Adverb used as an adjective? avare

Question

In Martial, there is a line Erras, meorum fur avare librorum... and it seems that avare is an adverb but this makes no sense since the intention seems to be modifying fur in which case I would have expected fur avarus, not fur avare. What is the grammar here?

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 14 '23 at 11:36

5

Here avare is not an adverb but an adjective in the vocative case, in agreement with fur, which is also vocative.

answered Nov 14 '23 at 11:36

Mitomino

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Scansion helps making the distinction. The final -e is short in the vocative and long in the adverb. – Joonas Ilmavirta Nov 14 '23 at 11:58

Adverb used as an adjective? avare

1 Answers1