14.12.25: level 3; review; 2013 ACL/NJCL NATIONAL LATIN EXAM LATIN II [ii]: questions (1) – (20); answers and notes

1. D 2. C 3. D 4. B 5. A 6. C 7. A 8. C 9. A 10. D 11. B 12. C 13. D 14. D 15. D 16. A 17. A 18. C 19. A 20.B

[1] D) sordidissimus; superlative < sordidus, -a, -um i.e. dirtiest but can also translate as very dirty

[2] C) to his little brother Marcus; parvō frātrī Marcō [dative case; indirect object] …inquit│ he spoke to his little brother …

[3] D) while walking; ambulāns: present active participle used to indicate an action that is / was happening at the same time as the main action in the sentence

Ad thermās ambulāns, Iūlius mercātōrem … cōnspicit │ While (he is) walking to the baths, Iulius catches sight of the merchant …

[4] B) Is it permitted for me; licet: impersonal verb literally meaning ‘it is permitted’ + the dative mihi ‘for me’ > licetne mihi? │ Is it permitted for me = May I …

[5] A) than; quam: used to introduce the object of comparison

meliōrēs quam omnēs cēterae │ better than all the rest

[6] C) abīre: the only infinitive that can work in the context; necesse est: impersonal construction i.e. ‘it is necessary’ + the dative mihi ‘for me’ = I need to …

Iūlius togās tangit sed emere nōn vult; itaque exclāmat, “Necesse est mihi abīre.” │Iulius touches the togas but he doesn’t want to buy (them); therefore, he shouts out “It is necessary for me to go away / = I need to leave”

[7] A) intrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: enter > intrātūrus, -a, -um: about to enter

[i] the ending -ūrus, -ūra, -ūrum is very distinctive and indicates a future active participle; these participles describe what a person is about to do / going to do / intending to do; Wiktionary lists them with the translation ‘about to …’

[ii] The future active participle is formed from the 4^th principal part of the verb:

intrō, intrāre, intrāvī, intrāt¦us > intrāt¦ūrus, -ūra, -ūrum

[iii] In the question the participle is functioning like an adjective:

… Gaīus Iūlium …. intrātūrum videt │ … Gaius sees Julius, [who is] about to enter …

[iv] In combination with esse the participle creates verbs. Here are a few examples:

[1] narrō, narrāre, narrāvī, narrātus

Tibi fābulam narrātūrus sum │ I’m going to tell you a story;

Dē quibus rēbus nārrātūrus est Lūcius? │ What things is Lucius going to tell (us) about?

[2] doceō, docēre, docuī, doctus

Nōn modo discipulōs … sed etiam discipulās … doctūrus sum. │ I’m about to teach not only schoolboys … but also schoolgirls.

[3] faciō, facere, fēcī, factus

Cūr fōrmōsissimum Iūppiter factūrus erat rēgem? │ Why was Jupiter going to / intending to make the king very handsome?

The English noun / adjective future is derived from the Latin future active participle of esse: futūrus, -a, -um │ about to be

[v] A very good example of the future active participle is in the diēs īrae (lines 3-6); I’ve deliberately translated the participles in three different ways but, regardless of the translation, the future active participle expresses intention, an action that will happen in the near future:

l1: Dies iræ, dies illa │ The day of wrath, that day
l2: Solvet sæclum in favilla │ will dissolve the world in ashes
l3: Teste David cum Sibylla │ with David as witness together with the Sibyl
l4: Quantus tremor est futūrus │ How great is the quaking going to be
l5: Quando iudex est ventūrus │ when the Judge is about to come,
l6: Cuncta stricte discussūrus │ (intending) to investigate all things strictly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKJur8wpfYM

Link: 25.09.25: Level 3; the grammar of things to come: diēs īrae (Requiem); the future active participle

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/06/250925-level-3-grammar-of-things-to.html

[8] C) for two hours; duās hōrās: accusative used to express duration of time i.e. for how long an action has / had been going on

[9] A) Marce: vocative case; Marcus is being addressed directly

[10] D) on account of thieves; propter: preposition with the accusative case ‘on account of’

[11] B) will play; sē exercēbunt: future tense of 2^nd conjugation verb

[12] C) for us; “Quaere nōbīs [dative case] pilam!” │ Look for the ball for us; here the dative expresses the person for whom or for whose benefit something is done

[13] D) they have exercised; sē exercuērunt: perfect tense of 2^nd conjugation verb

[14] D) in which; in quō: ablative singular of relative pronoun quī / quae / quod

[15] D) were being washed; lavābantur: imperfect passive

[16] A) Pete; pete: 2^nd singular imperative / command form of the verb

** [17] A) Subitō Marcus … dīcit duōs fūrēs esse in apodytēriō. │ A) are

Literally: Suddenly Marcus … says two thieves to be in the changing room

> Suddenly Marcus … says that two thieves are in the changing room

See the next Level 3 topic: indirect statement

[18] C) having been disturbed; commōtī: perfect passive participle used like an adjective

Hīs verbīs ¦ commōtī, amīcī ... │The friends, [having been] / [who had been] disturbed by these words …

[19] A) have been stolen; surrepta sunt: perfect passive

[20] B) rather violently; vehementius: comparative adverb < vehementer i.e. more violently but can also translate as rather violently

14.12.25: level 3; review; 2013 ACL/NJCL NATIONAL LATIN EXAM LATIN II [i]: questions (1) – (20)

There is one question in the test (Q17) marked with ** because, although it has been discussed in the group, it has not yet been covered in depth; it is the next topic in Level 3. However, everything else has been done and so this paper gives you a good indicator as to how far you’ve reached.

