22.05.25: Level 3; hot weather (Vincent): introduction to deponent verbs

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/690389376905667

We all approach learning in a different way. In terms of the Latin language, I deliberately structured the posts in three levels, discussing points in, as best as possible, an order according to relative importance, difficulty and a logical progression. The last one, for me, matters because one point of language may well be dependent upon another, in other words you can’t do [B] quadratic equations if you can’t [A] add, subtract etc.  Vincent’s videos are a case in point: he produces short, focussed work which contains a range of language at different levels. When he has posted them, I’ve written detailed notes on them but, at times, I have deliberately said “Just note that for the moment” because, to deal with that feature in depth requires knowledge of something that has gone before.

Vincent has used many deponent verbs in his work. Deponent verbs are structured in exactly the same way as passive verbs. Therefore, all the posts on the passive were done first, but now we can look at deponent verbs in detail. Note the verbs in bold.

Mihi valdē placent calidissimī diēs │ I really like very hot days [ = very hot days are very pleasing to me]

nam possum sōlus vel ūnā cum cane meō ut soleō deambulāre in silvā. │ for I can –  alone or together with my dog, as I usually do – go for a walk in the forest. [soleō, -ēre (2): be accustomed (to doing something)]

Aliī enim domī manent aut natātōrium petunt │ Because others stay at home or head for the swimming pool [natātorium, -ī (2/n) Neo-Latin: swimming pool < natātōrius, -a, -um (Late Latin) adj: swimming, swimmer]

[ii] vītandī calōris [i] causā. │ to avoid the heat [literally: [i] for the sake of ¦ [ii] avoiding the heat]*

*This is a gerundive: coming soon at Level 3!

Ego autem aequō animō patior. │ I, however, bear (it) with an even mind.

Immō saepe fruor calōre. │ What’s more (on the contrary), I often enjoy the heat.

Fruor ārdōribus sōlis. │ I enjoy the burning heat (Latin can use a plural) of the sun.

Libentissimē in sōle deambulō, versor. │ With great pleasure [libentissimē: (literally) very eagerly / willingly] I go for a walk in the sun (and) stay around here. [versor: tricky verb, at times, to translate neatly; the idea is to be somewhere, move around in a particular place]

Ergō nunc laetus sum. │ Therefore, I’m happy.

Focus on these three verbs as a way into deponent verbs:

fruor: I enjoy

patior: I bear; endure

versor: I move around

Those three verbs have what looks like passive endings e.g. laudor: I am praised. However, they do not refer to something being done to Vincent i.e. they are not passive. This type of verb is known as a deponent verb – it looks passive but is active in meaning – and will be the first language topic of Level 3.