Latin Language Stack Exchange
Latin Language Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [latin-to-english-translation]

For questions about translating Latin words or phrases into English. Bulk translation requests are off-topic.

On this site, is intended for questions specifically about translating things from Latin to English. For example, you could ask

  • How a word fits into a sentence
  • For a colloquial translation when your literal one makes no sense
  • How to translate a verb that's subjunctive for some reason

As this is Stack Exchange, and not DoMyWork Exchange, some effort must be made for the question to be on-topic. Simply posting a passage and asking for a translation is not allowed; posting a sentence, an attempt at a translation, and asking for help is. See also and How can I ask a translation or homework question?

482 questions
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"qua dabatur liberum aeris spatium" in a letter of Erasmus

Erasmus's letter 1756 (readable in its entirety here) describes an explosion of gunpowder in a castle at Basel. I'm having trouble understanding a five-word phrase in the letter. This is the passage: Vidisses immania fragmenta turris, avium ritu,…
TKR
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Translation needed for 130 years old church document

I found this record of my great grandfather in a local church in Malaysia. Today, nobody use Latin anymore in this country. I should be much grateful if someone can help my family translating this document so that we can trace our root. My great…
Lawrence L
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Help translating phrase from William Lilly's Christian Astrology

So I just started reading through William Lilly's 1647 work Christian Astrology and I came across a paragraph in Latin on p. ix of the Dedicatory Epistle that I can't seem to easily translate via Google Translate. Any help would be greatly…
Nikki Cypher
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Help Translating Text Found On Oil Painting

Need help in translating this text found on an oil painting. I believe it's medieval Latin but not sure if Christophorus and Lafranchini is the first and last name or two different people. Any help is appreciated.
John B
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Help with stained glass lettering

This jpg shows what I think is Latin lettering on a stained glass window at a Japanese wedding chapel: If it is Latin, I'd appreciate (1) an English translation and (2) the lettering deciphered into legible English letters.
niconiko
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Why is it "id est" instead of "illud est" if it often means "that is"?

If "i.e." or "id est" is often used to say "that is...", why do we use "id" instead of "illud"? Doesn't "id est" translate to "it is"?
Alexa
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Saying 10 but meaning 10,000 in Latin

In Petronius we find reference to a cloak which they say literally costs 10 sesterces but I think what they're doing is the same practice in English where if I ask you how much did your car cost and your respond 15, the listener is expected to…
bobsmith76
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Montes nec non vorticum timores... - is this correct Latin?

MONTES NEC NON VORTICUM TIMORES METUSQUE VICERUNT ATQUE MUNIFICI CATENARUM ADMINICULA FIERI FECERUNT I found this (Latin?) inscription on a commemorative plaque in the mountains. My questions: Is this correct Latin? If so, what does it…
atlantis23
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Qui mihi decipulus?

In Archie Armstrong's Banquet of Jests (1641), the following passage occurs: A Gentleman and a Parson. Some pleasant Gentlemen riding by the High-way, espyed a Countrey Parson before them. Sayes one of them, yonder is a Scholler, let us mend our…
Luke Sawczak
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Quote from Leibniz

I was trying to translate a quote from Leibniz: Nominum casus semper eliminari possunt substitutis in eorum locum particulis quibusdam. My attempt is: We can always eliminate the nominal case, instead of them some particles are substituted. How…
user3165
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Is this translation of a note in a map correct?

I just saw this tweet. It contains this image: (taken from here, where we gather that the map was drawn in the early 1700s) with the following Latin sentence: ex septentrione longissimeque dissitis regionibus venisse ductuque mirabili migrasse…
Federico
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"M. Cato Censorius, quem tam e re publica fuit nasci quam Scipionem"

In Seneca Moral Letters 87 M. Cato Censorius, quem tam e re publica fuit nasci quam Scipionem, alter enim cum hostibus nostris bellum, alter cum moribus gessit, cantherio vehebatur et hippoperis quidem inpositis, ut secum utilia portaret. I don't…
d_e
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Translation of "ad quam delatus sum" into english

This is an excerpt from the dedicatio written by the mathematician Carl Friedrich Gauss to his sponsor, the Duke of Brunswick: Nisi enim TUA gratia, Serenissime Princeps, introitum mihi ad scientias primum aperuisset, nisi perpetua TUA beneficia…
rmdmc89
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What is "indefessus agendo"?

There is a woodcut illustration appearing in many books published in Amsterdam in 17th century. There are several versions of figures on the sides, here is one (British museum scan): It carries the motto: "Indefessus agendo". Seeing this without…
d_e
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A medieval poem by Pietro Crinito

In searching the phrase gravis ambitus (an attempt to render "tense/harsh/difficult atmosphere"), I found an interesting poem by Pietro Crinito (Latin ode on his long sickness and approaching death). just before the end we read this part: Non ille…
d_e
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