Saturday, May 4, 2024

10.04.24: pointing to the future; expressions of time [5]; proximus, -a, -um; ablative of time within which

proximus, -a, -um means [i] the previous; most recent; last, or [ii] the following; next. Therefore, a phrase such as proximā hebdomade is ambiguous in that it can translate, depending upon on the context as ‘last week’ or ‘next week’, but the tense of the verb will always make it clear whether it refers to the past or the future.

hebdomas, hebdomadis [3/f]: week

septimāna, -ae [1/f]: (Late Latin) week

proximā hebdomade /septimānā: last / next week

Since we have been looking at the future tense, below are examples of proximus all referring to the future:

Dē itinere proximō Sāturnī diē rescīscēmus.

  • We will find out about the trip next Saturday.

Ipse potius ad tē veniam proximā hebdomade.

  • I’d rather come to you myself next week.

Proximō mēnse nōn pluet.

  • It won’t rain next month.

Proximō mēnse Iānuāriī Rōmam iter facient.

  • They’ll travel to Rome next January.

mēnse Mārtiī proximō veniam cum exercitū meō

  • Next March I shall come with my army

diē Iovis proximō

  • Next Thursday

(in) diēbus proximīs decem

  • within the next ten days

The last example is known in grammar as the ablative of time within which i.e. indicating a period of time within which something was or will be done; in can be added for greater precision.






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