1. Iūlius, quī sordidissimus est, ad thermās īre cōnstituit. │A) rather dirty B) dirty C) hardly dirty D) very dirty

2. Iūlius parvō frātrī Marcō, “Portā,” inquit, “rēs meās ad thermās!” │ A) of his little brother Marcus B) his little brother Marcus C) to his little brother Marcus D) with his little brother Marcus

3. Ad thermās ambulāns, Iūlius mercātōrem, quī togās vēndit, cōnspicit. │ A) about to walk B) after he walked C) since he walked D) while walking

4. “Licetne mihi,” Iūlius inquit, “togās novās tangere?” │ A) Do I want B) Is it permitted for me C) Will I be able D) Is it necessary for me

5. “Ita vērō!” respondet mercātor. “Hae togae meliōrēs quam omnēs cēterae sunt!” │ A) than B) how C) which D) whom

6. Iūlius togās tangit sed emere nōn vult; itaque exclāmat, “Necesse est mihi _____.” │ A) esse B) ferre C) abīre D) posse

7. Tum Gāius Iūlium in thermās intrātūrum videt. │ A) about to enter B) entering C) having entered D) to enter

8. Gāius, amīcus Iūliī, exclāmat, “Tē duās hōrās exspectābam!”  │ A) at the second hour B) after two hours C) for two hours D) in two hours

9. Amīcī intrant et exclāmant, “Cūrā, _____, vestīmenta nostra!” │ A) Marce B) Marcī C) Marcō D) Marcus

10. “Nōlī dormīre propter fūrēs!” │ A) next to thieves B) among the thieves C) according to the thieves D) on account of thieves

11. Mox amīcī pilā lūdent et sē exercēbunt. │ A) play B) will play C) were playing D) played

12. Amīcī Marcō clāmant, “Quaere nōbīs pilam!” │  A) for me B) for them C) for us D) for yourself

13. Postquam sē exercuērunt, in tepidāriō sedent. │ A) they will exercise B) they were exercising C) they are exercising D) they have exercised

14. Tum in caldārium intrant, in quō aqua calidissima est. │ A) in itself B) in that C) in this D) in which

15. Amīcī in caldāriō lavābantur; tum in frīgidārium dēscendunt. │ A) are washed B) to wash C) will be washed D) were being washed

16. Amīcī frātrī exclāmant, “_____, Marce, vestīmenta! Vestīmenta nostra cupimus!” │ A) Pete B) Petite C) Petere D) Petunt

** 17. Subitō Marcus, quī accurrit, dīcit duōs fūrēs esse in apodytēriō. │ A) are B) have been C) were D) will be

18. Hīs verbīs commōtī, amīcī ad apodytērium currunt. │ A) disturbing B) to disturb C) having been disturbed D) about to disturb

19. “Ēheu! Nostra vestīmenta ā fūribus surrepta sunt!” │ A) have been stolen B) had been stolen C) are being stolen D) will be stolen

20. Ob Marcī neglegentiam, amīcī vehementius clāmant. │ A) violently B) rather violently C) most violently D) as violently as possible

13.12.25: Latin vocabulary: dining and cooking [8]; liquids and drinking vessels (2)

In English, the terms used for different drinking vessels create very specific images in our minds e.g. a cup of tea / a mug of tea / an Espresso cup; a glass of beer / a tankard of beer; a glass of champagne / a champagne flute

Latin, too, has different words but they do not represent modern equivalents:

[i]

pōculum, -ī [2/n]: any form of drinking cup, including a tea cup; this is the word that is now most commonly used

vitreus, -a, -um: made of glass; vitrea: glassware [literally: things made of glass]

pōcillum, -ī [2/n]: a small cup; can refer to a coffee cup

patera, -ae [1/f]: broad, flat dish; saucer

[ii]

calix, calicis [3/m]: (Lewis & Short) cup, goblet, a drinking-vessel; “the drinking-cup, usually made of earthenware, round, with a broad top, feet, and horizontal handles” (Thurston Peck: Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities)

cantharus, -ī [2/m]: tankard; “the cantharus differed from the calix in being larger and having vertical handles” (Harry Thurston Peck: Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities); this noun is listed in the Neo-Latin lexicon to refer specifically to a tankard or German Bierkrug - cantharus cervēs(i)ae – although pōculum is given as an alternative

[iii]

gustō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: taste

īnfundō, -ere, īnfūdī, īnfūsus  [3]: pour into

īnfundis vīnum (Apicius): you pour in wine; note that Apicius also uses this verb with food items that are not liquid e.g. nucleōs īnfundis: you ‘pour in’ nut kernels; we might simply say ‘add’ in this context

cochleās: vīventes in lac … īnfundēs (Apicius): snails: you will pour them living into milk

13.12.25: Latin vocabulary: dining and cooking [7]; liquids and drinking vessels (1)

[1]

[i]

aquam calefaciō, -ere, -fēcī, -factus [3-iō]: heat up water

aquam fervēfaciō, -ere, -fēcī, -factus [3-iō]: boil water

ferveō, -ēre, ferbuī / fervī, fervitum (supine) [2]: be boiling hot

aqua fervēns: boiling water

in calidam ferventem merge (Apicius): immerse (it) in hot boiling (water)

mergō, -ere, mersī, mersus [3]: dip in; immerse

(1) bullō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1], and (2) bulliō, -īre, -iī / -īvī, bullītus: be boiling

ōlla bulliēns (Apicius): a pot of boiling water

mergō, -ere, mersī, mersus [3]: dip in; immerse

[ii]

ēlixō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1] (Late Latin): boil thoroughly

ēlixus, -a, -um: thoroughly boiled; used frequently in Apicius to refer to boiled meat

Carnem ēlixam sale subassātam perfundis (Apicius): You baste the boiled meat, lightly roasted with salt.

