25.08.26: Level 2 (review); Carolus et Maria [32] [4]

Carolus et Cassius erunt mīlitēs ubi erunt virī. Sīc dēsīderant. Itaque fābulās magistrae dē bellīs antīquīs laetē audiunt. Hodiē quod nix est alta et diēs nōn est grātus, in scholā discipulī manent. Magistra haec legit. Legiō Rōmāna interdum circiter tria mīlia mīlitum habēbat. Exercitus multōs ducēs habēbat. Aliī erant lēgātī, aliī erant centuriōnēs. Imperātor omnī exercituī imperābat. Centuriōnēs centum mīlitēs dūcēbant. Tōtus exercitus ācriter pugnābat ubi perīculum erat grave. Sī imperātor hostēs vincēbat, interdum corōnam ā cīvitāte excipiēbat. Haec erat praemium. Sīc Rōmānī imperātōrēs bonōs laudābant.

Omnēs discipulī hās fābulās laudant. Aestāte eī in silvā sunt et mīlitēs sunt. In duās partēs dīvīsī sunt. Ūna pars agmen facit et ad flūmen prōcēdit. Sub colle quīdam ex discipulīs castra pōnunt. Locus nōn est inīquus. Reliquī multās rēs faciunt. Aliī sunt nūntiī, aliī sunt vigilēs. Alia pars discipulōrum est exercitus hostium. Signum datur et hostēs appropinquant. Tēla iaciunt et nūntiōs in omnēs partēs mittunt. Carolus et eius comitēs vāllum celeriter aedificant quod impetūs hostium timent. Post hoc vāllum sē cēlant. Tēla hostium ā comitibus Carolī excipiuntur et iterum eadem ad hostēs mittuntur. Proelium graviter pugnātur. Lēgātī centuriōnēsque bene dūcunt. Tandem fuga hostium est grāta Carolō et eius comitibus. Nēmō interficitur. Subitō signum audītur. Magistra vocat. Discipulī respondent. Fīnis proeliī est.

[1] Below are nouns in this passage referring to war and the military. They are listed in their nominative forms. Match the Latin and English.

[2] Fill in the missing genitive case endings listed below. Some are used more than once.

1. corōna, corōn_____
2. fuga, fug_____
3. nūntius, nunti_____
4. legātus, legāt_____
5. bellum, bell_____
6. proelium, proeli_____
7. signum, sign_____
8. tēlum, tēl_____
9. vāllum, vāll_____
10. castra, castr_____
11. vigil, vigil_____
12. imperātor, imperāt_____
13. centuriō, centuriō_____
14. legiō, legiō_____
15. dux, du_____
16. agmen, agm_____
17. milēs, mil_____
18. hostēs, host_____
19. exercitus, exercit_____
20. impetus, impet_____

-ae; -cis; -ī; -inis; -is; -it is; -ium; -nis; -ōris; -ōrum; -ūs

[3] (1) Identify the case, number of the word in bold (2) give the nominative singular, declension and gender, and (3) explain as precisely as possible why the case is being used.

[i] fābulās … audiunt

[ii] imperātor omnī exercituī imperābat

[iii] multās rēs faciunt

[iv] fuga hostium

[v] impetūs hostium timent

[vi] post hoc vāllum sē cēlant

[vii] fuga … est grāta (a) Carolō (b) et eius comitibus

[viii] Tēla … (a) ā comitibus (b) Carolī excipiuntur

[ix] corōnam ā cīvitāte excipiēbat

[x] aestāte eī in silvā sunt

____________________

[1]

[2]

1. corōna, corōnae
2. fuga, fugae
3. nūntius, nuntiī
4. legātus, legātī
5. bellum, bellī
6. proelium, proeliī
7. signum, signī
8. tēlum, tēlī
9. vāllum, vāllī
10. castra, castrōrum
11. vigil, vigilis
12. imperātor, imperātōris
13. centuriō, centuriōnis
14. legiō, legiōnis
15. dux, ducis
16. agmen, agminis
17. milēs, militis
18. hostēs, hostium
19. exercitus, exercitūs
20. impetus, impetūs

