Questions tagged [grammar-identification]
Use this tag when asking about a grammatical structure you cannot name and want explained.
106
questions
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Can valeo be used transitively?
Looking through the entry in Lewis & Strong, I couldn't find any mention of the accusative being used with valeo, except as the object of certain prepositions. However, the following use of magna ...
3
votes
1answer
46 views
What are the Roles of “Quin” and “Sit” in “fieri non potest quin sit”?
In the question on Sherlockian logic, Batavulus, in his answer gave an alternative translation of the clause "it must be believed"/ "one must believe it", which is:
"fieri ...
3
votes
1answer
98 views
Is this Gerundive-Based Quote from Seneca A Direct or Indirect Question?
Introduction
In his answer to Q: What is the difference in meaning/usage between "nasciturus" and "nascendus"?, Mitomino provided some interesting examples of the use of the ...
5
votes
1answer
99 views
“nec sit terris ultima Thule” - how should terris be interpreted?
Seneca's Medea:
Venient annis saecula seris,
quibus Oceanus vincula rerum
laxet, et ingens pateat tellus,
Tethysque novos detegat orbes
nec sit terris ultima Thule.
I have my doubts with respect to ...
3
votes
1answer
78 views
“Multi quidem facilius se abstinent ut non utantur, quam temperent ut bene utantur” (the usage of comparatives)
From Augustine De Bono Coniugali:
Multi quidem facilius se abstinent ut non utantur, quam temperent ut bene utantur.
While the meaning of the sentence is clear, I'm not sure about the grammatical ...
4
votes
0answers
106 views
Can a finite verb modify another verb as if it were a gerund? (De manibus delapsa arma ceciderunt)
How should we interpret the connection between delapsa and ceciderunt in the following:
de manibus audacissimorum civium delapsa arma ipsa ceciderunt (Cic. De Officiis)
Naturally I could not see ...
6
votes
1answer
393 views
How does “quid causae” work grammatically?
I do not understand the grammar of quid causae = "[for] what cause", as in
Nescio quid causae fuerit, cur nullas ad me litteras dares
I do not know what the reason was why you sent me no ...
5
votes
1answer
164 views
Is this double accusative or hyperbaton or something else?
I've only been learning Latin for a month or so, but I'm specifically learning so that I can read scientific and mathematical texts from the 17th-19th centuries. It's slow going, of course- I'm only ...
6
votes
3answers
338 views
Grammatical structure of “Obsidibus imperatis centum hos Haeduis custodiendos tradit”
@Mitomino points out in this comment that my understanding of what modifies what in the sentence shown below from De Bello Gallico (VI.4.3) is mistaken. I'll diagram my understanding below. Can you ...
2
votes
1answer
109 views
Translating a sentence with “virisque”
'Res Romana stat moribus antiquis virisque'
Please, help me to translate it, especially I have trouble understanding the grammar in the second part, virisque is from vir ā 'man', so why here is ...
7
votes
1answer
120 views
Is “rogamur ab eo ut veniamus” grammatically correct?
It is grammatically correct if I turn any Main active verb in the Indirect commands into passive ones?
Active - rogat nos ut veniamus - He asks us to come.
Passive - " rogamur ab eo ut veniamus &...
3
votes
1answer
114 views
What is the term for this particular use of the ablative?
I am currently doing a comprehension on the destruction of Numantia (Florus I.34). The comprehension question I am stuck on is as follows: 'State and explain the case of the word fossa'. The sentence ...
4
votes
0answers
68 views
Determining the difference between ambiguous nouns and verb forms without macrons
Salvete omnes,
As I've mentioned a couple times on here, I am working on adding macrons to a specific text, I can't really use an auto-macronizer (nor will I, or do I want to). But there is a bit of a ...
1
vote
1answer
80 views
In the phrase Omnimoda potestate Antistes, should any of the words be capitalized?
In the phrase omnimoda potestate antistes, should any words be capitalized? And how would it be translated? It is in reference to a 16th century bishop who considered himself, omnimoda potestate ...