[iii]

dēcoquō, -ere, -coxī, -coctus [3]: boil away / down

aquam pluviālem ad tertiās dēcoquēs (Apicius): you will boil the rainwater down to one third

liquefaciō, -ere, -fēcī, -factus [3-iō]: melt

 

[2]

gūtus (or: guttus) [2/m]: narrow-necked jug or flask to pour small drops of liquids e.g. oil

lagēna. -ae (or: lagoena) [1/f]: bottle

urceus, -ī [2/m]: any sort of jug with one handle

12.12.25: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [19][vi] Listening: question (6)

Complete the translations.

Carolus et Maria XIX [6]

[i] Carolus vītam nautae esse bonam putat …

Carolus __________ that the __________ of a sailor is good …

[ii] … et diū cum nautīs colloquium habet.

… and has a __________ with the sailors for __________.

[iii] Māter aegra diū fuit.

Mother __________ ill for a long time.

[iv] Iterum terram vidēre cupit.

She wants to __________ land __________.

[v] Oculī sunt dēfessī quod māter semper aquam spectat.

Her __________ are tired, __________ mother is __________ looking at the water.

[vi] Māter nōn est nauta bonus.

Mother is __________ a __________ sailor.

[vii] Timida quoque est.

She is __________ scared.

[viii] “Paene,” inquit Maria, “terram videō, sed ibi nūllōs amīcōs vidēbō.

“I __________ see the land,” says Maria, but I shall see __________ friends __________.

[ix] “Sine amīcīs nōn laeta erō.”

“__________ friends, I won’t be __________.”

[x] Carolus respondet, “Amīcōs nōn dēsīderō.”

Carolus __________ “I don’t __________ friends.”

[xi] Multās et novās terrās vīsitābō, et hoc est satis.” “

I shall visit __________ new lands, and this is __________.”

[xii] Subitō aliquis clāmat. “Ecce! Ecce!” inquit. “Terra est! Est Britannia!”

__________ __________ shouts. “Look! Look!” he says. “It’s land! It’s Britain!”

[xiii] Omnēs parātī esse iubentur …

They are __________ told to be __________ …

[xiv] … et mox Carolus et Maria in terrā novā stant.…

… and __________ Carolus and Maria are __________ in a new country.

[xv] Quam laetī sunt omnēs!

__________  happy they all are!

12.12.25: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [19][v] Listening: questions (4), (5)

[4] Hās rēs dē Britanniā __________: Rōmānī antīquī ad Britanniam __________. Britannī __________ īrātī. Rōmānī agrōs Britanniae __________. Hoc Britannī nōn __________. Tēla in Rōmānōs __________ sed propter ducem bonum Rōmānī __________ fortēs. Prō patriā ācriter __________.

dēsīderābant; erant; erant; iaciēbant; legēbant; occupābant; pugnābant; vēnērunt

[5] Maria aliud flūmen in Eurōpā vidēre cupit. Hoc est flūmen pulchrum, cuius nōmen est Rhēnus. Inter Gallōs antīquōs et Germānōs fluit. Prope flūmen sunt aedificia grāta. “Illud flūmen,” inquit Maria, “mihi erit grātum.”

In which order are the following referred to?

a beautiful river

another river

location of the river

near the river

that river

the river’s name

12.12.25: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [19][iv] Listening: questions (1), (2), (3)

Carolus et Maria XIX

[1] Aestās est. __________ est in scholā? Omnēs __________, __________ aestāte iānua scholae clausa est, et magistra discipulī__________  nōn __________. Ubi __________ sunt Carolus Maria__________? __________  Eurōpam __________  patre mātre__________  eunt. __________  diēs terram nōn vidēbunt. __________ terram __________ aedificia vidēbunt. __________ pater rogābat, “Cupitis__________  __________cum __________  Eurōpam īre?” omnēs respondērunt, “Ita, __________ est grātum. __________ dēsīderāmus. Eurōpam vīsitāre cupimus.”

absunt; ad; ad; adsunt; cum; cum; hoc; hoc; mē-; multōs; -ne; neque; neque; nunc; -que; -que; -que; quis; quod

[2] Mult_____ diēs dom_____ puer puellaque mult_____ rēs dē Eurōpā legēbant. H_____ rēs legēbant: __________ erat terra magna ubi hostēs __________ antīqu_____ habitābant. __________ vocābantur. __________  cum __________ ācriter pugnābant. Multī vulnerāba_____ et necābant_____. Aliī erant caecī. Rōmānī agr_____ __________  vāstābant et oppid_____ occupābant. Posteā, ubi Rōmānī auxili_____ dēsīderābant, hoc ā __________ postulābant.

Gallī; Gallia; Gallīs; Gallīs; Gallōrum; Rōmānī; Rōmānōrum

-a; -ās; -ās; -ī; -ntur; -ōrum; -ōs; -ōs; -um; -ur

[3] Aliās rēs dē Rōmā Carolus legēbat. Rōma erat oppidum antīquum. Flūmen per Rōmam fluit. Circum Rōmam antīquam erat mūrus. Rōmānī hōc mūrō ab hostibus tegēbantur. Multī hostēs ad mūrum veniēbant quod Rōmam dēsīderābant. Iacula, pīla, sagittās iaciēbant. Rōmānī erant fortēs. Mīlitēs nōn erant timidī. Auxilium ā sociīs saepe postulābant et accipiēbant.

The following statements are not true; correct them.

Rome was a small city.

The river flows around Rome.

There is a forest around the city.

The Romans attacked the enemy from the walls.

Many enemies fled from the walls.

They fought with swords.

The enemies were brave.

The Romans gave help to their allies.

11.12.25: Level 3; indefinites [20]: practice

The answers are at the end of the post.

[1] Complete the English with the appropriate indefinites below.

[i] Aliquis mihi litterās scrīpsit. Quīcumque eās scrīpsit, ille auctor bonus est. │ Somebody wrote me a letter. Whoever wrote it, he’s a good author.

[ii] Dēbēs aliquid nōbīs facere. │ You must do __________ for us.

[iii] Rogābimus quendam, quī hīc erat. │ We’ll ask __________ who was here.

