Latin Phrase-Book

Inundation = eluvio, not inundatio which is post-classical.

9

The Romans called it mare nostrum (B.G. 5.1). Similarly mare Oceanus (B. G. 3. 7), the Atlantic; mare superum, the Adriatic (Att. 8. 16. 1); mare inferum, the Etruscan Sea (Att. 8. 3. 5).

10

suspicere is also used figuratively, to look up to, esteem, honour, e.g. viros, honores. Similarly despicere.

11

For an account of an eclipse vid. Liv. 44. 37.

12

Also metaphorically, e.g. gloria virtuti resonat tamquam imago (Tusc. 3. 3), glory is as it were the echo of virtue.

13

Used sometimes figuratively, e.g. fulmen verborum, fulmina eloquentiae, fulmina fortunae (Tusc. 2. 27), fulmina imperii (Balb. 15. 34).

14

"The east" and "the west" = orientis, occidentis (solis) terrae, partes, regiones, gentes. The adjectives orientalis, occidentalis are not used in good Latin. The north, i.e. northern countries, is represented by terrae septentrionibus subiectae; the south by terra australis.

15

vicinum esse, to be neighbouring; used of houses, gardens, etc.

16

Transcriber's Note: the English original says "Gaul is bounded by the Rhine" which is wrong as can be seen both from the Latin expression and the original German edition.

17

Transcriber's Note: In the original book Auden translates Rhodanus Sequanos ab Helvetiis dividit wrongly as "the Rhine is the frontier between the Helvetii and the Sequani." The French and German versions correctly translate Rhodanus as "le Rhône" and "Rhone".

18

patere denotes extension in its widest sense; pertinere, extension from one point to another, e.g. ars et late patet et ad multos pertinet (De Or. 1. 55. 235); ex eo oppido pars ad Helvetios pertinet (B. G. 1. 6. 3).

19

tritus is also used figuratively, e.g. proverbium (sermone) tritum (De Off. 1. 10. 33), vocabulum latino sermone non tritum (Acad. 1. 7. 27).

20

Cf. in metaphorical sense, viam ad honores alicui munire (Mur. 10. 23).

21

vid. on this subject De Off. 1. 32. 118; Fam. 5. 12. 3.

22

reverti means properly to turn back and retrace one's steps, after giving up one's intention of remaining longer in a place, or continuing one's journey, cf. Div. 1. 15. 27, itaque revertit ex itinere, cum iam progressus esset multorum dierum viam. Similarly reditus = return, reversio generally = turning back. Cicero only uses revenire in conjunction with domum.

23

ex itinere implies that the march was interrupted, thus there is a difference between in itinere aliquem aggredi and ex itinere, etc. In the same way distinguish in fuga and ex fuga, e.g. ex fuga evadere, ex fuga dissipati.

24

relinquere, e.g. domum, properly means to give up, renounce the possession or enjoyment of a place.

25

Cf. especially decedere (ex, de) provincia, used regularly of a magistrate leaving his province on expiry of his term of office. Similarly, where life is compared to a province, decedere (de) vita, or merely decedere = to quit this life, die (cf. De Sen. 20. 73).

26

Cf. frenos, calcaria alicui adhibere, used metaphorically.

27

praecipitare is also transitive, e.g. praecipitare aliquem, to hurl a person down; ruere always intransitive except in poetry.

28

The verb servire helps to form several phrases, e.g. servire valetudini, to be a valetudinarian; iracundiae, to be unable to restrain one's anger; brevitati, to be concise; communi utilitati, to be devoted to the public good, etc.

29

antiquitas = the state of affairs in times gone by, not a division of time; so antiquitatis studia, archaeology; veteres or antiqui poetae, populi, the poets, people of antiquity; antiqua monumenta, the relics of antiquity. antiquitates plur. is used for the institutions, usages of times gone by.

30

momentum (i.e. movimentum) is properly that which sets in motion, which gives a decisive impulse to things, cf. Luc. iv. 819, momentumque fuit mutatus Curio rerum. Livy and later writers employ the word in the sense of a moment of time.