5
votes
1answer
105 views
Genitive case: why “litterarum vetustatem” and not “litteras vetustatis”
From time time I encounter a pair of nouns; one noun is in a genitive case, apparently modifies the other, but where I expect them to behave differently. examples:
memoriae tradere litterarum ...
6
votes
1answer
238 views
The function of “quo” in “QuÅ quisque est sollertior, hÅc docet Ä«rÄcundius”
In A&G on indefinite pronouns there are two sentences of a similar structure:
Bonus liber melior est quisque quÅ mĆ¢ior. (The larger a good book is, the better.)
QuÅ quisque est sollertior, hÅc ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
Carpe sciurum (sieze/harvest the squirrel?)
Would 'carpe sciurum' be a functional translation of 'seize the squirrel'?
(As in to 'harvest' or 'pluck' the squirrel?)
6
votes
1answer
110 views
Nepos' Themistocles: ut ingratis omnes ad depugnandum cogerentur?
I am reading the biography of Themistocles by Cornelius Nepos. He recounts the story of how Themistocles used a deceit to bring about the naval engagement that went down in history as the famous ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
“Tu quoque, Brutus, mi fili?” Grammar question
Someone told me these were Caesar's actual last words. Google confirms this. But I can't find an explanation for what looks to me like weird grammar.
First of all, shouldn't "Brutus" be &...
6
votes
2answers
142 views
Confusing syntax in two sentences
I seem to be confused by the constructions of these two sentences from a Medieval Latin text:
Unde vocum alia suavis est illa, scilicet quae subtilis, spissa, clara et acuta est.
and
Multiplicem ...
7
votes
1answer
71 views
Why “decorem indutus est” instead of “decore indutus est”?
Psalm 92 v. 1
DĆ³minus regnĆ”vit, decĆ³rem indĆŗtus est: * indĆŗtus est DĆ³minus fortitĆŗdinem, et prƦcĆnxit se.
The Lord hath reigned, he is clothed with beauty: * the Lord is clothed with strength, and ...
5
votes
1answer
187 views
How to say: “X differs from Y by(in) Z”
I want to say something of this sort:
The word "res" differs from the word "rex" by one letter.
In "Lexicon totius Latinitatis" I saw under the term "dama":
"[Dama] differt a capreis solis ...
3
votes
1answer
106 views
Partitive genitive in Spinoza
Spinoza, Ethics, De Deo, Propositio 15, Scholium:
Sane rerum quae realiter ab invicem distinctae sunt, una sine alia esse et in suo statu manere potest
Is rerum partitive genitive and is it ...
3
votes
1answer
235 views
The usage of present passive infinitive
In Augustine confessions we read:
"quid tibi sum ipse, ut amari te iubeas a me et, nisi faciam, irascaris mihi et mineris ingentes miserias?" (book I, cap. V)
I can't understand the usage of the ...
4
votes
1answer
124 views
How does one express adjectives in the present tense in Latin which aren't everlasting?
Exempli gratia, how would one say 'I am perturbed' in Latin opposed to 'I am human'? The state of being perturbed can change, but the state of being a human being cannot change, so how does one write ...
4
votes
1answer
76 views
Should one use the singular or plural when the number is unknown?
It just occurred to me (I'm that guy maybe starting the YouTube channel) that I don't know whether to use the singular or plural to address my audience in Latin.
My thinking goes like this: plural ...
6
votes
3answers
368 views
grammar of “sapientiae tuae non est numerus”
in Confessions we read:
magnus es, domine, et laudabilis valde. magna virtus tua et sapientiae tuae non est numerus.
while the meaning is quite clear, I can't clearly resolve the literal ...
6
votes
1answer
236 views
What does “Filiane” mean?
I am learning Latin from Collar and Daniell's FIRST YEAR LATIN. In LESSON IV: THE GENITIVE CASE TO DENOTE POSSESSION, an exercise is given (sentence translation).