[iv] Quidcumque, quod noxae est, interficere possumus. │ __________ that is harmful, we can kill.

[v] Quidque terret meum amīcum. │ __________ terrifies my friend.

[vi] Ab aliquō territus est meus amīcus. │ My friend was frightened __________.

[vii] Cuique est aliquis, quī eum amat. │ __________ has __________, who loves him.

[viii] Quidquam nōn poterāmus cernere. │ We couldn’t decide __________.

a certain person / man; anything; by something; each one (literally: to each one); each thing; somebody / someone (x2); something; whatever (thing); whoever

[2] Complete the Latin with the appropriate indefinite below.

[i] (1) Someone sees (2) someone │ (1) __________ (2) __________ videt

[ii] (1) Something was seen (2) by someone │ (1) __________ (2) ab __________ vidēbātur

[iii] I hardly saw anything │ Vix __________ vīdī

[iv] (1) Each one / person believed (2) [+ dative] someone │ (1) __________ (2) __________ crēdidit

[v] She loves each thing! │ __________ amat!

[vi] Whoever comes today, will be happy │ __________ hodiē advenit, fēlīx erit.

[vii] A certain (woman) is unhappy │ __________ misera est.

[viii] Whatever it is, tell me quickly │ __________ est, ēloquere mihi cito.

alicui; aliquem; aliquid; aliquis; aliquō; quaedam; quīcumque; quidquam; quidque; quidquid; quisque

[1]

[i] Somebody wrote me a letter. Whoever wrote it, he’s a good author.

[ii] You must do something for us.

[iii] We’ll ask a certain person / man who was here.

[iv] Whatever (thing) that is harmful, we can kill.

[v] Each thing terrifies my friend.

[vi] My friend was frightened by something.

[vii] Each one has someone, who loves him.

[viii] We couldn’t decide anything.

[2]

[i] (1) Aliquis (2) aliquem videt.

[ii] (1) Aliquid (2) ab aliquō vidēbātur.

[iii] Vix quidquam vīdī.

[iv] (1) Quisque (2) alicui crēdidit.

[v] Quidque amat!

[vi] Quīcumque hodiē advenit, fēlīx erit.

[vii] Quaedam misera est.

[viii] Quidquid est, ēloquere mihi cito.

11.12.25: Level 3; the best sauce

Dionȳsius tyrannus, epulātus apud Lacedaemoniōs dīxit, "Equidem iūre hōc nigrō minimē dēlector." Nam apud mēnsās pūblicās Spartae iūs nigrum, pānem, frūctūs comedunt; lac et aqua bibitur. Tum coquus respondit, "Minimē mīrum est: condīmenta enim dēsunt. Haec autem condīmenta sunt labōrēs, cursūs, famēs, sītis. Sine hīs nēmō hōc iūre dēlectārī potest."

dēsum, dēesse, defuī, dēfutūrus: be lacking / wanting

Impersonal use: Dominus pāscit mē et nihil mihi dēerit │ The Lord is my shepherd and I shall want nothing [literally: the Lord feeds / nourishes me (as a shepherd) and nothing will be lacking for me.

epulor, -āri, -ātus sum [1]: feast; dine; eat > epulātus │ having dined (deponent verb: passive in form but active in meaning)

equidem: [i] truly; indeed; certainly [ii] (when referring to oneself) for my part; as far as I am concerned; for me

iūs, iūris [3/n] this noun has two entirely separate meanings: [i] law; (legal) right [ii] (here) soup; juice; gravy; bear in mind that the Romans talk far more about law than they do about soup!

sitis, -is [3/f] (singular only): thirst; one of a small group of 3^rd declension i-stem nouns that has an accusative in -im  

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/140625-level-3-sonnenschein-cunobelinus.html [Note [2](ii)]

____________________

The tyrant Dionysius, having dined with the Lacedaemonians, said, ‘I, for my part, am not at all pleased with this black soup.’ For at the public tables at Sparta they eat black soup, bread, (and) fruit; milk and water are drunk. Then the cook replied: ‘It is not at all surprising, for the sauces are missing. Now these sauces are toil, running, hunger, (and) thirst. Without these no one can be pleased with this soup.’

11.12.25: Level 3; practical philosophy

Iuvenis quīdam diū apud Zēnōnem philosophum vīxerat. Domum tandem rediit. Tum pater eum percontātur hīs verbīs: "Quid didicistī, mī fīlī?" Contrā fīlius, "Hoc tibi, pater, mōribus meīs mōnstrābō." Hoc respōnsum aegerrimē ferēns, pater, eum flagrīs lacerāvit. Inquit fīlius, "īram patris ferre didicī."

aeger, aegra, -um: [i] sick; ill [ii] difficult; reluctant > aegrē (adv.) painfully (i.e. emotionally rather than physically) > aegerrimē (superlative adverb): hoc respōnsum aegerrimē ferēns │ taking this reply very badly

flagrum, -ī [2/m]: whip; lash

lacerō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1] tear to pieces; mutilate; Engl. deriv. laceration; in this context ‘lash’ would convey the idea more appropriately

percontor, -ārī, -ātus sum [1/deponent]: inquire; investigate; interrogate; question strictly

____________________

A certain youth had lived for a long time at the house of the philosopher Zeno. Finally he returned home. Then his father questions him with these words  ‘What have you learned, my son?’ The son (said) in reply, ‘I shall show you this by my conduct, father.’ Taking this reply very badly the father lashed him with whips. The son said, ‘I have learned (how) to bear a father’s anger.’

10.12.25: Latin vocabulary: dining and cooking [6]; tableware

[i] ferculum, -ī [2/m]: a ‘loose’ term that refers to an object on which something is carried, and can be defined as a tray

īnferrō, īnferre [irr.]: carry in

Being served up the head of John the Baptist, or tucking into a little plate of roasted tree-crickets may not be your ideal dinner, but they are mentioned in connection with words referring to holding and serving food.