31

ad tempus also means (1) according to the circumstances of the case, e.g. ad tempus consilium capere, (2) for a short time, temporarily.

32

The spirit of a thing is usually rendered by such words as natura, proprietas, ratio atque voluntas, e.g. the spirit, genius of a language, natura or proprietas sermonis; the spirit of the laws, voluntas et sententia legum.

33

Unless one is emphasised unus is left out with the following words: annus, mensis, dies, hora, and verbum.

34

Used absolutely "too late" = sero; if "too late for," "later than," always serius (quam).

35

caput has several metaphorical meanings, e.g. capita coniurationis (Liv. 9. 26), the leaders of the conspiracy; caput Graeciae, the capital of Greece; caput cenae, the chief dish; capita legis, the headings, clauses of a law; id quod caput est, the main point; de capite deducere (Liv. 6. 15), to subtract from the capital; capitis periculum, mortal peril; capitis deminutio (maxima, media, minima) (Liv. 22. 60), deprivation of civil rights. caput is often combined with fons = source, origin, e.g. ille fons et caput Socrates (Cic. De. Or. 1. 42); in aegritudine est fons miseriarum et caput (Cic.) By metonymy caput is used with liberum (and noxium) (Verr. 2. 32. 79) with the meaning of a free (guilty) person, individual.

36

Cf. velut in cervicibus habere hostem (Liv. 44. 39); bellum ingens in cervicibus est (Liv. 22. 33. 6).

37

Cf. ne digitum quidem porrigere alicuius rei causa.

38

Notice too liberos de parentum complexu avellere (Verr. 2. 1. 3. 7), to snatch children from their parents' "arms" (not brachium), so in alicuius complexu mori; in alicuius complexu haerere. medium aliquem amplecti, to take to one's arms, embrace; libentissimo animo accipere, to welcome with open arms.

39

Distinguish effugere aliquid, to escape the touch of, e.g. invidiam, mortem; and effugere ex aliqua re, to escape from a position one is already in, e.g. e carcere, e caede, e praelio. Notice fugit me, it escapes my notice.

40

animum advertere aliquid = animadvertere aliquid = to notice a thing; animadvertere in aliquem = to punish a person.

41

To shut one's eyes to a thing, conivere in aliqua re.

42

Cf. caecatus, occaecatus cupiditate, stultitia.

43

pro virili parte is distinct from the other expressions, as implying more assurance and confidence on the part of the speaker.

44

It was the custom for a Roman father to lift up his new-born child, which was laid on the ground at his feet; hence the expression tollere, suscipere.

45

suppeditare (1) transitive, to supply sufficiently; (2) intrans. to be present in sufficient quantities = suppetere.

46

vitae (vivendi) cursus or curriculum = life, career – considering its duration, length. Life = biography is not curriculum vitae, but simply vita, vitae descriptio.

47

To live, speaking chronologically, is esse; vivere denotes to be alive, pass one's life, e.g. laute, in otio.

48

sitis is also used metaphorically – e.g. libertatis sitis (Rep. 1. 43. 66), so sitire– e.g. honores (De Fin. 4. 5. 3), libertatem (Rep. 1. 43. 66), sanguinem (Phil. 2. 7. 20). The participle sitiens takes the Gen. – e.g. sitiens virtutis (Planc. 5. 13).

49

Not in risum erumpere, which only occurs in late Latin. However, risus, vox, fletus erumpit is classical, similarly indignatio (Liv. 4. 50), furor, cupiditates (Cael. 12. 28).

50

valetudo is a neutral term = state of health. sanitas = soundness of mind, reason – e.g. ad sanitatem reverti, to recover one's reason.

51

Note auribus, oculis, captum esse, to be deaf, blind; mente captum esse, to be mad.

52

The comparative and superlative of aeger and aegrotus are not used in this connection, they are replaced by such phrases as vehementer, graviter aegrotare, morbus ingravescit, etc.

53

But se excusare alicui or apud aliquem (de or in aliqua re) = to excuse oneself to some one about a thing.