Some examples:
LÄ«beratne? LÄ«berÅ, ...
4
votes
2answers
99 views
Is “ante a priori” correct?
As I understand it, "a posteriori" means "from the latter," and "a priori" means "from the former."
Suppose there was something predating the former in the context above. How would that be expressed ...
5
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0answers
68 views
“Renegatus”: an active perfect participle from a non-deponent verb?
Several dictionaries' etymologies of English "renegade" trace it to Medieval Latin renegatus, an apostate, one who has denied his religion and gone back to another. Renegatus in turn is the ...
5
votes
1answer
77 views
How do I name the individual parts of the lumbricals muscle of the foot in latin?
As we can see, Wikipedia lists the lumbricals muscle and tells us that the muscle contains four parts.
I need to name all four individual parts of the muscle and their respective side in the body. I ...
8
votes
2answers
646 views
Where is the correct position to set right or left of muscle names for anatomical names?
Muscles and bones have Latin names as can be found on wikipedia.
I need to name muscles and bones with their Latin name and I also need to specify if it's the left or the right muscle in the human ...
4
votes
0answers
64 views
Any material on so-called “inverse analysis” and “minimal pairs” to practice Latin grammar?
I was wondering if anyone could provide me with references on any online material (pdf, links, etc.) of Latin Grammar which can contain exercises based on so-called "inverse analysis" and "minimal ...
3
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1answer
472 views
The grammar of the expression “mihi cordi est”
Recently I encountered the phrase "mihi cordi est", after googling it I saw it is quite common phrase that seem to mean "it pleases me". For example: "vita horrida, arida, atque dura, mihi cordi est".
...
4
votes
2answers
319 views
Occasus nescius
In the first line of this 12th-century conductus:
Sol oritur occasus nescius
what does nescius refer to? Maybe diagramming the sentence is all I need, because I don't follow the grammar.
If the ...
5
votes
2answers
776 views
The Purpose of “Natu”
Following on from the question "Using Genitive & Infinitive To Describe Characteristics"; Joonas (26/6/19): "adulescentis est maiores natu revereri." = "It is of a young person to respect his/ her ...
3
votes
2answers
91 views
Using genitive and infinitive to describe characteristics
Answering this question, I recalled a somewhat rare construction used to express that an action is characteristic of someone.
Pekkanen's Ars Grammatica (Ā§77.1) gives two examples:
Cuiusvis hominis ...
4
votes
1answer
63 views
Grammatical analysis of comparative parts (i.e. “tam ā¦ quam”, etc.)
I have the following sentence from Seneca, epistula 1, Ā§2:
"Cum placuerit fieri, toto illum pectore admitte; tam audaciter cum illo loquere quam tecum."
However, I'm not sure what the "tam audaciter ...
4
votes
1answer
87 views
Ī¼ĪµĻį½° ĻĪæįæ¦ĻĪæ į¼ĪŗĪæĻ Īµ (Symposion.215)
I have a question about the following extract (Platon's Symposion, 215)
[Alcibiades describes Socrates as a Silenus's statue and as Marsyas, a satyr.] į½
ĻĪ¹ Ī¼į½²Ī½ Īæį½Ī½ ĻĻ Ī³Īµ Īµį¼¶Ī“ĪæĻ į½
Ī¼ĪæĪ¹ĪæĻ Īµį¼¶ ĻĪæĻĻĪæĪ¹Ļ, į½¦ ...
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votes
2answers
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What does “enim et” mean?
A couple days ago, a friend sent me an excerpt from a new game, asking about a Latin phrase in it:
Contra Diabolus enim et alii Daemones
(In the game, this is the motto of a group of Catholic ...
3
votes
1answer
107 views
Syntax of Ille: “numquam est ille miser cui facile est mori”
What is the syntax of ille in the sentence: "numquam est ille miser cui facile est mori"? I get that cui is indirect object, but what is the function of the demonstrative pronoun ille in the sentence?
