-declension adjective with just one form - velox - for masculine, feminine and neuter singular; the genitive is velocis.

Latin meaning and usage: The basic meaning of the word is "swift" or "speedy."

Latin word formation: The adverbial form is velociter; note also the comparative adverb velocius and superlative velocissime. The abstract noun is velocitas.

English cognates and derivatives: We get the word "velocity" from this root, and the notorious "velociraptor" from Jurassic Park. There is also "velocipede," which includes bicycles and tricycles.

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more information, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

Cursus in fine velocior.

Deus non est velox ad poenam.

Equus alienus velociter currit.

Ne velox sis ad irascendum.

Nihil annis velocius.

Nihil est animo velocius.

Sit omnis homo velox ad audiendum, tardus autem ad loquendum.

Vidi sub sole nec velocium esse cursum nec fortium bellum.

Veloces sunt latronum pedes.

Tarda fluit pigris, velox operantibus hora.

Tarda fugit pigris, velox operantibus hora.

Velox consilium sequitur paenitentia.

Fama repleta malis velocibus evolat alis.

Velocius quam asparagi coquantur.

Lingua mea calamus scribae velociter scribentis.

Dum candet ferrum , velocius est feriendum.

Pegaso velocior.

Velocem tardus assequitur.

Velocius ibo retentus.

Vita nostra brevis est, brevi finietur, venit mors velociter, rapit nos ferociter, nemini parcetur.

Verbum Hodiernum: MUNDUS (noun)

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MUNDUS Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is MUNDUS, which is a second-declension masculine noun.

Latin meaning and usage: The basic meaning of Latin mundus is "world," in the sense of the whole world, the universe or cosmos. This usage derives metaphorically from the meaning of mundus as "decorations" or "dress." You can see a similar metaphorical range of meaning in the Greek word κόσμος, which gives us both "cosmetics" and "cosmos" in English.

Latin word formation: There is also an adjective mundus (-a, -um) which means "clean" or "neat." So, whenever you meet up with a form of Latin mundus you have to ponder whether you have encountered the noun or the adjective; only context can give you that answer. There are two adjectives, mundialis and mundanus, with its compounds in turn: extramundanus, ultramundanus, etc. There are also other compound adjectives like mundipotens, mundivagus etc.

English cognates and derivatives: We get English "mundane" from this root and, via French, "beaumonde" and "demi-monde."

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more examples, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

Patria mea totus hic mundus est.

Mundus non capit duos soles.

Sol oculus mundi.

Amor mundum fecit.

Non sibi, sed mundo.

Vos estis lumen mundi.

Vos estis lux mundi.

Vincere cor proprium plus est quam vincere mundum.

Roma caput mundi.

Numeri regunt mundum.

Cives mundi omnes sumus.

Civis totius mundi sum.

Mundus transit.

Sic transit gloria mundi.

Mundus ipse est ingens deorum omnium templum.

O quam cito transit gloria mundi!

Homo mundus minor.

Sol oculus mundi, princeps oculus multitudinis

Quam parva sapientia regitur mundus!

Qui amat mundum praesentem, sequitur rem fugientem.

Verbum Hodiernum: SOLUS

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SOLUS Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is the adjective SOLUS, which is one of those adjectives that is partially a first- and second-declension adjective, but with a genitive in -ius for all genders, solius, and a dative in -i, soli. It is very important to be aware of the declension of all of these adjectives - solus, unus, totus, alius, alter, ullus, nullus, uter, and neuter - since they are all very commonly used in Latin.

Latin meaning and usage: The basic meaning of solus is "only, alone, sole." There is also an expression very similar to the English "not only... but also" - non solum... sed etiam.

Latin word formation: You can find the word in the compound adverb solummodo. You can also see the word in other compounds: soliloquium, solitarius, solitudo, etc. and also the verbal compound, desolo.

English cognates and derivatives: You can see the Latin word in the English "sole" as well as "solitary," "solitude," "soliloquy," etc. Note also the compound "desolated." We also use the Italian word "solo." One of my favorites is "solipsism," from solus+ipse, meaning the belief that one's self (ipse) is the only thing (solus) that is real.

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more examples, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

Ego meorum solus sum meus.

Non sibi solum.

Non est bonum esse hominem solum.

Solus in pluribus.

Hoc solum scio, quod nihil scio.

Solum certum nihil esse certi.

Res autem durissima vivere solum.

Nemo sibi soli, sed aliis nascitur.

