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In the novella Filia regis et monstrum horribile, by Andrew Olimpi, I have read (emphasis mine):

Fīlia prīma nātū est puella pulchra. Sed fīlia secunda nātū pulchrior est quam soror sua. [...] Fīlia tertia nātū vocatur Psȳchē.

I don't understand the usage of the ablative nātū in the above text. Could anyone please explain it?

Charo
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1 Answers1

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Natus is a noun used only in the ablative singular natu “by birth”.

fdb
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    Specifically that is the case for the fourth-declension noun, not the second-declension one meaning 'son' or the PPP of nascor, both of which are also nātus. – Cairnarvon Jan 24 '24 at 10:46
  • I see: I thought it was the adjective nātus. – Charo Jan 24 '24 at 12:01
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    @Charo It's worth checking your declension tables carefully when confused. The participle or adjective natus does not have a form natu; its ablative is nato/nata. – Joonas Ilmavirta Jan 24 '24 at 16:30
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    Some more details in the answer here https://latin.stackexchange.com/questions/11054/the-purpose-of-natu – Davide Jan 25 '24 at 11:07