Verbum Hodiernum: MODUS

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MODUS Dictionary Entry

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

Latin meaning and usage: The basic meaning of modus is a "measure" - a measure of size, length, circumference, or quantity. In poetry and music, it can refer to the rhythm or meter (note that the English word "meter" is based on the same metaphor). It can also have the connotation of the "right measure" or the "limit" of something. Most commonly, however, modus is used to refer to the "way" or "method," as in the Latin question word: quomodo, how?

Latin word formation: The word modus is extremely productive in Latin word formation. It gives rise to words like modernus, modero, modestus, modicus, modifico, modulor, and the many words in turn derived from those forms, as well as compound forms like commodus, etc. Also, in addition to quomodo, there are adverbs like admodum, dummodo, omnimodo, postmodo, quemadmodum, and tantummodo, along with many others.

English cognates and derivatives: Since there are so many Latin words formed from this root, there are likewise countless English derivates as well. The phrases modus operandi and modus vivendi are still used in English, as is the basic word "mode" and also "modicum" and "module." The word "mold" (in the sense of a form or shape) also comes from Latin modulus. The English word "model" comes from Latin modellus, a diminutive of modulus.

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:

Est modus in rebus.

Alii alio modo.

Faciam meo modo.

modus vivendi

Omnis in modo est virtus.

Nescit amor habere modum.

Arma non servant modum.

Servandus modus.

Ordo et modus omnia breviora reddunt.

Omni in re modus est optimus.

Haud vivit ullus omnibus felix modis.

Nascimur uno modo, multis morimur.

Modum nescit ponere voluptas.

Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re.

Sine nunc meo me vivere modo.

Modum adhibe.

Omnibus rebus modum adhibendum.

modus operandi

Pone irae frena modumque.

Pravo modo se in equo continere melius est, quam pulchro modo decidere.

Verbum Hodiernum: OCULUS

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OCULUS Dictionary Entry

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

Latin meaning and usage: The basic Latin meaning of the word is "eye," the organ of vision. In plants, the "eye" refers to a bud (we still use this sense in English, when we speak of the "eyes" of a potato, for example).

Latin word formation: The word oculus is cognate with the English word "eye" (the relationship is a bit easier to see, so to speak, if you consider the German word for eye, Auge). Although this is a very important noun in Latin, the root itself is not very productive; there are only a few words in Latin derived from this noun, such as the adjective ocularis.

English cognates and derivatives: We get the English "ocular" and "oculist" from this root, along with "binoculars" and "monocles." The English word "inoculate" is also from this root, and it originally meant to implant a tiny bud (in-ocul-) into a plant. With the word "daisy" (dæges eage "day's eye") we are using a similar metaphor as in the Latin name for this flower: solis oculus.

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:

Omnia videt oculus domini.

Oculus videns alia, seipsum non videt.

Plus vident oculi quam oculus.

Ubi amor, ibi oculus.

Magis vident oculi quam oculus.

Plus valent oculi quam oculus.

Oculi sunt in amore duces.

Anima pro anima, oculus pro oculo.

Sol oculus mundi.

Nemo videt oculum suum.

Amor ut lacrima oculo oritur, in pectus cadit.

Plura oculi quam oculus cernunt.

Procul ab oculis, procul a corde.

Quod procul ab oculis, procul ab animo.

Procul ex oculis, procul a corde.

Tam procul ex oculis, quam procul ex corde.

Oculos habentes non videtis et aures habentes non auditis.

Oculis magis quam auribus credendum est.

Oculis credendum potius quam auribus.

Oculis magis habenda fides quam auribus.

Verbum Hodiernum: NOMEN

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NOMEN Dictionary Entry

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Today's word is NOMEN, which is a third-declension noun (gen. nominis), neuter in gender.

Latin meaning and usage: The basic meaning of this word is "name," but in grammar terminology it also means "noun." In Roman personal names, the nomen is the middle of the three names, preceded by the praenomen, and followed by the cognomen; you can read about Roman names in this Wikipedia article. There is a wide range of Latin idioms using the word nomen, and the Lewis & Short dictionary entry is well worth taking a look at.

Latin word formation: This Latin word is from the root gno- as in the verb gnosco/nosco (and cognosco); this is the same root you see at work in the English word "know."

English cognates and derivatives: Our English word "noun" comes from Latin nomen, via the French nom. Consider also "nominate" (and "nomination"), which means to put someone's name on a list of candidates. We have the word "nomenclature," from the Latin nomenclator, a servant who would call out the names of visitors, reminding his master of just who was who. A "binomial" expression in algebra is an expression with two terms. Something that is "nominally" this or that is so in name only.

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:

Sunt quidam non re, sed nomine homines.

Vive tibi et longe nomina magna fuge.

Melius est nomen bonum quam divitiae multae.

Bonum para nomen, et dormi secure.

Mutato nomine, de te fabula narratur.

Saepe sub nomine pacis bellum latet.

Bonum nomen numquam exstinguitur.

Intrat amicitiae nomine tectus amor.

O nomen dulce libertatis!

Bonae vitae numerus dierum; bonum autem nomen permanebit in aevo.

Ante lucrum nomen.

Nomen, omen.

Omne capax movet urna nomen.

Amicum an nomen habeas, aperit calamitas.

Bonum parato nomen, et securus cuba.

Medici carnifices sub honesto nomine.

Vulgare amici nomen, sed rara est fides.

Pacis nomine bellum involutum reformido.

Qui semel est furans, furis nomen sibi durans.

Stat lapis et nomen tantum, vestigia nulla.