Most Popular
1500 questions
11
votes
1 answer
Why did Cicero switch from "abs te" to "a te" in his later works?
Lewis and Short, in their entry on ab, describe a shift in use of abs in Cicero's works that had far-reaching ramifications:
The use of abs was confined almost exclusively to the combination abs te during the whole ante-classic period, and with…
Nathaniel is protesting
- 11,379
- 4
- 40
- 119
11
votes
5 answers
What is a best man in Latin?
A very recent question asks about a phrase involving a best man.
What would be a good Latin translation of "best man", the groom's assistant in a wedding?
I don't think vir optimus really means this.
I don't know if there was a role analogous to a…
Joonas Ilmavirta
- 113,294
- 21
- 192
- 587
11
votes
5 answers
How did Latin sound?
Does anybody know how normal Latin dialog sounded — not the oratory or ecclesiastical versions? Are there any audio files that you recommend?
Valugi
- 219
- 2
- 5
11
votes
2 answers
Generic use of Italian "fare": analogue in Latin?
The Italian word "fare" is often used in a very generic way. English doesn't use "do" or "make" that much, but it can still be a good comparison. Let me give some examples. We may say "fare Greco" ("make Greek", literally, or "do Greek") to mean "do…
MickG
- 3,275
- 1
- 11
- 22
11
votes
3 answers
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 Spanish and in French.
Particular examples are
el…
Lenny
- 213
- 3
- 7
11
votes
5 answers
How do I say "this is why…"?
I've seen this meme circulating lately, pointing out one of the many valid reasons to learn to speak dead languages properly:
My first thought was, "this is why we need to mark long vowels!" But I realized, to my shame, I don't know how to express…
Draconis
- 66,625
- 6
- 117
- 269
11
votes
1 answer
Use of "sit" instead of "est" in Virgil
I came across the quotation "Nunc scio quid sit amor" (Virgil, Ecl. VIII.43), and I’d like to know why the subjunctive "sit" is used instead of "est" here. Since it means "Now I know what love is" and not "Now I know what love might be", why…
R Emmett Chumbley
- 113
- 6
11
votes
1 answer
How would Marcus Aurelius have pronounced his Latin?
It is my understanding that Julius Caesar, Cicero, Octavian (Augustus) would have pronounced Latin in a manner that is decidedly Classical, characterised by:
"v" as /w/
"c" and "g" always hard (i.e., /k/ and /g/)
both long and short vowels
"ae"…
Noldorin
- 213
- 1
- 7
11
votes
3 answers
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 happy until there is daylight outside
Should we…
d_e
- 11,021
- 2
- 21
- 40
11
votes
1 answer
Which islands appear in the locative?
Textbooks, when describing the use of the locative, often say it's used with the names of "cities and small islands" (as well as a few nouns like rus). What counts as a "small island"?
Wikipedia says that "The Romans considered all Mediterranean…
TKR
- 31,292
- 2
- 66
- 120
10
votes
4 answers
How to download an entire text from Perseus?
This is a technical question, but I hope it's on topic. The Perseus project contains lots and lots of Latin and Greek texts (and other languages too). I sometimes want to download an entire text from Perseus. There is an XML button at the bottom of…
TKR
- 31,292
- 2
- 66
- 120
10
votes
2 answers
In the title "Ars Goetia," is "Goetia" an appositive noun?
Ars Goetia is a well-known book about demonology written in Mediaeval Latin. I'm having trouble analyzing the grammatical structure of the title. Ars is a feminine noun in the singular nominative form. Goetia looks like it is feminine and in the…
Asteroides
- 28,832
- 1
- 80
- 144
10
votes
2 answers
Omission of a repeated verb in second part of a μέν ... δέ
This question is about the Greek equivalent of sentences like
I do not fear the Greeks, but I do fear the Romans.
Socrates didn't write dialogues, but Plato did.
These sentences use or imply the same verb in both parts of a parallel construction,…
TKR
- 31,292
- 2
- 66
- 120
10
votes
3 answers
Why is Descartes Latinised as Cartesius?
The famous French philosopher Rene Descartes is Latinised as Renatus Cartesius. Those unfamiliar with this, or with his thought in general, might then not realise that some words are derived from his name. For instance, Cartesian is a common term…
luchonacho
- 12,354
- 5
- 34
- 100
10
votes
2 answers
Meaning of "SEVERA INDEOVI VAS" from 3rd Century slab
Can someone explain the meaning of the words "SEVERA INDEOVI VAS" on this slab:
According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depiction_of_Jesus, the above image is of an "Incised sarcophagus slab with the Adoration of the Magi from the Catacombs of…
Sacha T Red
- 231
- 2
- 3