22.03.24: imperatives [2]; telling people not to do something

You need two words:

[i] nōlī (when talking to one person)

[ii] nōlīte (when talking to more than one person)

These are actually the command forms of the verb nōlō, nolle [irr.]: be unwilling and so, literally, you’re saying “Be unwilling to do something”. All you do is use it with an infinitive.

Talking to one person

• Nōlī scrībere: Rēx Iūdaeōrum. (John 19) Don’t write “the King of the Jews”
• Nōlī mē vexāre! Don’t annoy me!
• Nōlī mē tangere. (John 20) Don’t touch me.

Talking to more than one person:

• Nōlīte timēre! Don’t be afraid!

Boris Johnson, the Former UK Prime Minister, is a graduate in Classics from Baliol, Oxford. He gave a Latin class and used the opportunity to send out a message to those Scots who favour independence.

On the board in the image:

Londīniēnsēs amāmus Calēdoniam! We Londoners love Scotland!

Nōlīte nōs relinquere! Don’t leave us!