54

sua morte defungi or mori is late Latin, cf. Inscr. Orell. 3453, debitum naturae persolvit.

55

se interficere, se occidere, se necare are rare. During the classic period, when suicide was not common, ipse is often added – e.g. Crassum se ipsum interemisse (Cic. Scaur. 2. 16), Lucretia se ipsa interemit (Fin. 2. 20. 66); but later, when suicide had become frequent, se interemit; nonnulli semet interemerunt (Suet. Iul. 89), etc., occur commonly.

56

"Corpse" usually = corpus mortui or simply corpus. cadaver is a corpse which has begun to decompose.

57

For eulogy, panegyric, use laudatio funebris or simply laudatio, cf. Mil. 13. 33; Liv. 5. 50.

58

incunabula literally swaddling-clothes. cunabula, cradle, is not used in this metaphorical sense except in post-Augustan Latin.

59

Notice the order; so regularly ea and qua de causa; but ob eam causam not eam ob causam. For the meaning of iustus cf. xvi. 5 bellum iustum and xvi. 10a praelium iustum.

60

But respicere ad aliquid (aliquem) = to look round at an object.

61

contineri aliqua re also means (1) to be bounded by… e.g. oceano; (2) to be limited, restricted to, e.g. moenibus.

62

The proper meaning of integer (in-TAG, tango) is untouched, unsullied.

63

Not occasio opportuna, bona, pulchra, the notion "favourable" being contained in the word itself. We find, however, occasio praeclara, ampla, tanta, not unfrequently.

64

Notice potestatem alicui pugnandi facere, to offer battle, and potestatem sui facere alicui, (1) to give opportunity of battle, and also (2) to grant an audience to (cf. sui conveniendi potestatem facere).

65

In the same way deesse officio, to leave one's duties undone; d. muneri, to neglect the claims of one's vocation; d. rei publicae, to be careless of state interests, to be unpatriotic; d. sibi, not to do one's best.

66

beatitas and beatitudo are used by Cicero in one passage only (De Nat. Deorum, 1. 34. 95), but merely as a linguistic experiment.

67

In Latin metaphor the verb only, as a rule, is sufficient to express the metaphorical meaning – e.g. amicitiam iungere cum aliquo, to be bound by the bands of affection to any one; religionem labefactare, to undermine the very foundations of belief; bellum exstinguere, to extinguish the torch of war; cuncta bello ardent, the fires of war are raging all around; libido consedit, the storm of passion has ceased; animum pellere, to strike the heart-strings; vetustas monumenta exederat, the tooth of time had eaten away the monuments.

68

The first meaning of exercere is to keep in motion, give no rest to. Then, metaphorically, to keep busy, to harass – e.g. fortuna aliquem vehementer exercet. Lastly, exercere is used to express the main activity in any branch of industry, thus, exercere agros, to farm; metalla, to carry on a mining industry; navem, to fit out ships, be a shipowner; vectigalia, to levy, collect taxes, used specially of the publicani; qui exercet iudicium, the presiding judge (praetor).

69

vocare helps to form several phrases – e.g. in invidiam, in suspicionem, in dubium, ad exitium, in periculum vocare. It is used in the passive to express periphrastically the passive of verbs which have only an active voice – e.g. in invidiam vocari, to become unpopular, be hated, invideor not being used. Cf. in invidiam venire.

70

Similarly descendere is frequently used of consenting unwillingly to a thing, condescending. Cf. vi. 9 ad fin. and xvi. 9.

71

Notice too poena praesens, instant punishment; pecunia praesens, ready money; medicina praesens, efficacious remedy; deus praesens, a propitious deity; in rem praesentem venire, to go to the very spot to make a closer examination.

72

Also fructum alicuius rei capere, percipere, ferre, consequi ex aliqua re– e.g. virtutis fructus ex re publica (magnos, laetos, uberes) capere = to be handsomely rewarded by the state for one's high character.

73

Notice too calamitatem, cladem, incommodum accipere, to suffer mishap, reverse, inconvenience; naufragium facere, to be shipwrecked.