[3]

[i] fabulās: (1) accusative plural; (2) < fabulae, -ae [1/f]; (3) direct object of audiunt

[ii] exercituī: dative singular < exercitus, -ūs [4/m]; used with imperō, -āre (to command), the verb regularly followed by the dative case

[iii] rēs: accusative plural < rēs, -eī [5/f]; direct object of faciunt

[iv] hostium: genitive plural < hostis, -is [3/m]; indicates possession [the flight of the enemies]

[v] impetūs: accusative plural < impetus, -ūs [4/m]; direct object of timent

[vi] vāllum: accusative singular < vāllum, -ī [2/n]; with preposition post

[vii]

(a) Carolō: dative singular < Carolus, -ī [2/m]; indirect object of grāta [pleasing to Carolus]

(b) comitibus: dative plural < comes, comitis [3/m]; indirect object of grāta [pleasing to his companions]

[viii]

(a) comitibus: ablative plural < comes, comitis [3/m]; with preposition ā to express ablative of agent [the missiles are caught by the companions]

(b) Carolī: genitive singular < Carolus, -ī [2/m]; possession; [the companions of Carolus; Carolus’ companions]

[ix] civitāte: ablative singular < civitās, -tātis [3/f]; with preposition ā to express from the state

[x] aetāte: ablative singular < aetās, -tātis [3/f]; ablative of time when [in summer]

24.08.26: Level 1 (review); vocabulary [9]: military

Label the image:

balteus, -ī [2/m]

caliga, -ae [1/f]

cingulum, -ī [2/n] mīlitāre

crista, -ae [1/f]

cuspis, cuspidis [3/f]

galea, -ae [1/f]

gladius, -ī [2/m]

hasta, -ae [1/f]

lōrīca, -ae [1/f] segmentāta

mūrus, -ī [2/m] / moenia, -um [3/n/pl]

ōcrea, -ae [1/f]

pinna, -ae [1/f]

porta, -ae [1/f]

scūtum, -ī [2/n]

specula, -ae [1/f]

____________________

1. cuspis, cuspidis [3/f]: spear point / tip
2. crista, -ae [1/f]: crest (on helmet)
3. galea, -ae [1/f]: helmet
4. hasta, -ae [1/f]: spear
5. pinna, -ae [1/f]: battlement / parapet crenellation
6. specula, -ae [1/f]: watchtower / lookout post
7. lōrīca, -ae [1/f] segmentāta: segmented armor (Roman body armour)
8. balteus, -ī [2/m]: shoulder belt / sword strap
9. gladius, -ī [2/m]: sword (short Roman sword)
10. cingulum, -ī [2/n] mīlitāre: military belt
11. porta, -ae [1/f]: gate
12. mūrus, -ī [2/m] / moenia, -um [3/n/pl]: wall / defensive walls
13. scūtum, -ī [2/n]: shield (large Roman shield)
14. ōcrea, -ae [1/f]: greave (leg armour)
15. caliga, -ae [1/f]: military sandal / boot

23.08.26; Level 3+; Subjunctive [90] dependent uses [15] reported / indirect reason: quod and quia

If a journalist in a UK newspaper writes …

“The manager resigned because he stole money”

…he may well be sued! If it was never proved, then the journalist – to protect himself – would write:

“The manager resigned because he allegedly stole money”

Now the journalist is safe: he is reporting what the reason may have been or what somebody else claimed rather than a factual statement that is the journalist’s personal opinion. In other words, it becomes an indirect reason.

Similarly:

He could not have been guilty because he was abroad at the time.

He could not have been guilty because, he said / he claimed, he was abroad at the time.

The inclusion of a parenthetical he said, or he claimed moves the statement from a factual reason to one that is alleged, one that somebody else said rather than what the speaker believes.

