24.11.24: level 2; degrees of comparison [11]: plūs

Pause for thought: this post looks at three features of one word, namely plūs:

[i] what it means, [ii] how it is used – and not used, and [iii] how it is formed i.e. its declension

It is a very good example of the need to decide how far you want to go when learning a particular aspect of Latin. What it means in terms of passive reading is the crucial point because, regardless of its different forms and ways in which it is used, the main aim is to recognise it and to know its meaning. When I started I focused on [i] and [ii]. I vaguely familarised myself with the endings i.e. I took a look at them but didn’t sit down and learn them.

As has been mentioned so often before, you can become more secure with the endings of Latin when reading the language in context. Look at the quotations and phrases below from two different perspectives: pretty much every example of plūs – regardless of its form - translates as ‘more’; leave the endings until later.

Another point to note: a declension table will give you all the forms, but some forms are very rare – and, as the table shows – there are occasions when one does not exist i.e. it is not attested anywhere. As Orwell (sort of) stated: “All endings are equal, but some endings are more equal than others.”

You need to find your own “level” in any language: you can simply remember that plūs means ‘more’ and move on, or you can use the notes to dig a little deeper.

plūs: more; it is the comparative form of multus, -a, -um (much)

Note: While Modern French uses plus + the adjective to form comparatives e.g. plus grand (bigger) and plus intéressant (more interesting), Latin does not use plūs in that way: you cannot say *plūs altus* or *plūs pulcher* to express taller or more  beautiful.

[1] In the singular, it functions as a noun:

paulō plūs quam mille passūs (Livy) │ a little more than 1,000 paces [= a Roman mile]

Cicero in the prosecution case against Verres:

… arātōrēs vī et metū coāctōs Aprōniō multō plūs quam dēbuerint dedisse,  │ … the cultivators, coerced by violence and fear, gave much more to Apronius than they owed

In the singular it is also used with another noun in the genitive case to express more of something:

plūs vīnī: more wine; note the French equivalent which replaces the genitive case with ‘de’ (of): plus de vin i.e. literally ‘more (of) wine’

plūs pecūniae habēre │ to have more money

plūs malī quam bonī adferre (Cicero) │ to bring more bad than good

[2] In the plural, plūrēs functions as an adjective agreeing with the noun i.e. it does not govern the genitive in the way that plūs does. 

The translation may not always specifically express “more” but some term referring to “a (fairly) great number” or, depending on context, ‘too many’:

ē plūribus ūnum: out of many, one

[3] When expressing ‘more’ with plural nouns, either [i] plūs + genitive plural or [ii] plūrēs agreeing in case with the noun. This is similar to English.

[i] Plūs ¦ nummōrum invēnimus. │ We found more (of the) coins.

[ii] Plūrēs nummōs invēnimus. │ We found more coins.

Examples:

[i]

Itaque domī gaudet, plūs in diē nummōrum accipit, quam alter patrimōnium habet. (Petronius: Satyricon) │ So he rejoices at home and receives more coins in a day than another person has as a whole fortune.

Plūs tamen hostium fuga quam proelium absūmpsit; (Livy)│ Yet more of the enemy perished in flight than in the battle

plūs voluptātum habēre quam dolōrum (Cicero) │ to have more (of) pleasures than (of) pains

A fairly loose translation of a line from Juvenal:

Aspice portūs et plēnum magnīs trabibus mare: plūs hominum es iam in pelagō. Look at our ports, our seas, crowded with big ships ! The men at sea now outnumber those on shore [i.e. more men]

[ii]

… cum ōrātōrēs duo aut plūrēs populī iūdiciō probantur (Cicero) │ … when two or more speakers are judged by the people

Quid ego plūra dīcam? (Cicero) │ What more (words) am I to say?

In these last two examples, note how the translation may not be "more" but rather some general expression of a large number which can vary depending upon context:

Iste petit ā rēge et ¦ eum plūribus verbīs ¦ rogat ut id ad sē mittat (Cicero) │ He begs the king, and ¦ entreats him most earnestly [= asks him with very / too many words] ¦ to send it to him

Inde plūrium diērum praeparātīs cibāriīs cōnsilium erat īre ad hostem (Livy)  │ From there, after several days' rations had been prepared, the plan was to march against the enemy.