Soli deo gloria.

Solus non est quem diligant dii.

Cum tuus es, noli servire, nisi tibi soli.

Non nobis solum nati sumus.

Homo non sibi soli natus, sed patriae.

Sapiens nusquam minus solus quam cum solus.

Solum bellum gignit pacem.

Sola pecunia regnat.

Si pro te solo oras, pro te solus oras.

Sola virtus gaudium perpetuum.

Non in solo pane vivit homo.

Lupus, quando te solum invenit, audacior est.

Verbum Hodiernum: BELLUM

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BELLUM Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is BELLUM, which is a second-declension neuter noun.

Latin meaning and usage: The basic meaning of the Latin word is "war" or "warfare." Not surprisingly, the Romans had a lot to say about war and many idiomatic expressions using this word. For the various prepositions and verbs commonly used together with this noun, take a look through the Lewis & Short dictionary entry.

Latin word formation: The crucial thing to understand about this word is that it was originally duellum. The intial du- changed to b- as similarly in the word bis, derived from duo. You need to be careful not to confuse this noun with the adjective bellus, which is a diminutive ultimately derived from the adjective bonus. They may look the same - bellum and bellus - but they have quite different origins! The noun bellum is a highly productive root in Latin, with nouns like bellator and belligerator, and adjectives like bellicosus and bellipotens, and compound verbs like debello and rebello.

English cognates and derivatives: You can see this Latin word in the English "antebellum," meaning "before the war." A "belligerent" is someone who wages war, and someone who is "bellicose" is warlike. Note also that we use the word "duel" in English, as in the old Latin duellum. The Harry Potter novels have given new life to the name "Bellatrix," a female warrior. There is also "rebel," from the compound Latin verb rebellare, meaning to "wage war against, rebel."

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more examples, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

Habet et bellum suas leges.

Proelio victus, non bello.

Ex bello pax.

Si vis pacem, para bellum.

Pax quaeritur bello.

Paratur pax bello.

Bellum pacis est causa.

Nulla salus bello.

In bello nec primus nec ultimus esto.

Pace belloque fidelis.

Paritur pax bello.

Alia ex aliis nascentur bella.

Solum bellum gignit pacem.

Post bellum auxilium.

Pacem cum inimicis, bellum cum vitiis.

Dulce haud expertis est bellum.

Saepe sub nomine pacis bellum latet.

Pax, pax! clamatur; sed pax per bella paratur.

Bellum se ipsum alet.

Non licet bis in bello peccare.

Verbum Hodiernum: VIR

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VIR Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is VIR, which is a second-declension masculine noun.

Latin meaning and usage: The meaning of vir is "man" in the sense of a "manly man, a male person," as opposed to a woman. Contrast the word homo, which means a person, but not specifically a male person. Depending on context, vir often means "husband."

Latin word formation: There are many Latin words derived from this root, most notably virtus. Note also the adjective virilis, the adverb viriliter, and the abstract noun virilitas. There are various compounds also, such as decemviri and triumviri, etc.

English cognates and derivatives: In English the word "virtue" (with its many derivatives) is far less masculine in connotation than the Latin virtus! We also use the words "virile" and "virility," which are still quite masculine, and in Roman history books you will meet the word "triumvirate." For a great example of a cognate, compare the Germanic "werewolf" in English; you can read about the etymology of "werewolf" at Etymonline.com.

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more examples, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

Unus vir non omnia videt.

Vir quidem unus, nullus est.

Quis est vir qui vivat et non videat mortem?

Multa ante temptes, quam virum invenias bonum.

Virum facit virtus.

Aliud legunt pueri, aliud viri, aliud senes.

Qualia verba viri, talis et ipse vir est.

Facta iuvenum, consilia virorum, vota senum.

Bonus vir nemo est, nisi qui bonus est omnibus.

Quod puer non didicit, non discet vir.

Fuge procul a viro maiore.

Vestis virum reddit.

Vir unus haud videt omnia.

Cum sapiens, et bonus vir.

Vir bonus et sapiens quaerit super omnia pacem.

Qualis vir, talis oratio.

Qualis avis, talis cantus; qualis vir, talis oratio.

A sapiente viro sapientiam discere convenit.

Tarde, sed graviter vir sapiens irascitur.

Malum virum semper pati malum decet.

