Questions tagged [vocabulary]
This tag is for questions concerning the meaning and usage of individual words or a few words in conjunction with each other.
526
questions
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1answer
45 views
Mysterious word for “expert” in an Italian anthology's version of Sappho LP 21
In this Italian anthology, LP 21 l. 2 (the first line where the papyrus has letters) is read as containing επαβολησ (and perhaps vestigia around it). The first word in the translation is "esperta", ...
5
votes
2answers
74 views
Cibus sanus — healthy food?
The Duolingo Latin course uses sanus as "healthy" in connection with meals.
A healthy lunch would be prandium sanum according to the course.
But I always thought that sanus is only refers to the ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
Explanatory and Etymological dictionary of the Latin Language
With the term explanatory I am translating ερμηνευτικό. A dictionary which defines words comprehensively and clearly.
If one considers Oxford University to be the authority on the English language ...
4
votes
1answer
139 views
Thematic, genred concepts in Ancient Greek?
Trying to come up with magical 'schools' for a game, and my goal is to:
Use Ancient Greek, Koine if absolutely necessary
Have words of generally the same length and number of syllables (not like, ...
1
vote
0answers
23 views
Untraceable word in a combination of LP fragments
LP 68(b) and 69 have been combined into a single text by the impression that they were «ex eadem parte papyri» and by the one letter split between the two. The resulting text, found in 6.A.iv here, ...
8
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0answers
80 views
Substantive adjective “Latīna” as the name of the language
No dictionary I've checked lists such a usage. The closest to what I'm looking for is DMLBS listing a meaning "2.b (w. ellipsis of lingua)", but the two examples it gives display ordinary (in effect ...
4
votes
1answer
108 views
Does “physicae artis” mean “physics”?
Google Translate translates "physicae artis" as "Physics". Is that correct? What would be the reasoning of it? Why isn't it "nature of the art" or "physics of the art"?
This is related to the ...
6
votes
1answer
98 views
+50
In memoriam: why not “in memoria”?
Consider this usual example of Latin+English:
As Wiktionary states, in memoriam literally means "into memory" (memoriam is in accusative case). However, as Wiktionary (above) and Wikipedia state, the ...
11
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2answers
145 views
Is Duolingo good for Latin?
On August 28*, 2019 Duolingo announced its Latin course for English speakers.
Out of curiosity, I subscribed, but I'm just starting to peek into it.
My question is (if anyone has tried it in depth ...
7
votes
2answers
83 views
Does “laudate” imply the morning part the day? (or are these translations wrong?)
This 2000's document by the Vatican, clarifying some issues relative to the Liturgy of the Hours (or Divine Office), states (original in Latin):
c) per se Laudes recitari debent horis matutinis, ...
9
votes
1answer
116 views
When did “virgo” gain its sexual meaning?
The primary meaning I associate with virgo, virginis is "young woman", perhaps a bit older than a puella but not yet a mulier.
However, the descendants of this word (in English and the Romance ...
5
votes
1answer
74 views
Did “quartilis” exist?
In statistics, a point that separates out (a multiple of) 25% of the data set is called a "quartile". Similarly, if it separates out 20% of the data, it's a "quintile", 1% a "percentile", and in ...
10
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3answers
2k views
Are there nouns that change meaning based on gender?
I was looking through a feature in some Romance languages, Spanish and French, where nouns in Spanish change depending on gender. I was wondering if Latin had a few of these.
Here are examples in ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
What is a “click” in Greek or Latin?
Linguistically, "clicks" are a type of sound found in certain African languages, mostly Khoisan and Southern Bantu. The English word is also used for various other sharp, high-pitched noises (like ...
4
votes
0answers
45 views
Opposing meanings of the suffix -gena
I recently came across the word "deigena" while reading c. 2, lectio 4 of Aquinas's Commentary on the Divine Names of [Pseudo-]Dionysius. This led me to discover what seems to be a productive suffix ...
4
votes
1answer
127 views
μονάδαι as plural form of μονάς
In the text that I am reading now, the Greek word μονάδαι is used to indicate "units". I have understood it as a plural form of μονάς, however, I could only find μονᾰ́δε in the dual form and μονᾰ́δες ...
