Latin Phrase-Book

tertiam iam aetatem videre– to be middle-aged (i. e. between thirty and forty).

in aetatem alicuius, in annum incidere– to happen during a person's life, year of office.

omnium suorum or omnibus suis superstitem esse– to outlive, survive all one's kin.

homines qui nunc sunt (opp. qui tunc fuerunt) – our contemporaries; men of our time.

homines huius aetatis, nostrae memoriae– our contemporaries; men of our time.

posteri– posterity.

scriptores aetate posteriores or inferiores– later writers.

4. Hunger – Thirst

esurire– to be hungry.

fame laborare, premi– to be tormented by hunger, to be starving.

famem tolerare, sustentare– to endure the pangs of hunger.

inediā mori or vitam finire– to starve oneself to death.

fame confici, perire, interire– to die of starvation.

fame necari– to be starved to death (as punishment).

famem, sitim explere– to allay one's hunger, thirst.

famem sitimque depellere cibo et potione– to allay one's hunger, thirst.

siti cruciari, premi– to suffer agonies of thirst.

sitim colligere– to become thirsty.

sitim haustu gelidae aquae sedare– to slake one's thirst by a draught of cold water.

famis et sitis 48 patientem esse– to be able to endure hunger and thirst.

5. Laughter – Tears

risum edere, tollere 49– to begin to laugh.

cachinnum tollere, edere– to burst into a roar of laughter.

risum movere, concitare– to raise a laugh.

risum elicere (more strongly excutere) alicui– to make a person laugh.

risum captare– to try and raise a laugh.

risum tenere vix posse– to be scarcely able to restrain one's laughter.

risum aegre continere posse– to be scarcely able to restrain one's laughter.

aliquid in risum vertere– to make a thing ridiculous, turn it into a joke.

lacrimas, vim lacrimarum effundere, profundere– to burst into a flood of tears.

in lacrimas effundi or lacrimis perfundi– to be bathed in tears.

lacrimis obortis– with tears in one's eyes.

multis cum lacrimis– with many tears.

magno cum fletu– with many tears.

lacrimas tenere non posse– to be hardly able to restrain one's tears.

fletum cohibere non posse– to be hardly able to restrain one's tears.

vix mihi tempero quin lacrimem– to be hardly able to restrain one's tears.

vix me contineo quin lacrimem– to be hardly able to restrain one's tears.

lacrimas or fletum alicui movere– to move to tears.

prae lacrimis loqui non posse– to be unable to speak for emotion.

gaudio lacrimare– to weep for joy.

hinc illae lacrimae (proverb.) (Ter. And. 1. 1. 99; Cael. 25. 61) – hence these tears; there's the rub.

lacrimula (Planc. 31. 76) – crocodiles' tears.

lacrimae simulatae– crocodiles' tears.

6. Health – Sickness

bona (firma, prospera) valetudine 50 esse or uti (vid. sect. VI. 8., note uti…) – to enjoy good health.

valetudini consulere, operam dare– to take care of one's health.

firma corporis constitutio or affectio– a good constitution.

infirma, aegra valetudine esse or uti– to be ill, weakly.

in morbum incidit– he fell ill.

aegrotare coepit– he fell ill.

morbo tentari or corripi– to be attacked by disease.

morbo afflīgi– to be laid on a bed of sickness.

lecto teneri– to be confined to one's bed.

vehementer, graviter aeogratare, iacēre– to be seriously ill.

gravi morbo affectum esse, conflictari, vexari– to be seriously ill.

leviter aegrotare, minus valere– to be indisposed.

aestu et febri iactari– to have a severe attack of fever.

omnibus membris captum esse 51– to be affected by disease in every limb; to be paralysed.

ex pedibus laborare, pedibus aegrum esse– to have the gout.

pestilentia (not pestis) in urbem (populum) invadit– the plague breaks out in the city.

animus relinquit aliquem– a man loses his senses, becomes unconscious.

morbus ingravescit 52– the disease gets worse.

