In Martial, there is a line Erras, meorum fur avare librorum... and it seems that avare is an adverb but this makes no sense since the intention seems to be modifying fur in which case I would have expected fur avarus, not fur avare. What is the grammar here?
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
Here avare is not an adverb but an adjective in the vocative case, in agreement with fur, which is also vocative.
-
2Scansion helps making the distinction. The final -e is short in the vocative and long in the adverb.– Joonas Ilmavirta ♦Commented Nov 14, 2023 at 11:58