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How to write "knowledge to all" in Classical Latin?

Google translate gave me "In omni scientia". But I also had "Omnes enim scientiae" or "Omnis enim scientia" and a scholar gave me "Scientia per omnibus".

Which one corresponds the best? Or is there yet another wording which would be more accurate?

Joonas Ilmavirta
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pdeli
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1 Answers1

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Google Translate is very unreliable with Latin. Let me go through the proposed translations:

  • In omni scientia means "in all knowledge" or "there is knowledge in all". The translation depends on whether scientia is nominative or ablative — the two forms look alike for this word.
  • Omnes enim scientiae means "but all knowledges".
  • Omnis enim scientia is the same in singular: "but all knowledge".
  • Scientia per omnibus is ungrammatical. With per you should have accusative but omnibus is in dative (or ablative). It is better not to use a preposition here.

It should be noted that scientia also means "science", but I think this meaning is not yet present in classical Latin.

The last suggestion is closest to a good one. Scientia omnibus means "knowledge to all". In Latin "to all" is expressed with the single word omnibus (in dative) without any preposition.

Joonas Ilmavirta
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    Pro patria is 'On behalf of one's Country.' Perhaps the scholar was thinking of pro + ablative., in this Centenary year. – Hugh Oct 20 '16 at 01:20
  • @Hugh, perhaps they indeed meant scientia pro omnibus (knowledge on behalf of everyone). I suppose this could also be translated as "knowledge for all", but the meaning is quite far from the OP's intention if I understand it correctly. – Joonas Ilmavirta Oct 20 '16 at 06:00