Vocabula: Word List

Here is a list of the words covered so far in this blog; items in bold also have a corresponding page at the Scala Sapientiae.

ab | accipio | ad | admiror | ago | aio | aliquis | alius | ambulo | amo | amor | animal | animus | annus | aqua | arma | arripio | at | atque | autem |

caelum | capio | carmen | causa | civitas | coepi | comedo | congero | consilium | coram | corpus | credo | crux | cum | cura |

de | deus | dies | dignus | do | doceo | dominus | domus | duco | duo | dux |

equus | ergo | et | etiam | expendo | expono |

fatum | ferus | festino | filius | finis | fio | fleo | fugio |

gens | gratia |

habeo | hic | homo | hostis |

ibi | ille | in | ingenium | inquam | inter | interrogo | invenio | invito | ipse | is | itaque | iter | iuvenis |

levis | lex | licet | ligo | littera | locus |

magnus | maior | malus | manus | mater | medicus | meditor | mens | mereo | meus | modus | mos | moveo | multus |

natura | nihil | nimius | nisi | nomen | nos | noster | nox | nullus | nunc |

O | oculus | oleum | omnis | orior |

paro | pars | pater | patria | philosophus | plus | pono | populus | possum | potus | praedico | primus | publicus | puer | puto |

quaero | quantus | quasi | -que | qui/quis | quicumque | quidam | quidem | quisquam | quisque | quoque |

ratio | reddo | redimo | refero | regnum | relinquo |

sanctus | scio | secundus | sed | semper | seu | si | sic | signum | simul | sine | sol | soleo | sto | sub | sum | summus | suus |

talis | tam | tamen | tantus | tempus | teneo | terra | thesaurus | totus | transmitto | tres | tum | tunc | tuus |

ubi | unus | urbs | ut |

valde | valeo | venio | verbum | veritas | verus | vesper | via | video | viginti | virtus | vis | vita | voco | volo (velle) | vox

Verbum Hodiernum: DOMUS

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DOMUS Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is DOMUS, which is a feminine fourth-declension noun, genitive: domus. In archaic Latin, you can sometimes find this regarded as a second-declension noun, with a genitive domi.

Latin meaning and usage: The basic meaning of domus corresponds to the English words "house" and "home." You will find adverbial forms of this noun, too: domi, "at home" and domum, "homewards, to home."

Latin word formation: Consider the adjective domesticus, the noun domicilium, as well as this nice little diminutive: domuncula.

English cognates and derivatives: We use the words "domestic" and "domicile" in English, and there is also the wonderful phrase "major-domo," from Latin maior-domūs.

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more examples, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

Omnis est rex in domo sua.

Dulce domum.

Romani, ite domum!

Stet fortuna domus!

Parva domus, parva cura.

Domi manere convenit felicibus.

Domi manendum.

Domus propria, domus optima.

Domus amica, domus optima.

Propria domus omnium optima.

Domi manere tutum.

Domus divisa contra se non stabit.

Quaere vicinum ante domum, et socium ante viam.

Domi suae quilibet rex.

Luctu vacat bos cum senex moritur domi.

Una domus non alit duos canes.

Canis domi ferocissimus.

Parva domus, magna quies.

Qui altam facit domum, quaerit suam ruinam.

Beatus is qui in prosperis manet domi.

Verbum Hodiernum: URBS

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URBS Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is URBS, which is a feminine third-declension noun, genitive: urbis. It is an i-stem noun, so the genitive plural is usually spelled urbium.

Latin meaning and usage: The basic meaning of urbs is a walled town or city.

Latin word formation: From urbs we get the adjective urbanus (and its opposite: inurbanus) and the abstract noun urbanitas. There are also the compounds formed with sub- such as suburbanus, suburbium, etc.

English cognates and derivatives: We get the English words "urban" and "suburb" (and "suburban") from this root, as well as the word "urbane," with all its positive connotations.

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more examples, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

anno Urbis conditae = a.U.c.

Regnant qualibet urbe lupi.

Alme sol, possis nihil urbe roma visere maius.

Urbs hominem erudit ipsa.

Concordia civium murus urbium.

Urbes constituit aetas, hora dissolvit; momento fit cinis, diu silva.

Leonis catulus in urbe non est alendus.

Qui fuit hic asinus, non fiet in urbe caballus.

Melior est qui dominatur animo suo expugnatore urbium.

Divina natura dedit agros, ars humana aedificavit urbes.

Non oportet in urbe nutrire leonem.

Otium et reges prius et beatas perdidit urbes.

Solitudo placet Musis, urbs est inimica poetis.