morbo absūmi (Sall. Iug. 5. 6) – to be carried off by a disease.

assidēre aegroto (Liv. 25. 26) – to watch by a sick man's bedside.

aegrotum curare– to treat as a patient (used of a doctor).

curationes– method of treatment.

aegrotum sanare (not curare) – to cure a patient.

ex morbo convalescere (not reconvalescere) – to recover from a disease.

e gravi morbo recreari or se colligere– to recruit oneself after a severe illness.

melius ei factum est– he feels better.

valetudinem (morbum) excusare 53 (Liv. 6. 22. 7) – to excuse oneself on the score of health.

valetudinis excusatione uti– to excuse oneself on the score of health.

7. Sleep – Dreams

cubitum ire– to go to bed.

somno or quieti se tradere– to lay oneself down to sleep somnum capere non posse– to be unable to sleep.

curae somnum mihi adimunt, dormire me non sinunt– I cannot sleep for anxiety.

somnum oculis meis non vidi (Fam. 7. 30) – I haven't had a wink of sleep.

arte, graviter dormire (ex lassitudine)– to sleep soundly (from fatigue).

artus somnus aliquem complectitur (Rep. 6. 10) – to fall fast asleep.

somno captum, oppressum esse– to be overcome by sleep.

sopītum esse– to be sound asleep.

in lucem dormire– to sleep on into the morning.

somno solvi– to awake.

(e) somno excitare, dormientem excitare– to rouse, wake some one.

e lecto or e cubīli surgere– to rise from one's bed, get up.

per somnum, in somnis– in a dream.

per quietem, in quiete– in a dream.

in somnis videre aliquid or speciem– to see something in a dream.

in somnis visus (mihi) sum videre– I dreamed I saw…

species mihi dormienti oblata est– I saw a vision in my dreams.

somnium verum evādit (Div. 2. 53. 108) – my dream is coming true.

somnium interpretari– to explain a dream.

somniorum interpres, coniector– an interpreter of dreams.

somniare de aliquo– to dream of a person.

8. Death

(de) vita decedere or merely decedere– to depart this life.

(ex) vita excedere, ex vita abire– to depart this life.

de vita exire, de (ex) vita migrare– to depart this life.

mortem (diem supremum) obire– to depart this life.

supremo vitae die– on one's last day.

animam edere or efflare– to give up the ghost.

extremum vitae spiritum edere– to give up the ghost.

animam agere– to be at one's last gasp.

mors immatura or praematura– an untimely death.

mature decedere– to die young.

subita morte exstingui– to be cut off by sudden death.

necessaria (opp. voluntaria) morte mori– to die a natural death.

morbo perire, absūmi, consūmi– to die a natural death.

debitum naturae reddere 54 (Nep. Reg. 1) – to die a natural death.

mortem sibi consciscere 55– to commit suicide.

se vita privare– to take one's own life.

manus, vim sibi afferre– to lay hands on oneself.

vitae finem facere– to put an end to one's life.

talem vitae exitum (not finem) habuit (Nep. Eum. 13) – such was the end of… (used of a violent death).

mortem oppetere– to meet death (by violence).

mortem occumbere pro patria– to die for one's country.

sanguinem suum pro patria effundere or profundere– to shed one's blood for one's fatherland.

vitam profundere pro patria– to sacrifice oneself for one's country.

se morti offerre pro salute patriae– to sacrifice oneself for one's country.

dare venenum in pane– to give a person poison in bread.

venenum sumere, bibere– to take poison.

veneno sibi mortem consciscere– to poison oneself.

poculum mortis (mortiferum) exhaurire (Cluent. 11. 31) – to drain the cup of poison.

potestas vitae necisque– power over life and death.

plagam extremam or mortiferam infligere– to inflict a death-blow.

e or de medio tollere– to remove a person.

perii! actum est de me! (Ter. Ad. 3. 2. 26) – I'm undone! it's all up with me!

