Why ablative "natu" is used in these expressions?

Question

In the novella Filia regis et monstrum horribile, by Andrew Olimpi, I have read (emphasis mine):

Fīlia prīma nātū est puella pulchra. Sed fīlia secunda nātū pulchrior est quam soror sua. [...] Fīlia tertia nātū vocatur Psȳchē.

I don't understand the usage of the ablative nātū in the above text. Could anyone please explain it?

fdb · Accepted Answer · 2024-01-24 10:41:02Z

6

Natus is a noun used only in the ablative singular natu “by birth”.

answered Jan 24 at 10:41

fdb

18k1 gold badge24 silver badges48 bronze badges

3

Specifically that is the case for the fourth-declension noun, not the second-declension one meaning 'son' or the PPP of nascor, both of which are also nātus.
– Cairnarvon
Commented Jan 24 at 10:46
I see: I thought it was the adjective nātus.
– Charo
Commented Jan 24 at 12:01
2

@Charo It's worth checking your declension tables carefully when confused. The participle or adjective natus does not have a form natu; its ablative is nato/nata.
– Joonas Ilmavirta ♦
Commented Jan 24 at 16:30
1

Some more details in the answer here latin.stackexchange.com/questions/11054/the-purpose-of-natu
– Davide
Commented Jan 25 at 11:07

Add a comment |

1 Answer 1