Questions tagged [classical-latin]

Questions concerning Latin of the classical era, approximately 75 BCE to 300 CE

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this is in my mind, and I don't remember what exactly it means

ix te ah cum natura de nocta dom sengre exta murte tot averno what is this? thanks for your thoughts. Drynn
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Why study a classical language?

This is admittedly a variation on why study Latin (see Related questions below), but there is specific aspect/motivation that I would like to explore deeper. Often cited reasons for studying classical ...
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Roman awareness of the Italic branch

I've recently learned the Romans and Greeks were aware of their linguistic connection (aeolism). However, I couldn't find anything pertaining to their more obvious relationship with the Sabellic ...
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Is there a Latin parallel to the TLG website?

The TLG (=Thesaurus Linguae Graecae) is an incredibly helpful tool for understanding how an author uses a certain word. For example, if I wanted to learn how the word ἀνάπαυσις was used by Clement of ...
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How do you say "medicine" in Latin without borrowing a Greek word?

Is there a "purely Latin" way of saying "medicine"? The Smith & Hall and Goelzer dictionaries both give "medicina" as the only translation. Is there a paraphrase like ...
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"On the utility of Latin" in Latin

What would be the best translation of "On the utility of Latin" into (ciceronian) Latin? Specifically as a title (e.g., of a blog article). I am open to loose translations, here are some ...
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What's the difference between aster, stella, sidus and astrum in Latin?

aster, stella, sidus and astrum are are all nearly means or related to stars. But are there any key differences between these words ?
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How do you say "chicken" in Latin?

I know which words to use for specific types of chicken: gallīna is a female (adult) chicken (hen). gallus is a male (adult) chicken (cock, rooster); it also is used for the male (cock) of other ...
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Beginning a letter in latin--what were common conventions [duplicate]

In the USA, it is customary to begin a letter with "Dear" and the name of the recipient. E.g., "Dear Dr. Smith" or "Dear Alex". Was there a similar convention for the ...
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Why does the length of a vowel before verb endings change?

I'm learning Latin and I see that the stem I am supposed to add things onto keeps changing from long to short and back again. For example, take teneō, tenēre, tenuī, tentum. As I see the present ...
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Why is the phrase negotiorum gestio instead of alienorum gestio?

In Law negotiorum gestio is a form of agency wherein a gestor acts on behalf and for the benefit of a principal without the latter's prior consent. For example, while you are traveling abroad, a ...
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Looking for title of latin textbook - US high-school 1960's

I'm trying to figure out what textbook I had for Latin, in a US high-school around 1968. (Chicago suburbs if that helps). I think the first story was about a boy and a girl on a picnic, because I ...
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How do I scan the hexameter "faunique satyrique et monticolae silvani"? (From Metamorphoses I, 193)

I was wondering if anyone knows how to scan this hexameter (complete source here https://la.wikisource.org/wiki/Metamorphoses_(Ovidius)/Liber_I). Something that is usually short definitely needs to be ...
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Best conjugation for memento vivere or viveri

Memento vivere or viveri, as a complementary phrase (not necessary an opposite) to memento mori?
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Translating "All things come to an end" to Latin

Would someone please translate "All things come to an end" for me?
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"vulgarem latinum accentu italico pronunciatum sed est"

In the comment section of "Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in LATIN · Act I Scene 1" by ScorpioMartianus, one can read the following comment: vulgarem latinum accentu italico pronunciatum sed ...
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7 votes
2 answers
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Coronat Virtus In Corde Mea / Virtue Reigns In My Heart?

Could this correctly translate to "Virtue Reigns In My Heart"? I prefer to use "coronat" instead of "regnat" but would it still be correct? I believe that "coronat ...
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Classical Translation for "aura, vibrations, feeling"

I have struggled in finding an adequate translation for the above mentioned words, that designate the subtle ambiance that something is thought to emit or convey. Like "she gives me negative ...
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1 answer
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How to express "a little bit of" a mass noun outside of the nominative or accusative case

How do you say "a little (small amount) of" a mass noun when the noun phrase is not in the nominative or accusative case or is the object of a preposition? Normally a partitive genitive is ...
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What is the preferred beginners book on beginning to learn latin? [duplicate]

This is for someone who wants to begin studying but has little to no knowledge of the language. Should I stick to a classic Latin primer or something more modern? Thank you.
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How grammatical mistake transmitted in manuscripts

In my previse posts, I asked the question on interpolation of the word "non" in sentences, community from both Reddit and stack provide a very detailed and good answer, but while reading all ...
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1 answer
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Is Classical Latin “proelium” (battle) in any way related to English “broil” (quarrel)?

I’m starting a Classical Latin course and I noticed that proelium, meaning battle, sounds very much like English broil/embroil, and could plausibly have some etymological relationship. Is it just a ...
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Pliny named the plant in his book History of Nature

The following is a paragraph(critical point) from Pliny's History of Nature : The identification of plants mentioned in the Natural History is a difficult matter. ... trained botanist hesitates at ...
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1 answer
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What is the function of "ingenti" in Apocolocyntosis 12, 3?

What is the function of "ingenti" in Apocolocyntosis 12, 3? Claudius, ut vidit funus suum, intellexit se mortuum esse, Ingenti enim megaloi xorikoi nenia cantabatur (anapaestis). My ...
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What would the ancient Greeks have called Herakles' bow and poisoned arrows? What would the Romans have called them?