9. Burial

funere efferri or simply efferri (publice; publico, suo sumptu) – to be interred (at the expense of the state, at one's own cost).

sepultura aliquem afficere– to bury a person.

iusta facere, solvere alicui– to perform the last rites for a person.

supremo officio in aliquem fungi– to perform the last rites for a person.

funus alicui facere, ducere (Cluent. 9. 28) – to carry out the funeral obsequies.

funus alicuius exsequi– to attend a person's funeral.

exsequias alicuius funeris prosequi– to attend a person's funeral.

supremis officiis aliquem prosequi (vid sect. VI. 11., note Prosequi…) – to perform the last offices of affection.

mortuum in sepulcro condere– to entomb a dead body.

aliquem mortuum 56 cremare (Sen. 23. 84) – to burn a corpse.

pompa funebris– a funeral procession.

funus or exsequias celebrare– to celebrate the obsequies.

ludos funebres alicui dare– to give funeral games in honour of a person.

oratio funebris 57– a funeral oration.

sepulturae honore carere– to be deprived of the rites of burial.

iustis exsequiarum carere– to be deprived of the rites of burial.

elogium in sepulcro incisum– the epitaph.

sepulcro (Dat.) or in sepulcro hoc inscriptum est– this is the inscription on his tomb…

hic situs est…– here lies…

aliquem in rogum imponere– to place on the funeral-pyre.

proiici inhumatum (in publicum)– to be cast out unburied.

V. Human Life; its various Relations and Conditions

1. Circumstance – Situation – Difficulty

res humanae or simply res– human life.

haec est rerum humanarum condicio– that is the way of the world; such is life.

sic vita hominum est– that is the way of the world; such is life.

ita (ea lege, ea condicione) nati sumus– this is our natural tendency, our destiny; nature compels us.

res externas or humanas despicere– to despise earthly things.

res humanas infra se positas arbitrari– to feel superior to the affairs of life.

meliore (deteriore) condicione esse, uti– to find one's circumstances altered for the better (the worse).

condicio ac fortuna hominum infimi generis– the position of the lower classes.

res meae meliore loco, in meliore causa sunt– my position is considerably improved; my prospects are brighter.

meliorem in statum redigor– my position is considerably improved; my prospects are brighter.

aliquem in antiquum statum, in pristinum restituere– to restore a man to his former position.

in tanta rerum (temporum) iniquitate– under such unfavourable circumstances.

res dubiae, perditae, afflictae– a critical position; a hopeless state of affairs.

in angustias adducere aliquem– to place some one in an embarrassing position.

in angustiis, difficultatibus, esse or versari– to be in a dilemma; in difficulties.

angustiis premi, difficultatibus affici– to be in a dilemma; in difficulties.

agitur praeclare, bene cum aliquo– so-and-so is in a very satisfactory position; prospers.

res ita est, ita (sic) se habet– the facts are these; the matter stands thus.

eadem (longe alia) est huius rei ratio– the case is exactly similar (entirely different).

hoc longe aliter, secus est– this is quite another matter.

res (ita) fert– circumstances make this necessary; the exigencies of the case are these.

pro re (nata), pro tempore– according to circumstances.

pro tempore et pro re– according to circumstances.

res eo or in eum locum deducta est, ut…– the matter has gone so far that…; the state of affairs is such that…

quo loco res tuae sunt?– how are you getting on?

eadem est causa mea or in eadem causa sum– my circumstances have not altered.

si quid (humanitus) mihi accidat or acciderit– if anything should happen to me; if I die.

quae cum ita sint– under such circumstances.

utcumque res ceciderit– whatever happens; in any case.