[ii] discus, -ī [2/m]: platter i.e. a large dish on which food is served; dā mihi inquit hīc in discō caput Iōhannis Baptistae (Vulgate) │ "Give me here, she said, on a platter the head of John the Baptist"

lanx, lancis [3/f]: dish; platter; plate i.e. a large plate

patina, -ae [1/f]: broad, shallow dish; serving dish

bētās minūtās in patinā compōnēs (Apicius): you will arrange the finely chopped beets in a dish; Apicius uses patina many times to refer to placing food on a dish for serving

patina  has a diminutive form: patella, -ae [1/f] small dish / pan; plate; this is the term used when eating dinner from a plate

cibum in patellā pōnō: I put food on the plate

cicādae tostae in patellīs │ toasted / roasted cicadas (tree-crickets) on small plates

[iii] catīnus, -ī [2/m]: deep plate; can be used to refer to a bowl

[iv] pōnō, -ere, pōsuī, positus [3]: put

adpōnō (appōnō), -ere [3] (here):  serve (up); place

acētō et liquāmine temperātō appōnēs (Apicius): you will serve (it) with vinegar and seasoned fish sauce

compōnō, -ere [3]: arrange

10.12.25: Latin vocabulary: dining and cooking [5]; kitchen utensils / pots and pans

The Romans had a staggering range of vocabulary to describe different types of pots, dishes, drinking vessels and kitchen utensils. Dictionary definitions can be quite vague, and attested examples do not always convey what the author specifically has in mind. Moreover, descriptions of artefacts in, for example, museums and auction houses are not always consistent. The vocabulary here focusses mainly on nouns although some verbs are used to give examples.

[1] kitchen utensils: items that existed in Ancient Rome as opposed to, for example, electrical devices which we’ll deal with separately

[i]

vāsa coquīnāria: cooking utensils; vāsum, -ī [2/n]: [i] vessel; [ii] tool

cōlum, -ī [2/n]: strainer; colander

li(n)gula, -ae [1/f]: spoon; ladle

spatha, -ae [1/f]: any broad, wooden instrument used for stirring liquids; spatula

[ii]

mortrārium, -ī [2/n]: mortar

pistillum, -ī [2/n]: pestle

comminuō, -ere, -uī, comminūtus [3]: crush; pulverise; pound

rādula, -ae [1/f]: grater

terō, -ere, trīvī, trītus [3]: rub; wear out; grind

[iii]

rudicula, -ae [1/f]: wooden spoon; spatula; also used in Neo-Latin to refer to a whisk

rudiculā ligneā ¦ (per)agitō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: stir (thoroughly) ¦ with a wooden spoon

[2] pots, pans

three words used to refer to a frying pan:

fretāle, -is [3/m]      

frixōrium, -ī [2/m]

sartāgō, sartāginis [3/f]

cācabus (caccabus), -ī [2/m]: cooking pot

operculum, -ī [2/n]: lid

ōlla, -ae [1/f]: pot (for cooking or food storage)

09.12.25: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [19][iii] Find the Latin

Find the Latin:

[1]

that river

another river

this is a beautiful river

near the river

the river flows

[2]

They were called Gauls.

He was among the ancient Gauls.

The Romans laid waste the fields of the Gauls.

The Romans fought … with the Gauls.

They demanded this from the Gauls.

[3]

with father and mother

because of (their) good leader

they were reading many things

they were reading these things

(he) was reading other things

[4]

They are all ordered to be ready

They were called Gauls

Many were (1) injured and (2) killed

The Romans (1) were protected (2) from the enemy (3) by this wall

09.12.25: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [19][ii] comprehension

[1] Aestās est. Quis est in scholā? Omnēs absunt, quod aestāte iānua scholae clausa est, et magistra discipulīque nōn adsunt. Ubi nunc sunt Carolus Mariaque? Ad Eurōpam cum patre mātreque eunt. Multōs diēs terram nōn vidēbunt. Neque terram neque aedificia vidēbunt. Cum pater rogābat, “Cupitisne mēcum ad Eurōpam īre?” omnēs respondērunt, “Ita, hoc est grātum. Hoc dēsīderāmus. Eurōpam vīsitāre cupimus.”

[i] How do we know that the school is closed? (3)

[ii] Where are Carolus and Maria going, and who are they going with? (2)

[iii] Multōs diēs terram nōn vidēbunt. Neque terram neque aedificia vidēbunt.

How do we know that they’ll be travelling by ship? (3)

[iv] Translate: Cum pater rogābat, “Cupitisne mēcum ad Eurōpam īre?” omnēs respondērunt, “Ita, hoc est grātum. Hoc dēsīderāmus. Eurōpam vīsitāre cupimus.” (9)

[2] Multōs diēs domī puer puellaque multās rēs dē Eurōpā legēbant. Hās rēs legēbant: Gallia erat terra magna ubi hostēs Rōmānōrum antīquōrum habitābant. Gallī vocābantur. Rōmānī cum Gallīs ācriter pugnābant. Multī vulnerābantur et necābantur. Aliī erant caecī. Rōmānī agrōs Gallōrum vāstābant et oppida occupābant. Posteā, ubi Rōmānī auxilium dēsīderābant, hoc ā Gallīs postulābant.

[3] Aliās rēs dē Rōmā Carolus legēbat. Rōma erat oppidum antīquum. Flūmen per Rōmam fluit. Circum Rōmam antīquam erat mūrus. Rōmānī hōc mūrō ab hostibus tegēbantur. Multī hostēs ad mūrum veniēbant quod Rōmam dēsīderābant. Iacula, pīla, sagittās iaciēbant. Rōmānī erant fortēs. Mīlitēs nōn erant timidī. Auxilium ā sociīs saepe postulābant et accipiēbant.