3
votes
1answer
109 views
How to say “Third time lucky” in Latin
Answering a recent question, I've realized that I don't know how to say the following idiomatic expression in Latin (cf. Spanish: "A la tercera va la vencida"). Any suggestions?
"Third time lucky" ...
8
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2answers
743 views
How to say “fit” in Latin?
The English word "fit" has a number of different uses, and that makes searching difficult.
I am looking for a verb or phrase to be used in a sentence like this:
The souvenir does not fit in my bag.
...
5
votes
3answers
132 views
Where does the word “tudes” 'hammer' show up in texts?
Lewis and Short has an entry for a noun tŭdes, with the genitive singular given as "is (ĭtis, acc. to Fest. p. 253 Müll.)". It is defined as "a hammer, mallet". The two citations in the entry show the ...
3
votes
2answers
216 views
About supplemented word ὀλόφῳ in a fusion of Lobel-Page fragments from an Italian Sappho anthology
This Italian Sappho anthology, on p. 57-58, has a fusion of several Lobel-Page fragments (cfr this question of mine), among which is 67(a). In l. 3 of that fragment, which is l. 16 of the fusion, the ...
2
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1answer
53 views
What is “password” in classical Latin?
The concept of passwords predates computers:
To gain access to, say, some heavily guarded premises, one may need to be able to say a secret phrase to the guards.
I would imagine this concept was not ...
3
votes
4answers
3k views
Does this sentence I constructed with my junior high school latin work? I write online advertising and want to come off as snobby as possible
Essentially, I want to say something like:
"If you read this, your will will be mine". (In a teasing way like, Who Reads This Is Stupid).
I 'distilled' it as much as possible to "reader beware: your ...
7
votes
2answers
102 views
Are there minimal pairs between the acute and circumflex accent?
Ancient Greek had two (*) different types of accent on long vowels: the "circumflex" accent indicates high tone on the first mora, and the "acute" accent indicates high tone on the second. (Short ...
4
votes
2answers
76 views
“Nucis vado”? Going nuts?
Does "Nucis vado" mean going nuts? I go of a nut?
Some folks want to use it as a motto and I would like to make sure it is proper.
If not, what would "Going Nuts" be, properly translated?
Thanks for ...
3
votes
0answers
43 views
How would you translate γέγονεν in John 1:15?
I'm translating the 15th verse of John 1, and I'm curious to know the nuances of translating the phrase ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, and especially the word γέγονεν.
Below is the NA28 ...
4
votes
1answer
84 views
Is there a Greek word meaning to purr?
I've heard that there is no known verb for purring (of a cat) in Greek. Is that true? Any qualified guess as to what verb a Greek might have used?
3
votes
2answers
75 views
Is ulcantur a subjunctive of ultus?
I have a prayer I say every morning. It includes the word ulcantur. I can't find a translation. I think it is a subjunctive for ultus?
O Piisima Virgo Maria, quæ caput serpentis contrivisti, protege ...
1
vote
1answer
33 views
What are auscultatores?
In honor of the last broadcast of the Nuntiī Latinī:
Nuntii Latini Radiophoniae Finnicae Generalis, qui inde ab anno millesimo nongentesimo undenonagesimo (1989) iam triginta annos septimanatim ...
2
votes
1answer
66 views
Branches of Roman military in Latin
The military force of a country is often divided in branches such as an army, a navy, and an air force.
There are many other branches out there, but the point is that I am looking for a division of ...
4
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2answers
89 views
What is a “sockpuppet”?
Inspired by a recent meta question, which I had to write in English for lack of appropriate Latin vocabulary:
A "sockpuppet", on the internet, is an alternate identity someone creates for nefarious ...
3
votes
1answer
34 views
Proper way to say “Traveler's Writ/Licence/Certificate”
I am looking for more or less the 'proper' (or any good approximation) way to translate a "Traveler's Writ," as in a certificate or license given to a traveler that allows him legal access to an area.
...
4
votes
2answers
87 views
The meaning of 'belgicare' in Notker Balbulus
What is the meaning of the obscure verb belgicare or belgico?
Background
Notker Balbulus of St. Gall (c. 840 to 912) writes this verb in a letter/epistle to a certain Lantbert, wherein Notker ...
2
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1answer
117 views
Does Latin “pingo” relate to “pix”? [closed]
Does Latin "pingo" to paint relate to "pix" tar by analogy with "pango" to agree and "pax" peace?