2. Commencement – End – Result

initium capere; incipere ab aliqua re– to begin with a thing.

initium facere, ducere, sumere (alicuius rei)– to commence a thing.

ab exiguis initiis proficisci– to start from small beginnings.

parare with Inf. – to prepare to do a thing.

aggredi ad aliquid faciendum– to prepare to do a thing.

incunabula 58 doctrinae– the origin, first beginnings of learning.

finem facere alicuius rei– to finish, complete, fulfil, accomplish a thing.

finem imponere, afferre, constituere alicui rei– to finish, complete, fulfil, accomplish a thing.

ad finem aliquid adducere– to finish, complete, fulfil, accomplish a thing.

ad exitum aliquid perducere– to finish, complete, fulfil, accomplish a thing.

finem habere– to come to an end.

aliquid (bene, prospere) succedit or procedit (opp. parum procedere, non succedere) – the matter progresses favourably, succeeds.

eventum, exitum (felicem) habere– to turn out (well); to result (satisfactorily).

quorsum haec res cadet or evadet?– what will be the issue, end, consequence of the matter?

ad irritum redigere aliquid– to frustrate, nullify.

res aliter cecidit ac putaveram– the result has surprised me; I was not prepared for this development.

quid illo fiet?– what will become of him?

quid huic homini (also hoc homine) faciam?– what am I to do with this fellow?

3. Cause – Motive – Origin

causam afferre– to quote as a reason; give as excuse.

iustis de 59 causis– for valid reasons.

magnae (graves) necessariae causae– cogent, decisive reasons.

non sine causa– on good grounds; reasonably.

quid causae fuit cur…?– how came it that…?

causa posita est in aliqua re– the motive, cause, is to be found in…

causa repetenda est ab aliqua re (not quaerenda) – the motive, cause, is to be found in…

multae causae me impulerunt ad aliquid or ut…– I was induced by several considerations to…

causam interponere or interserere– to interpose, put forward an argument, a reason.

praetendere, praetexere aliquid– to make something an excuse, pretext.

causam idoneam nancisci– to find a suitable pretext.

per causam (with Gen.) – under the pretext, pretence of…

causae rerum et consecutiones– cause and effect.

causae extrinsecus allatae (opp. in ipsa re positae) – extraneous causes.

rerum causae aliae ex aliis nexae– concatenation, interdependence of causes.

ex parvis saepe magnarum rerum momenta pendent– important results are often produced by trivial causes.

ex aliqua re nasci, manare– to originate in, arise from.

ab aliqua re proficisci– to originate in, arise from.

ex aliqua re redundare (in or ad aliquid) – to accrue in great abundance.

utilitas efflorescit ex aliqua re– untold advantages arise from a thing.

e fontibus haurire (opp. rivulos consectari or fontes non videre) – to draw from the fountain-head.

haec ex eodem fonte fluunt, manant– these things have the same origin.

fons et caput (vid. sect. III., note caput…) – source, origin.

4. Regard – Importance – Influence – Power – Inclination

rationem habere alicuius rei– to have regard for; take into consideration.

respicere 60 aliquid– to have regard for; take into consideration.

quo in genere– from this point of view; similarly.

multis rebus or locis– in many respects; in many points.

in utraque re– in both cases; whichever way you look at it.

ceteris rebus (not cetera) – as regards the rest; otherwise.

omni ex parte; in omni genere; omnibus rebus– from every point of view; looked at in every light.

aliqua ex parte– to a certain extent.

aliquatenus– to a certain extent.

magni (nullius) momenti esse– to be of great (no) importance.

momentum afferre ad aliquid– to determine the issue of; to turn the scale.

pertinere ad aliquid– to be essentially important to a thing.

hoc nihil ad sapientem pertinet– a wise man is in no way affected by this.

hoc in sapientem non cadit– it is incompatible with the nature of a wise man; the wise are superior to such things.

multum valere ad aliquid– to contribute much towards…; to affect considerably; to be instrumental in…

multum afferre ad aliquid– to contribute much towards…; to affect considerably; to be instrumental in…

magnam vim habere ad aliquid– to have considerable influence on a question.

positum, situm esse in aliqua re– to depend upon a thing.

contineri aliqua re 61– to depend upon a thing.

consistere in aliqua re– to depend upon a thing.

pendēre ex aliqua re– to depend upon a thing.

in te omnia sunt– everything depends on you.