Verbum Hodiernum: NOSTER

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NOSTER Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is NOSTER, which is a first-second declension adjective, with genitive forms nostri and nostrae (the "e" is a fill vowel, which falls out).

Latin meaning and usage: This is the first-person plural possessive adjective; you can see the connection to the word nos in the stem.

Latin word formation: Note the word nostras (gen. nostratis), which means "our home, our homeland." Likewise, the adverb nostratim means "in our way, according to our manner."

English cognates and derivatives: We have the word "paternoster" in English from the beginning of the Lord's Prayer in Latin: Pater noster. We also have the word "nostrum" from the Latin phrase nostrum remedium.

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more examples, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

Debemur morti nos nostraque.

Ut hora sic dies nostri super terram.

Sicut umbra dies nostri super terram.

Dies nostri quasi umbra super terram.

Nullane finis erit nostro concessa dolori?

Roma communis nostra patria est.

Alienum nobis, nostrum plus aliis placet.

Omnia aliena sunt, tempus tantum nostrum est.

Aliena nobis, nostra plus aliis placent.

Cinis fiet corpus nostrum.

Est caro nostra cinis, modo principium, modo finis.

Initia in potestate nostra, exitus fortunae.

Nostris ipsorum alis capimur.

Invicem onera nostra portemus.

Nec vitia nostra nec remedia pati possumus.

Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis hodie.

Panem nostrum cotidianum da nobis cotidie.

Non nostrum onus, inquit bos ferens clitellas.

Aliena pericula, cautiones nostrae.

Dii nostra incepta secundent.

Verbum Hodiernum: CARMEN

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CARMEN Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is CARMEN, which is a third-declension neuter noun, genitive: carminis.

Latin meaning and usage: The basic meaning is a tune or a song, as well as a verse composition, such as a poem. It can also refer to a magic formula or incantation, as well as oracular statements or moral aphorisms in verse form. It is what you could call any kind of ritualized language, as distinct from everyday speech.

Latin word formation: You can see the same root in the name of the Roman goddess Carmentis (also known as Carmenta) who was associated with prophecy and supposedly pronounced oracles on the Capitoline Hill. The festival of the Carmentalia was celebrated on January 11th and 15th.

English cognates and derivatives: The English word "charm" comes from this root, via the Old French charmer and the Late Latin verb carminare.

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more information, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

Carmina non dant panem.

Carmina poscit amor.

Qui bona vina bibunt, etiam bona carmina scribunt.

Levant et carmina curas.

Carmina morte carent.

Debemus carmina Baccho.

Minuentur atrae carmine curae.

Cuius enim panem manduco carmina canto.

Non scribit, cuius carmina nemo legit

Qui bona vina bibunt, etiam bona carmina scribunt.

Carmina iam moriens, canit exequialia cygnus.

Verbum Hodiernum: HOMO

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HOMO Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is HOMO, which is a third-declension masculine noun, genitive: hominis.

Latin meaning and usage: The basic meaning of the Latin word is a "person," a "man" in the generic sense of a human being (as opposed to vir, a "manly man," as it were, as opposed to a woman, femina or mulier).

Latin word formation: You can see the word homo lurking in the word nemo, which is a contraction of ne+homo (a contraction easier to understand if you think about the "h" as just a breathing in Latin, not an actual consonant).

English cognates and derivatives: You can see the Latin word in our species name: "homo sapiens" - and compare also the adjective "hominid." A "homicide" is the killing (or killer) of another person. Note also the word "bonhomie," via French bonhomme.

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more examples, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

Non est bonum esse hominem solum.

Qui nihil amat, quid ei homini opus vita est?

Alii homines, alii mores.

Homines sunt eiusdem generis.

In hominum vita nihil est certi.

Fortuna hominibus plus quam consilium valet.

Placeat homini quidquid deo placuit.

Non semper homo talis est, qualis dicitur.

Homo, diu vivendo, multa, quae non vult, videt.

Nihil agendo, homines male agere discunt.

Homo a suo socio cognoscitur.

Nolite fieri servi hominum.

Hominum mentes variae.

Nescit homo finem suum.

Fata regunt homines.

Vires hominis breves sunt.

Brevis hominum vita.

Hoc facias homini quod cupis esse tibi.

Vita hominis cursus est ad mortem.

Mors omnes homines manet, divites et pauperes.

Verbum Hodiernum: SUUS

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SUUS Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is SUUS, which is a first-second declension adjective.