Herakles received a bow from Apollon before his labors started. After his second labor, the slaying of the Lernaean Hydra, he dipped his arrows in it's blood making them instantly lethal. What would ...
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Remember your future in Latin? [closed]

what's the correct way of saying Remember your future in Latin?
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Why does the author use "illuminated" for "ignibus"?

The following poem is from De Rerum nature Book 5:715-725 : labitur omnimodis occursans officiensque, nec potis est cerni, quia cassum lumine fertur. versarique potest, globus ut, si forte, pilai ...
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How would you say "What do you reach with hate and staying angry" in old latin writing?

I would like to translate correctly the sentence "what do you reach with hate and staying angry". I would like this in old latin writing if possible.
2 votes
1 answer
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How would you say “return to the stars” in Latin?

How would you say “return to the stars” in Latin in the form of a command for instance. Does not need to be an aggressive version of the commas, simply a pleading.
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1 answer
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Why 'Vir' is the only word of 2nd declension with -ir ending?

I'd like a detailed explanation of the word 'Vir' denclesion. Vir is the only word of the second denclension with 'ir' ending. What is the reason for this phenomenon? Anyone knows a research about it ...
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Knowledge of Moonlight among Latin writer

Is there any Roman or Latin writer person before 2nd-century AD who wrote moon does not have its own light but got it from Sun like the moon is a mirror which reflects sunlight, I know about Cicero ( ...
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Interpolation of words by scholars leads to changes in the meaning

The following sentence is from "De architecture" a 1 BCE book(English translation) Uti autem Aristarchus Samius mathematicus vigore magno rationes varietatis disciplinis de eadem <re> ...
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Reading of "licet" in the following sentence

The following sentence is from a 5th-century book [12] Rursus terra accepto solis lumine clarescit tantummodo, non relucet, luna speculi instar lumen quo illustratur emittit, quia illa aeris et aquae,...
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Did Classical Latin sound like singing at times like Italian does?

Plesae note that this question is different from a previous question of mine! Songs being sung in Classical Latin literature Did Classical Latin sound like singing at times and if so did Classical ...
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What would the term for pomegranate orchard be in latin or ancient greek?

I am doing research into Greek and Roman mythology, specifically the underworld. There is supposedly a pomegranate orchard next to the palace of Hades, and I am looking for the ancient terms for it. ...
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“Aquathlon” in Classical Latin

An aquathlon is a multisport race consisting of continuous run and swim elements. Competitors complete a swim immediately followed by a run over various distances. How would this race be named in ...
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3 votes
3 answers
202 views

How would Roman name an Übermensch?

I was thinking of "homo superus/superior" but I don’t know which one is better. I’m referring to the concept introduced by Nietzsche.
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5 votes
1 answer
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On the analysis of "mihi" in "Praesidium mihi in perpetuum comparatum est" (Cic. Cat. 3.12.27)

I was wondering about the correct analysis of the dative mihi in the sentence Magnum enim est in bonis praesidium quod mihi in perpetuum comparatum est, which is included in the text below from Cic. ...
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Which letters of celebrētur are trilled in this Bervoets recording

Which letters of celebrētur are trilled in this recording? https://www.stilus.nl/ce-geluid/PlinMinEp-VI-16.htm? Bervoets doesn't just trills both R's but the letters near the two R's too! I've noticed ...
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1 answer
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What does this Latin phrase, from an ancient astrology wheel say?

"Hemphta - Numen Triforme" the greek portion reads "παντόλιoφoν" I think it says something like the "holy trinity" or "godhead trinity" but thats just based on ...
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6 votes
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Use of "if" in a translation of Pliny the Elder's Natural History

Following John Bostock's 1855 translation of Pliny the Elder: The Natural History, II 44–45: I know not whether she ought not to be considered as our instructress in everything that can be known ...
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Is 'arcanus scintilla vitae' gramatically correct?

I'm trying to figure out how to put together "the mysterious spark of life" in Latin, though the cases are a tad confusing. Doing some searching and translating has led me to those 3 words, ...
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Hi omnes lingua: Why lingua is put in singular?

The 2th sentence in De Bello Gallico Liber I. Hi omnes lingua, institutis, legibus inter se differunt. The word lingua is put Ablative Singular. Why? I am not a native speaker of Indo-European ...
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Satyricon 136.7-8

..... post lectum occisum anserem mitto vulnusque cruris haud altum aceto diluo. Is "vulnus" a 4th declension plural accusative noun? If so, why is it modified by "altum", which is ...
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Did individuus refer to individual persons in Ancient Rome?

Did individuus refer to individual persons in Ancient Rome?
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1 answer
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Does -que get appended to adjectives?

For example in the following sentence should the adjective 'magnus' also take 'que' to agree with the noun 'puer'? Puella puerque magnus.
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I'm looking for a stable English to Latin translation for the below quote

I did some research about the Greek Gods associated with language and communication and found that the best approximation is the Greek God: Hermes. I'm writing a research paper about communications, ...
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Is "Ave Dominus Nox" the correct translation for "Hail to the Lord of Night"?

In the Warhammer 40K universe, the Night Lords (scary stealthy dudes) use the battle cry "Ave Dominus Nox." This isn't meant to be in Latin, but in High Gothic, a made-up language for the ...
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What is the modern day pronunciation of v in Latin as in van or as a w? And is the c soft as in cellar or hard as in cat?

What is the modern day pronunciation of v in Latin (as in van) or as a w sound? And is the c soft as in cellar or hard as in cat?
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In Satyricon 135.4

"detrahentem", though a present partiple and therefore active, (it seems to me) is used passively (like the past participle "detractum". .... Something like "She stuck the ...

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