[4] Hās rēs dē Britanniā legēbant: Rōmānī antīquī ad Britanniam vēnērunt. Britannī erant īrātī. Rōmānī agrōs Britanniae occupābant. Hoc Britannī nōn dēsīderābant. Tēla in Rōmānōs iaciēbant sed propter ducem bonum Rōmānī erant fortēs. Prō patriā ācriter pugnābant.

In sections [2], [3] and [4],  which of the following statements refers to: Gaul / the Gauls? (G) Rome / the Romans? (R) Britain / the Britons? (B)

ancient city

did not want this (i.e. Roman occupation)

enemy of the Romans

fields were laid waste

fields were occupied

hurled missiles at the Romans

large country

many enemies desired it

received help from allies

river flows through it

Romans came there

Romans demanded help from them

surrounded by a wall

they were angry

towns were occupied

[5] Translate: Maria aliud flūmen in Eurōpā vidēre cupit. Hoc est flūmen pulchrum, cuius nōmen est Rhēnus. Inter Gallōs antīquōs et Germānōs fuit. Prope flūmen sunt aedificia grāta. “Illud flūmen,” inquit Maria, “mihi erit grātum.” (10)

[6] Carolus vītam nautae esse bonam putat et diū cum nautīs colloquium habet. Māter aegra diū fuit. Iterum terram vidēre cupit. Oculī sunt dēfessī quod māter semper aquam spectat. Māter nōn est nauta bonus. Timida quoque est.

“Paene,” inquit Maria, “terram videō, sed ibi nūllōs amīcōs vidēbō. Sine amīcīs nōn laeta erō.”

Carolus respondet, “Amīcōs nōn dēsīderō. Multās et novās terrās vīsitābō, et hoc est satis.”

Subitō aliquis clāmat. “Ecce! Ecce!” inquit. “Terra est! Est Britannia!” Omnēs parātī esse iubentur et mox Carolus et Maria in terrā novā stant. Quam laetī sunt omnēs!

[i] What does Carolus think is good? (1)

[ii] Who does he talk to? (1)

[iii] Māter nōn est nauta bonus. How do we know this? (5)

[iv] How do (a) Maria and (b) Carolus feel about the trip? (5)

[v] Translate: Subitō aliquis clāmat. “Ecce! Ecce!” inquit. “Terra est! Est Britannia!” Omnēs parātī esse iubentur et mox Carolus et Maria in terrā novā stant. Quam laetī sunt omnēs! (8)

____________________

[1] [iv] (1) When the father asked (2) “Do you want (3) to go to Europe (4) with me?” (5) they all replied,  (6) “Yes, this is pleasing [ = we like that]. (7) We want this. (8) We want (9) to visit Europe.”

[5] (1) Maria wants (2) to see another river in Europe. (3) This is a beautiful river (4) whose name / the name of which is the Rhine. (5) It was between (6) the ancient Gauls and the Germans. (7) Near the river (8) are pleasing buildings. (9) “I will like that river,” (10) said Maria.

[6]

[iii] was sick for a long time; wants to see land again; tired eyes; always looking at the water; scared

[iv] (a) Maria: unhappy / tearful; she won’t have friends (b) Carolus: doesn’t want friends; will see many new lands; that is enough

[v] (1) Suddenly somebody shouts. (2) “Look! Look!” he says. (3) “It’s land! It’s Britain!” (4) They are all ordered / told (5) to be ready / prepared, (6) and soon Carolus and Maria are standing (7) in a new country / land. (8) How happy they all are.

09.12.25: Level 1; Carolus et Maria [19][i] text, vocabulary, notes

Carolus et Maria XIX

Aestās est. Quis est in scholā? Omnēs absunt, quod aestāte iānua scholae clausa est, et magistra discipulīque nōn adsunt. Ubi nunc sunt Carolus Mariaque? Ad Eurōpam cum patre mātreque eunt. Multōs diēs terram nōn vidēbunt. Neque terram neque aedificia vidēbunt. Cum pater rogābat, “Cupitisne mēcum ad Eurōpam īre?” omnēs respondērunt, “Ita, hoc est grātum. Hoc dēsīderāmus. Eurōpam vīsitāre cupimus.”

Multōs diēs domī puer puellaque multās rēs dē Eurōpā legēbant. Hās rēs legēbant: Gallia erat terra magna ubi hostēs Rōmānōrum antīquōrum habitābant. Gallī vocābantur. Rōmānī cum Gallīs ācriter pugnābant. Multī vulnerābantur et necābantur. Aliī erant caecī. Rōmānī agrōs Gallōrum vāstābant et oppida occupābant. Posteā, ubi Rōmānī auxilium dēsīderābant, hoc ā Gallīs postulābant. Aliās rēs dē Rōmā Carolus legēbat. Rōma erat oppidum antīquum. Flūmen per Rōmam fluit. Circum Rōmam antīquam erat mūrus. Rōmānī hōc mūrō ab hostibus tegēbantur. Multī hostēs ad mūrum veniēbant quod Rōmam dēsīderābant. Iacula, pīla, sagittās iaciēbant. Rōmānī erant fortēs. Mīlitēs nōn erant timidī. Auxilium ā sociīs saepe postulābant et accipiēbant. Hās rēs dē Britanniā legēbant: Rōmānī antīquī ad Britanniam vēnērunt. Britannī erant īrātī. Rōmānī agrōs Britanniae occupābant. Hoc Britannī nōn dēsīderābant. Tēla in Rōmānōs iaciēbant sed propter ducem bonum Rōmānī erant fortēs. Prō patriā ācriter pugnābant. Maria aliud flūmen in Eurōpā vidēre cupit. Hoc est flūmen pulchrum, cuius nōmen est Rhēnus. Inter Gallōs antīquōs et Germānōs fuit. Prope flūmen sunt aedificia grāta. “Illud flūmen,” inquit Maria, “mihi erit grātum.”