in ea re omnia vertuntur– all depends on this; this is the decisive point.

constare ex aliqua re– to be composed of; to consist of.

cernitur (in) aliqua re (not ex aliqua re) – it is evident from…

in manu, in potestate alicuius situm, positum esse– to be in a person's power.

penes aliquem esse– to be in a person's power.

res integra 62 est– the matter is still undecided; it is an open question.

res mihi integra est– I have not yet committed myself.

mihi non est integrum, ut…– it is no longer in my power.

integrum (causam integram) sibi reservare– to leave the question open; to refuse to commit oneself.

penes te arbitrium huius rei est– the decision of the question rests with you.

arbitrio alicuius omnia permittere– to put the matter entirely in some one's hands.

omnium rerum arbitrium alicui permittere– to put the matter entirely in some one's hands.

arbitratu, arbitrio tuo– just as you wish.

5. Opportunity – Possibility – Occasion – Chance

occasio datur, offertur– a favourable63 opportunity presents itself.

occasione data, oblata– when occasion offers; as opportunity occurs.

per occasionem– when occasion offers; as opportunity occurs.

quotienscunque occasio oblata est; omnibus locis– on every occasion; at every opportunity.

occasionem alicui dare, praebere alicuius rei or ad aliquid faciendum– to give a man the opportunity of doing a thing.

facultatem alicui dare alicuius rei or ut possit…– to give a man the opportunity of doing a thing.

potestatem, 64 copiam alicui dare, facere with Gen. gerund. – to give a man the opportunity of doing a thing.

occasionem nancisci– to get, meet with, a favourable opportunity.

occasione uti– to make use of, avail oneself of an opportunity.

occasionem praetermittere, amittere (through carelessness), omittere (deliberately), dimittere (through indifference) – to lose, let slip an opportunity.

occasioni deesse 65– to neglect an opportunity.

occasionem arripere– to seize an opportunity.

facultatem, potestatem alicui eripere, adimere– to deprive a man of the chance of doing a thing.

nulla est facultas alicuius rei– no opportunity of carrying out an object presents itself.

locum dare suspicioni– to give ground for suspicion.

ansas dare ad reprehendum, reprehensionis– to give occasion for blame; to challenge criticism.

ansam habere reprehensionis– to contain, afford matter for criticism.

adduci aliqua re (ad aliquid or ut…) – to be induced by a consideration.

nescio quo casu (with Indic.) – by some chance or other.

temere et fortuito; forte (et) temere– quite accidentally, fortuitously.

6. Success – Good Fortune

fortuna secunda uti– to be fortunate, lucky.

fortunae favore or prospero flatu fortunae uti (vid. sect. VI. 8., note uti…) – to be favoured by Fortune; to bask in Fortune's smiles.

fortunam fautricem nancisci– to be favoured by Fortune; to bask in Fortune's smiles.

fortuna caecos homines efficit, animos occaecat– Fortune makes men shortsighted, infatuates them.

fortunam tentare, experiri– to try one's luck.

fortunam periclitari (periculum facere)– to run a risk; to tempt Providence.

fortunae se committere– to trust to luck.

fortunam in manibus habere– to have success in one's grasp.

fortunam ex manibus dimittere– to let success slip through one's fingers.

fortuna commutatur, se inclinat– luck is changing, waning.

ludibrium fortunae– the plaything of Fortune.

is, quem fortuna complexa est– Fortune's favourite.

a fortuna desertum, derelictum esse– to be abandoned by good luck.

fortuna aliquem effert– Fortune exalts a man, makes him conspicuous.

rebus secundis efferri– to be puffed up by success; to be made arrogant by prosperity.

ad felicitatem (magnus) cumulus accedit ex aliqua re– his crowning happiness is produced by a thing; the culminating point of his felicity is…

aliquid felicitatis cumulum affert– his crowning happiness is produced by a thing; the culminating point of his felicity is…

aliquid felicitatem magno cumulo auget– his crowning happiness is produced by a thing; the culminating point of his felicity is…