Latin meaning and usage: This is the reflexive possessive adjective, indicating that something belongs to the subject of the main verb of the sentence. As a result of referring back to the subject of the sentence, you will usually see this adjective in cases other than the nominative, but you can also see the nominative form referring to the logical subject of the sentence, as in this example: Suus est mos cuique genti, "To each people there is their own custom" = "Each people has their own custom." Note that suus is used for third-person forms (his, her, its, their) only; for first- and second-person forms, you have other possessive adjectives: meus, tuus, noster, vester.

Latin word formation: Just as with mei, tui, nostri and vestri, the genitive sui can be used to express an objective form, e.g. amor sui, "love of yourself." There are also emphatic forms of the pronoun formed with -met (e.g., suamet as an emphatic form of sua) and with -pte (e.g., suopte as an emphatic form of suo).

English cognates and derivatives: The Latin phrase sui generis is one that is freely used in written English. The ancient Romans did not use the word "suicide," but it is formed from Latin roots; compare the similar words "homicide," "patricide," etc. which you can find in Latin as homicida and patricida.

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more examples, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

Omnis est rex in domo sua.

Suo quaeque tempore facienda.

Cuique suum.

Sibi quisque habeat quod suum est.

Sua tenenda cuique.

Omnes quae sua sunt, quaerunt.

Suus cuique mos.

Accipe quod tuum alterique da suum.

Alterius ne sit, qui suus esse potest.

Stat sua cuique dies.

Suus est mos cuique genti.

Sua cuique natura est ad vivendum dux.

Sibi habeat suam Fortunam.

Habet et bellum suas leges.

Sua quemque sequuntur fata.

Agunt opus suum fata.

Redde cuique quod suum est.

Multi ad fatum venere suum, dum fata timent.

Fortunam suam sibi quisque ipse parat.

Sua cuique hora.

Verbum Hodiernum: VITA

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VITA Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is VITA, which is a first-declension feminine noun.

Latin meaning and usage: The Latin word covers much the same range as the English word "life" and also the English noun "living" (as in a way of life, subsistence), as well as the English word "lifetime."

Latin word formation: This Latin root gives rise to adjectives like vitalis, vitabundus, etc. - and to the abstract noun vitalitas.

English cognates and derivatives: From the Latin we get "vital" and "vitality," and via the French vie, we get English "viable." The English word "vitamin" is a modern coinage, dating to the year 1920.

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more examples, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below:

Ita vita.

Qui nihil amat, quid ei homini opus vita est?

In hominum vita nihil est certi.

Non vivere, sed valere vera vita est.

Mors sequitur; vita fugit.

Vita sine litteris mors est.

Sicut vita, finis ita.

Dux vitae ratio.

Quam bene valere, melius in vita nihil.

Longa est vita, si plena est.

Tempus est vitae magister.

Qualis vita, mors est ita.

Qualis vita, finis ita.

Ventus est vita mea.

Vita beatior non fit, si longior.

In corde spes, vis et vita.

Varia vita est.

Vita data est utenda.

Brevis ipsa vita est, sed malis fit longior.

O vita misero longa, felici brevis!

Verbum Hodiernum: NIMIUS

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NIMIUS Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is NIMIUS, which is a first-second declension adjective.

Latin meaning and usage: The basic meaning is "excessive" or "too much." The neuter form can also be used as a substantive, meaning "excess."

Latin word formation: The adverb is formed as nimio or nimium, and there is also a separate adverbial form, nimis. The word is formed from the negating prefix ni- (ne-) and the basic root that means "measure," as you see in words like metior and mensa.

English cognates and derivatives: As for as I know, we have no English derivatives from this word, but if someone can think of one, let me konw!

Here are some examples of today's word in Latin sayings and proverbs; for more information, see the page at the Scala Sapientiae, which also contains notes on some of the proverbs cited below, as well as additional proverbs:

Quod nimium est, fugito.

Omne nimium non bonum.

Ne nimium.

Nulli nimium credite.

Nihil nimium cupio.

Nil nimium cupito.

Nemini nimium bene est.

Qui nimium petit, nihil accipit.

Multi nimium habent, nemo satis.

Ne quid nimium.

Qui nimium petit, totum perdit.

Nil nimium.

Nil nimium cupias.

Qui nimium probat, nihil probat.

Non nimium curo.

Omne nimium vertitur in vitium.

Omne quod est nimium, vertitur in vitium.

Omne nimium nocet.

Omnia nimia nocent.

Omne nimium est naturae inimicum.