3
votes
1answer
47 views
Can I submit a manuscript with 'submittere'?
As a scientist, I frequently find myself submitting a manuscript to a journal for peer review and hopefully publication.
What would be a good Latin verb for this sense of "submit"?
It could also be a ...
3
votes
2answers
321 views
Does “aurea” have the second meaning?
Does "aurea" have the second meaning?
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=aurea&la=la#lexicon aurea doesn't mean "the bridle of a horse" in the following context in my opinion:
"...
4
votes
2answers
106 views
Can one create a diminutive of a truncated form of “frater”?
In Spanish we have the word mano for hermano ("brother"), and that form can give the diminutive manito, when the brother is very small (less than one). In Latin, like in Italian, it might be possible ...
7
votes
1answer
649 views
Translating 'Liber'
I'm new to Latin (in the first semester), and recently found myself tripped up when reading a text from another student in my class, which was:
ille liber mihi nunc bonum est
Whether it was lack ...
4
votes
1answer
70 views
What should we call the space beyond the world?
To the Romans, if I understand right, the word caelum "sky" incorporated everything above the earth: the atmosphere, the space beyond it, and even the thrones of the gods.
But nowadays we divide ...
1
vote
1answer
111 views
Why is the phrase “horror vacui” commonly interpreted as “nature abhors a vacuum”?
Why is the Latin phrase: horror vacui commonly interpreted as: nature abhors a vacuum?
It may well be Aristotle's intended message, given the context, but it seems like a bit of a jump. Doesn't it? ...
4
votes
1answer
84 views
What would a Roman call modern necromancy?
Originally, the word necromantīa referred to a sort of divination using ghosts, like what Odysseus did on his journey home: he made an offering and summoned the shade of Tiresias, in order to ask him ...
7
votes
1answer
138 views
The opposing meanings of the word donec?
I saw that "donec" might mean: "as long as", but it also can mean "till". In a sense those are opposing meanings. let's consider this example:
I'm happy as long as there is daylight outside
I'm ...
6
votes
4answers
798 views
A latin word for “area of interest”
Looking for a word that expresses "Area of Interest", "Sphere of Interest" basically a word that expresses everything a person may be interested in.
Google translate says "Rem" means interest, but ...
8
votes
1answer
401 views
What is Plautus’s pun about frustum and frustrum?
The word frustum is often mispronounced as frustrum.
Wikipedia states that this mispronunciation goes back a long time and a pun about them is included in the works of Plautus.
Can anyone direct me ...
6
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2answers
88 views
How were fractions written and pronounced?
In English, when we want to express parts of wholes and certain numbers of said parts, we use fractions consisting of a denominator indicating how many equal pieces an item has been broken or divided ...
2
votes
1answer
71 views
Is the Latin word verenda a noun? If so, which lexical root it has?
Is the Latin word verenda a noun? If so, which lexical root does it have?
Deu.25:11:
"Si habuerint inter se jurgium viri duo, et unus contra alterum rixari coeperit, volensque uxor alterius eruere ...
8
votes
1answer
296 views
Is crescere the correct word meaning to to grow or cultivate?
I am creating a program that helps people learn a growth mindset and “grow” into what they want to become. Is crescere the correct word meaning to to grow or cultivate?
3
votes
2answers
118 views
What would be a literal translation of “Satan”?
In Ancient Greek, the Hebrew word שָׂטָן (satan, "adversary") is sometimes translated as διάβολος (diábolos, "betrayer") and sometimes adapted as Σατανᾶς (Satanâs).
In Latin, it seems like there ...
14
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6answers
9k views
Is Cola “probably the best-known” Latin word in the world? If not, which might it be?
I found this in an ecological park:
Cola is actually a Latin word (a scientific one, referring to the plant), albeit its etymology is African.
I am curious about whether it is "probably" the best-...
4
votes
2answers
464 views
How to find the stem of any word?
I am wondering if the stem of every word has an exact form?
For example:
For the word genus, how could you determine is it gen or gener?
For the word līber, how could you determine is it līber or ...
4
votes
3answers
97 views
Why there are several words for swimming?
The words nō, natō, adnō are all verbs which means to swim. They have their own conjugation respectively.
Maybe there are not only three, but I'm not sure.
I wonder why there are several words in ...