Carolus vītam nautae esse bonam putat et diū cum nautīs colloquium habet. Māter aegra diū fuit. Iterum terram vidēre cupit. Oculī sunt dēfessī quod māter semper aquam spectat. Māter nōn est nauta bonus. Timida quoque est.

“Paene,” inquit Maria, “terram videō, sed ibi nūllōs amīcōs vidēbō. Sine amīcīs nōn laeta erō.”

Carolus respondet, “Amīcōs nōn dēsīderō. Multās et novās terrās vīsitābō, et hoc est satis.”

Subitō aliquis clāmat. “Ecce! Ecce!” inquit. “Terra est! Est Britannia!” Omnēs parātī esse iubentur et mox Carolus et Maria in terrā novā stant. Quam laetī sunt omnēs!

Vocabulary

[1]

Eurōpa, -ae [1/f]: Europe

Gallia, -ae [1/f]: Gaul

Gallus, -ī [2/n]: a Gaul (m); Galla, -ae [1/f]: a Gaul (f)

mūrus, -ī [2/m]: wall

Rhēnus, -ī [2/m]: (river) Rhine

flūmen, flūminis [3/n]: river

[2]

clāmō, -āre, -āvī [1]: shout

dēsīderō, -āre, -āvī [1]: want; desire

occupō, -āre, -āvī [1]: occupy

postulō, -āre, -āvī [1]: demand

vāstō, -āre, -āvī [1]: lay waste; ravage; devastate

iubeō, -ēre, iussī [2]: command; order; omnēs parātī esse iubentur │ they are all commanded / ordered to be prepared (ready); (here) they are all told …

fluō, -ere, flūxī [3]: flow

iaciō, -ere, iēcī [3-iō]: throw; hurl; tēla in Rōmānōs iaciēbant │ they were throwing missiles (spears; javelins) at the Romans; aggressive action against somebody is usually expressed by in + acc.

[3]

circum [+ acc.]: around

inter [+ acc.]: among; between

propter [+ acc.]: [i] near; close to [ii] (here) because of; on account of

[4]

īrātus, -a, -um: angry (Engl. deriv. irate)

ācriter: bitterly

Notes

[1] -que: and; an enclitic form i.e. it is added to the preceding word with no effect on that word i.e. whatever the ending of the preceding word is, -que will not change it

Magistra discipulīque nōn adsunt │ The teacher and the pupils are not present

Ubi nunc sunt Carolus Mariaque? │ Where are Carolus and Maria now?

Ad Eurōpam cum patre mātreque eunt │ They are going to Europe with (their) father and mother

Puer puellaque multās rēs dē Eurōpā legēbant │ The boy and girl were reading many things about Europe

[2] many prepositions in Latin can be added to verbs; when they are added they are known as prefixes

ā / ab [+ abl.]: (preposition) (away) from > absum, abesse, āfuī: be away

ad [+ acc.]: (preposition) [i] to(wards) [ii] at > adsum, adesse, adfuī: be here; be present

Omnēs absunt, …  et magistra discipulīque nōn adsunt. │ They are all absent … and the teacher and the pupils are not there / present.

[3] Hoc est flūmen pulchrum, cuius nōmen est Rhēnus │ This is a beautiful river whose name / the name of which is the Rhine.

08.12.25: Level 3; indefinites [19] reduplication

Reduplication: this is a general grammatical term to describe a process whereby a word, or part of a word, is repeated either exactly or with some spelling change; in English we see examples of this in “bye-bye” [exact reduplication], “flip-flop” [vowel change], and “helter-skelter” [rhyming]. English does not use reduplication in grammatical constructions except in emphasis e.g. “I would never ever do that”.

In Latin reduplication occurs, albeit in a limited way:

[i] with some verbs

canō (I sing) > cecinī (I sang)

crēdō (I believe) > credidī (I believed)

currō (I fall) > cucurrī (I fell)

discō

dō (I give) > dedī (I gave)

fallō (I deceive) > fefellī (I deceived)

tangō (I touch) > tetigī (I touched)

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:Latin_reduplicative_verbs

[ii] certain pronouns to create emphasis, the first two being rare:

mēmē: myself

tētē: yourself

sēsē: him / her / itself / themselves

[iii] Full or partial reduplication also occurs in creating certain indefinites:

quisquis; quidquid / quicquid: whoever; whatever

Since the word is a repetition, both parts decline, but, in practice, only the nominative forms are commonly found as well as:

quōquō: to wherever / to whatever place

quotquot: however many

Look out for: quamquam, a reduplicated form like quisquis and quicquid which, possibly, originally had an indefinite idea but specifically means although and is a conjunction, not an indefinite

Purely out of interest: 7000 miles from Rome, another language does exactly the same …

Malay: siapa (who) > siapa-siapa (whoever); La: quisquis

Malay: apa (what) > apa-apa (whatever); La: quidquid / quicquid

Malay: ke mana (to where) > ke mana-mana (to wherever); La: quōquō

Malay takes it much further, but the same indefinite idea is conveyed:

jalan (go; walk) > jalan-jalan (walk about)

The language can also reduplicate words in the same way as the Latin verbs in [i] above:

berapa (how much) > beberapa (several)

Sanskrit is an Indo-European language that uses reduplication, and the language did influence Malay in terms of vocabulary e.g. raja (king), istana (palace). However, Malay is an Austronesian language and reduplication was a feature long before any contact with Sanskrit. Therefore, it appears coincidental that Latin and Malay – from completely different language groups – share the same features with the same underlying purposes and ideas.

