The present active participle can stand alone and
function as a noun:
Image #1: This one phrase from
the Vulgate illustrates an important use of the present active participle:
Vōx clamantis in
dēsertō: the voice of someone crying the wilderness
Similarly:
audeō, -ere [2]: dare; venture; risk > audēns, -entis:
daring
Latin proverb:
audentēs fortūna iuvat │
(the goddess) Fortune favours the brave [= brave people; those
who are brave]
Other examples:
Ūnus ex audientibus īrātus est. │ One of those [who
are] listening got angry.
Multōs disputantēs audiō. │I hear many [people]
arguing.
vōcēs morientium │the voices of those who are dying
Qui cum sapiente* ambulat, sapientior erit.
│He who walks with a wise man [a man who is wise] will be wiser.
*When the
participles act as nouns, the ablative singular is -e and not -ī.
Other images: this
use of the participle to convey a noun has ended up in derivatives:
agēns, -entis: doing; acting > Modern English:
agent i.e. a person who is acting on somebody’s behalf
dēfendēns,
-entis: defending > M.Eng: defendant i.e. a person who is defending
him/herself
litigāns,
-antis: quarrelling > M.Eng. litigant i.e. a person who is suing
patiēns, -entis:
suffering > M.Eng: patient i.e. a person who is suffering
recipiēns,
-entis: receiving: M.Eng: recipient i.e. a person who receives
studēns, -entis:
dedicating effort to > M.Eng: student i.e. a person who studies
And secret agent,
Johnny English might help you to remember this use!
