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On the (typical?) ambiguity of "Porta clausa est"
It is often said that Porta clausa est can have two readings depending on the categorial nature of the participle: verbal (cf. clauditur/clausa est) or adjectival (cf. clausa est/clausa fuit), which in turn corresponds to a semantic difference…
Mitomino
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8
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Is 'datus' used for a date in Latin?
In many languages the word for date (a specific day, such as January 2, 2019) seems to come from the Latin participle datus: we have the English "date", the Italian "data", the Swedish "datum", and others.
Do these words come from a Latin phrase…
Joonas Ilmavirta
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8
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Translation of the Latin lyrics in Avenged Sevenfold's "Requiem"?
In Avenged Sevenfold's "Requiem" there is a passage in Latin at the very beginning of the song. It says something like:
Prodigia comploratus
Silens, oro
Regnet exitium
I know nothing about this language but I assume that the written text above…
Tendero
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8
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What is the rationale for modern pronunciation of Latin in music?
I'm not particularly versed in musical tradition, but I've been aware for some time now that the modern de-facto standard for pronouncing Latin in singing is what is commonly referred to as the "Ecclesiastical" pronunciation. Now, this makes sense…
varro
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8
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What to call a Christmas present in Latin?
What would be a good way to call Christmas presents on contemporary Latin?
Are there attested Latin descriptions of early Christmas where presents are given, or should we perhaps choose something newer?
My intuition says donum natalicium, but it is…
Joonas Ilmavirta
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8
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1 answer
What would this pun mean?
In a conversation with a fellow Ancient Greek enthusiast, the name "Medusa" (Μέδουσα, "ruling") came up. I made a rather tortured pun by switching the epsilon to an eta, creating μὴ δοῦσα.
Now, μή is a negative particle, and δοῦσα is a participle…
Draconis
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8
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1 answer
How did the "injunctive" work?
According to Wikipedia:
Homeric Greek does not have a historical present tense, but rather uses injunctives. Injunctives are replaced by the historical present in the post-Homeric writings of Thucydides and Herodotus.
But also according to…
Draconis
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8
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1 answer
Why is there an "o" in "controversus"?
Apparently, contrōversus comes from the preposition contrā- + versus. So why does it have "ō" instead of "ā"? I checked Lewis and Short, but it doesn't explain the development of this vowel. I also found that contrāversus does in fact exist,…
Asteroides
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8
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2 answers
Which agents are human?
The agent of a passive construction is in ablative, and human agents also come with the preposition a/ab.
For example, Marcus a Gnaeo occisus est but Marcus sica occisus est.
But which agents should be considered human?
Many cases are clear, but…
Joonas Ilmavirta
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8
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Recommendations for "easy" philosophical/political Latin?
My Latin is okay reading Cæsar and Livy, and I'm even (mostly) fine reading Cicero's vicious attacks on the enemies of whoever happened to hire him for the occasion. But when I come to philosophy and politics, it's all ratio this and res that and…
Joel Derfner
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8
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2 answers
How to use apposition with vocative?
I am uncertain when to use nominative and when vocative in an apposition related to direct address.
This issue is easiest to describe with examples.
I have understood that the following use is correct:
Marce, amice bone, me audi! "Marcus, good…
Joonas Ilmavirta
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8
votes
3 answers
Can I contract with an irregular perfect stem in v?
I know that if I have a regular first conjugation verb, I can contract some forms.
For example, amavisti and amaverunt can become amasti and amarunt, and I have come across such forms repeatedly.
Can I contract the V away if the perfect stem is…
Joonas Ilmavirta
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Size of Latin vocabulary by period
What is the size of attested (or accepted) Latin vocabulary by period (Old, Classical, Late etc.)?
I am specifically interested in the Classical period, but I have added the other ones to the question.
Sir Cornflakes
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8
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Present Subjunctive Passive
North & Hillard Ex. 213; Q5: the following is to be translated into Latin: "I am willing to send anyone at all to find out what is going on."
The answer: "volo quemvis (quemlibet) mittere cognitum quid agatur."
A few points: firstly,…
tony
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8
votes
3 answers
Meaning of “supra se servitium”
Background
In the TV series Fallet, some of the upper class of the fictional town of Norbacka use the phrase
supra se servitium
as a sort of salutation. Its meaning is never elaborated upon.
My attempt
I tried and failed to understand this phrase…
Wrzlprmft
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