74

damnum (opp. lucrum) = loss, especially of worldly possessions; detrimentum (opp. emolumentum) = harm inflicted by others; fraus = deceitful injury; iactura (properly "throwing overboard") = the intentional sacrifice of something valuable in order either to avert injury or to gain some greater advantage. "Harmful" = inutilis, qui nocet, etc., not noxius, which is only used absolutely – e.g. homo noxius, the offender, evildoer.

75

Probably originally omnia alicuius causa velle = to wish everything (favourable) in some one's behalf.

76

But se convertere ad aliquem = either (1) to approach with hostile intention, or (2) to turn to some one for sympathy or assistance.

77

animus is used similarly in several periphrases to express abstract qualities – e.g. animus inexorabilis = inflexibility, severity; animus implacabilis = implacability; animus (fides) venalis = venality. Cf. simplices mores, simplex natura, ratio, genus = simplicity (simplicitas is post-Augustan and usually = frankness, candour). immemor ingenium = forgetfulness (oblivio in this sense is not classical).

78

mereri is a middle verb, and consequently always has an adverb with it.

79

Notice the numerous phrases of which afficere is a part – e.g. afficere aliquem admiratione, beneficio, exilio, honore, iniuria, laude, poena, supplicio. Especially important is its passive use – e.g. affici admiratione, to admire; gaudio, voluptate, to rejoice, be pleased; dolore, to be pained, vexed; poena, to suffer punishment.

80

The singular inimicitia is only used to express the abstract idea "enmity".

81

Not commemorare, the fundamental meaning of which is "to make a person mindful of…" and implies an emphatic reference to a definite point.

82

In the same way, to improve a man, alicuius mores corrigere (not aliquem c.); to understand some one, alicuius orationem or quid dicat intellegere.

83

existimatio has two uses: (1) active – opinion held by others, criticism; (2) passive – reputation, character, usually in a good sense, consequently = good reputation without the addition of bona, integra, etc.

84

opus always means the concrete work on which one is engaged; labor is the trouble, fatigue, resulting from effort; opera is the voluntary effort, the trouble spent on an object. Thus laborare = not simply to work, but to work energetically, with exertion and consequent fatigue; operari, to be busy with a thing. Terence thus distinguishes opus and opera: quod in opere faciundo operae consumis tuae. Cf. Verg. Aen. 1. 455 operumque laborem miratur = the trouble with such huge works must have cost.

85

nervi properly = sinews, muscles, not nerves the existence of which was unknown to the ancients. Metaphorically nervi denotes not only strength in general but also specially – (1) vital power, elasticity, e.g. omnes nervos virtutis elidere (Tusc. 2. 11. 27), incīdere, to paralyse the strength of virtue; (2) motive power, mainspring, essence, of a thing, e.g. vectigalia nervi rei publicae sunt (Imp. Pomp. 7. 17), nervi belli pecunia (Phil. 5. 2. 15).

86

abuti properly = to consume, make full use of. From this is developed the rarer meaning to use in excess, abuse = perverse, intemperanter, immoderate uti. Abuse, misuse = pravus usus, vitium male utentium, insolens mos. abusus is only found in the Jurists, and abusio is a technical term of rhetoric = κατάχρησις.

87

The original meaning of ignavia (in-gnavus, cf. navus, navare) is not cowardice but laziness.

88

For the second meaning cf. Cicero, ades animo et omitte timorem, Scipio.

89

captus, in the meaning ability, capacity, only occurs in the phrase ut captus est servorum; while capacitas merely means capacity, content, e.g. vasorum.

90

adumbrare is a technical term of painting = to make a sketch, outline of an object; then metaphorically, to merely hint at a thing. Its opposite is exprimere, technical term of sculpture, =figuratively, to represent exactly, clearly. It never has the simple meaning "to express."

91

se aperire = to betray oneself; cf. se indicare (Liv. 2. 12).

92

Not sententiam dicere, which is used of senators giving their vote; cf. suffragium ferre.

93

verum = the truth, concrete; veritas = truth in the abstract.