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votes
2answers
741 views
What sort of grammatical construct is āQuod per sortem sternit fortemā?
In the poem āO Fortunaā (anon., 13th c., but made famous by Carl Orffās setting), there is this verse:
Quod per sortem
sternit fortem
mecum omnes plangite!
This is typically translated as ā...
3
votes
2answers
73 views
On the use (or not) of genitive in some verses of the Vulgata
I'm a bit puzzled with some verses of the Vulgata, regarding the use or not of genitive. Consider 3 Regnum (1 Kings in non LXX-based bibles). Verses 13-15 in Chapter 10 go as follows:
[13] Rex ...
5
votes
2answers
3k views
What does “Dominus providebit” mean?
Does "Dominus providebit" mean "The Lord will provide" or "The Lord provides"?
I once had a bit of an argument with a guy who studied Latin over that. It's an inscription that appears on the rim of ...
5
votes
2answers
314 views
On the (typical?) ambiguity of “Porta clausa est”
It is often said that Porta clausa est can have two readings depending on the categorial nature of the participle: verbal (cf. clauditur/clausa est) or adjectival (cf. clausa est/clausa fuit), which ...
7
votes
2answers
541 views
How was the “elliptical dual” used?
In a comment on this answer, TKR brought up an interesting point of grammar I'd never heard of.
Īį¼“Ī±Ī½ĻĪµ [Ajax-DUAL] is an interesting case. Though readers of Homer since antiquity have interpreted ...
6
votes
1answer
132 views
Parsing Priapea 31
Intermediate here. I am having a hard time parsing this poem (Carmina Priapea 31).
Donec proterva nil mei manu carpes,
licebit ipsa sis pudicior Vesta.
sin, haec mei te ventris arma laxabunt,
exire ...
3
votes
1answer
296 views
«ĪøĻĻĪ½ ĻĪµ Ī³į½°Ļ ĻĪ±Ī½ĪµĻį½øĻ į¼¦Ī½ ĻĪæĪ»Ī»Ī¬ĪŗĪ¹Ļ Ī¼į½²Ī½ Īæį¼“ĪŗĪæĪ¹» (Xenophon, Memorabilia, 1.1.2)
Xenophon, Memorabilia, 1.1.2:
ĻĻįæ¶ĻĪæĪ½ Ī¼į½²Ī½ Īæį½Ī½, į½”Ļ Īæį½Īŗ į¼Ī½ĻĪ¼Ī¹Ī¶ĪµĪ½ Īæį½Ļ į¼” ĻĻĪ»Ī¹Ļ Ī½ĪæĪ¼ĪÆĪ¶ĪµĪ¹ ĪøĪµĪæĻĻ, ĻĪæĪÆįæ³ ĻĪæĻį¾½ į¼ĻĻĪ®ĻĪ±Ī½ĻĪæ ĻĪµĪŗĪ¼Ī·ĻĪÆįæ³; ĪøĻĻĪ½ ĻĪµ Ī³į½°Ļ ĻĪ±Ī½ĪµĻį½øĻ į¼¦Ī½ ĻĪæĪ»Ī»Ī¬ĪŗĪ¹Ļ Ī¼į½²Ī½ Īæį¼“ĪŗĪæĪ¹, ĻĪæĪ»Ī»Ī¬ĪŗĪ¹Ļ Ī“į½² į¼Ļį½¶ Ļįæ¶Ī½ ĪŗĪæĪ¹Ī½įæ¶Ī½ ĻįæĻ ...
5
votes
2answers
225 views
How often is “et” used as an adverb, and what might distinguish that usage?
The conjunction et, in addition to its common use as a coordinating conjunction meaning and, can also be used adverbially, encompassing similar meanings as those found in words like etiam, item, etc. ...
6
votes
2answers
941 views
Agreement in “medio tutissimus ibis”
Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book II, line 137 gives us the aphorism
(in) medio tutissimus ibis
The English translation for this is typically given as "In the middle, you will go most safe."
How does "...
