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An error message in Latin for my programming language

I am writing a piece of software that translates programs into programs (a "compiler", in informatics lingo) and my source language allows the programmer to specify Latin numerals. In case the numeral is incorrect (e.g., IVI) or is too large (that…
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Why was ante tribus translated as "fifteen years ago"?

In an answer I posted here, I provided someone else's translation which translated ante tribus as "fifteen years ago". The translation provided in the question also translated tribus the same way: Portavi lacrimis madidus te nostra catella, quod…
Expedito Bipes
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8
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Understanding a reference to Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum

On page 33 of Companion Animals & Us, there is a line: I am in tears, while carrying you to your last resting place as much as I rejoiced when bringing you home in my own hands fifteen years ago. It cites Corpus Inscriptionum Latinarum 10.659.1-2…
Morgoth
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Quo modo Latine redditur "fool proof"?

Quo modo expressio Anglica "fool proof" Latine reddi potest? Nullum idioma Latinum significatione simile scio. Eandem rem Latine exprimere possum, exempli gratia dicendo "perbene munitus", sed malim vocem (aut voces) invenire, qua utebantur iam…
Joonas Ilmavirta
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When was the dual number used in Attic Greek?

I have only studied the very basics of Greek years ago, so the question might be simple, but I couldn't find a clear summary anywhere. Attic Greek has a dual number alongside singular and plural. When was this number used? Was it used whenever there…
Joonas Ilmavirta
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What is a boyfriend or a girlfriend in Latin?

When answering this question, it occurred to me that I don't know what to call a "boyfriend" or a "girlfriend" in Latin. What would be good words? I assume that the same solution will work for both with obvious modifications, but I will be happy to…
Joonas Ilmavirta
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Differentiating possessive and non-possessive uses of the genitive

In English, genitives formed with " 's " often have a possessive meaning, while "of" may function to form a kind of "genitive" with a non-possessive meaning, e.g., compare "John's photo" and "a photo of John". However, I have not found anything…
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Is there a gender-neutral pronoun for people in Latin?

Sometimes it is preferable to leave a person's gender undisclosed and some people do not fall into the usual two gender categories. This requires some adaptations in languages that indicate gender in nouns or pronouns. In English one can use the…
Joonas Ilmavirta
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Is the phrase professor emerita grammatically correct?

Since professor has masculine gender, one may think that the phrase should be professor emeritus, regardless of the gender of the person referred to. Is the use of emerita simply a case of grammatical ignorance?
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How to translate phrases using "prospectus"

I want to translate two phrases: The view [with the meaning of "focus"] to all. I'm thinking: prospectus omnium And the opposite: The view to [only] the strong ones. I think prospectus should be used here too, but not sure about the rest. …
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In what contexts, exactly, did Augustus use the name Octavianus?

Wikipedia says Caesar Augustus was born Gaius Octavius Thurinus, making his nomen Octavius and that nomen would have held sway prior to his ascension to emperor. Screenwriters, though, seem always to refer to him as "Octavian" at that time of his…
Robusto
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What does the verb "luere" mean in the Angilberti carmina?

Angilbert is asking what the women (the sisters and daughters of Charles the Great) might think of the return of their nephew/brother Pepin from Italy in the poem AD PIPPINUM ITALIAE REGEM by Angilbert : (...) Quid Gisla et Theodrada simul cum…
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Why choose σ versus σσ in Hebrew loans?

The LXX provides a wide variety of Hebrew, Aramaic, and other Semitic words transcribed into Greek. Most of the transcriptions are straightforward: the letter lamedh ל, for example, is always transcribed as lambda λ. However, the letter shin שׁ is…
Draconis
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Does "plurimi" imply "vast majority" in Augustine's Enchiridion?

In Augustine's Enchiridion, §112, he writes: Frustra itaque nonnulli, immo quam plurimi, aeternam damnatorum poenam et cruciatus sine intermissione perpetuos humano miserantur affectu, atque ita futurum esse non credunt It is quite in vain, then,…
Nathaniel is protesting
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Noun adjuncts in Latin

So this question asks about forming adjectives from nouns, but no clear answer is really given for a general method. In english, you can just use a noun as a adjective without any modification by placing the modifing noun before the modified noun.…
tox123
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