Examples:

Quisquis es, quidquid tibi nōmen est, senex, summum Iovem deōsque dō testēs (Plautus) │ Whoever you are, whatever your name is, old gentleman, I call Heaven and God on high to witness

pūrās sibi esse volt aedis: domī quidquid habet, ēicitur (Plautus) │ He wants his house to be pure: whatever he has at home is thrown out

Hoc quidem hercle, quōquō ībō, mēcum erit (Plautus) │ This, indeed, by Hercules, wherever I will go, will be with me

Quia certum est mihi, quasi umbra, quōquō tū ībis, tē semper sequī (Plautus) │ Because I have made up my mind always to follow you, like a shadow, wherever you go.

Quotquot autem recēpērunt eum dedit eīs potestātem (Vulgate) │ but as many as / however many received him, he gave them power …

From: Lux Optata Claruit (13^th century)

Quicquid fuit mysticum testāmentō veterī │ Whatever was mystical (mysterious; symbolic) in the Old Testament

Quicquid fuit typicum Moysēs et cēterī │ Whatever was typical (about) Moses and the rest of them

Two indefinites in the same sentence:

illīs perit quidquid datur, neque ipsīs appāret quicquam (Plautus) │ Whatever is given to them is lost, and they themselves don’t have anything to show for it [ = nor does anything appear to them themselves]

08.12.25: Level 3; indefinites [18] -vīs; -libet

[1] -vīs; -libet (-lubet); these two are easy to spot because there are English equivalents which, like the Latin, have the same meaning

Consider English: Do whatever you want, do whatever you like, do whatever you please etc. They all mean the same thing: it’s up to you what you do. Both quīvīs and quīlibet convey that idea i.e. whoever / whatever (you please); nomatter who / what

[i] quīvīs, quaevīs, quidvīs / quodvīs i.e. from vīs (you want)

Etenim ille, cuius hūc iussū veniō, Iuppiter nōn minus quam vostrum quīvīs formīdat malum (Plautus) │ For, in fact, this Jupiter, by whose command I am come, dreads a mishap not less than any one of you.

Pater, adsum, imperā quidvīs (Plautus) │ Here I am, father, command (me) as you please [whatever (thing) you want]

Eō modō quodvīs genus arborum facere poteris … (Cato) │ In this way you will be able to make any variety of trees …

Look out for: quamvīs [i] as much as you like; however much [ii] although

[ii] quīlibet, quaelibet, quidlibet / quodlibet i.e. from libet (it pleases)

Quīlibet nautārum vectōrumque tranquillō marī gubernāre potest (Livy) │ Anyone of the sailors and (of) the passengers can steer a ship on a quiet sea

Examples [i] -vīs

dīcere hīc quidvīs licet (Plautus) │ Now one can talk freely [ = say whatever one wants]

Tibi optiōnem sūmitō Leōnidam, fabricāre quidvīs, quidvīs comminīscere (Plautus) │ Take Leonida as your helper, make up / devise something [anything you want], contrive something

Pīnus⁠ eō, quia⁠ sēmen viride et mātūrum habet (id sēmen dē cupressō, dē pīnō quidvīs annī legere possīs), item quidvīs annī mātūra est et tempestīva (Cato) │ The pine, because it has both green and ripe seed (such seed may be gathered from the cypress and the pine at any season) is ripe and ready at any season [i.e. at any time you want]

certō sciō oppidum quodvīs, sī dētur, posse expugnārī dolīs (Plautus) │ I know for sure that any town, if it’s given to us, can be captured by our tricks (trickery / deceit)

ō Cupīdō, quantus es. nam tū quemvīs cōnfīdentem facile tuīs factīs facis (Plautus) │ O Cupid, how great you are! For with your actions you easily embolden whomever you want

Examples [ii]: -libet

Abeāmus igitur inde quālibet nāvigātiōne (Cicero) │ (The translator conveys it well) So let me depart on any kind of voyage

sī … quaelibet dēnique vel minima rēs reperiētur (Cicero) │ if, in short, any, even the least thing is found

Fīat in Hispāniā quidlibet (Cicero) │ Literally: Let whatever happen in Spain = Whatever happens in Spain, so be it.

et quī tangit rēptile et quodlibet inmundum cuius tāctus est sordidus … (Vulgate) │ … and (he) who [whoever also expresses the idea] touches a crawling thing and anything unclean the touch of which is dirty …

Quōslibet ¦ ex hīs ¦ ēlige (Seneca) │ Choose whomever you want ¦ from these ones

08.12.25: Level 3; peace or war

Rōmānī lēgātōs Carthāginem mīsērunt. Hōrum ūnus, sinum vestis mōnstrāns, tālia dīxit: "Sunt mihi in hōc sinū pāx et bellum; utrum pācem an bellum māvultis?" Respondērunt Carthāginiēnsēs, "Utrumlibet accipiēmus." Tum dīxit Rōmānus, "Bellum dō vōbīs." Contrā Carthāginiēnsēs: "Lubenter bellum accipimus."

sinus, -ūs [4/m]: curve; fold; hollow

[1] utrum pācem an bellum māvultis? │ Do you prefer peace or war?

utrum … an …: introduces an alternative or double question e.g. Is it X or Y? Do you have A or B? In this type of question utrum is not translated into English.

LINK: 25.07.25: Level 3; pronominal adjectives [6](2); utrum … an …; double questions

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/04/250725-level-3-pronominal-adjectives-62.html

[2] Utrumlibet accipiēmus │ We will accept whichever (of the two) you please.

[i] LINK: 25.07.25: Level 3; pronominal adjectives [6]; uter, utra, utrum: which (of two); whichever / either

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/04/250725-level-3-pronominal-adjectives-6.html

[ii] uterlibet, utralibet, utrumlibet: whichever / either of the two you please

-libet and -vīs, which both have the same function, are discussed in the next post

____________________

The Romans sent ambassadors to Carthage. One of these, showing the fold of his dress, said as follows: ‘I have in this fold peace and war: do you prefer peace or war?’ The Carthaginians replied: ‘We will accept whichever you please.’ Then the Roman said, ‘I give you war.’ In reply, the Carthaginians (said), ‘We accept war willingly.’