That ‘shift’ cannot be conveyed in English by means of a verb form. In Latin, however, a shift from the indicative to the subjunctive mood can do precisely that.

[i] The conjunctions quod and quia are – by far – most often found with the indicative mood:

Quia ego hanc amō et haec mē amat (Plautus)

• Because I love her and she loves me.

Cūr igitur pācem nōlō? Quia turpis est. (Cicero)

• Why then do I not wish for peace? Because it is disgraceful.

Hoc ad tē scrīpsī, quod is mē accūsāre dē tē solēbat (Cicero)

• I wrote this to you because he was in the habit of grumbling to me about you.

Ita fit ut adsint proptereā quod officium sequuntur, taceant autem quia periculum vītant (Cicero)

• So it happens that they attend because they follow duty but are silent because they are avoiding danger.

In these examples Cicero gives his own reasons.

[ii] However, when the speaker is not giving his own reason, but the reason of somebody else, quod and quia will be with a verb in the subjunctive:

Noctū ambulābat Themistoclēs quod somnum capere nōn posset [subjunctive] (Cicero)

• Themistocles used to walk about at night because he could not sleep.

i.e. the speaker is recounting the reason given by Themistocles; the speaker is not offering his own reason.

We can describe this as a reported reason or an indirect reason. It does not have to be an “allegedly” statement such as you would find in a newspaper!

Compare: Noctū ambulābam quod somnum capere nōn poteram [indicative].

• I used to walk about night because I could not sleep.

This example from Cicero shows both indicative and subjunctive, the subjunctive stating an alleged or unreal reason as oppposed to factual reason i.e. the reason he himself gives:

• Haec idcircō omittō quod nōn gravissima sint [subjunctive], sed quia nunc sine teste dīcō [indicative] (Cicero)

And I omit these matters not because they are not very serious, but because now I am declaring without any witness.

[iii] Further examples

(1) With indicative

[i] Sōla hic mihi nunc videor, quia ille hinc abest quem ego amō praeter omnēs (Plautus)

• I do seem so lonely here now, because the one I love best is gone. 

[ii] Cūr negās? / Quia vēra didicī dīcere (Plautus)

• Why do you deny it? / Because I’ve learned to tell the truth.

[iii] Quia diēī extrēmum erat, proelium nōn inceptum [est] (Sallust)

• As it was almost the end of the day, the battle did not  start.

[iv] Quem locum Marius, quod ibi rēgis thēsaurī erant, summā vī capere intendit (Sallust)

• Marius tried to take this place with all of his forces, because the king’s treasures were there.

[v] Quia id quod neque est neque fuit neque futūrum est mihi praedicās (Plautus)

• Because what you tell me is not so, nor has it been, nor will it be.

[vi] Sed senātūs cōnsulta duo iam facta sunt odiōsa, quod in cōnsulem facta putantur (Cicero)

• But two decrees of the Senate which have already been passed are unpopular because they are thought to be directed against the consul.

(2) With subjunctive; although far less common, the subjunctive is being used to refer to what somebody else ‘claimed’ or thought:

[i] Mea māter īrāta est quia nōn redierim (Plautus)

• My mother is angry because I did not return.

[ii] Rediit quod sē oblītum nesciō quid dīceret (Cicero)

• He returned because he said he had forgotten something.

Note: nesciō quid; nesciō is not functioning here as a verb but as part of a set expression meaning ‘something’ [literally: I don’t know what]

[iii] Reprehendit, quia nōn semper quiērim (Cicero)

• He blames me because I have not always been able.

i.e. Cicero recounts somebody else’s reason for the blame; he is not saying that it is factual.

[iv] Sī quis requīrit, cūr Rōmae nōn sim … quia frequentiam illam nōn facile ferrem.

• If anyone asks why I am not in town … "because I could not put up with the crowd of visitors."

This is a nice example where the translator “quotes” what, in Cicero’s mind, other people might be ‘alleging’.

[v] What somebody saw in a dream:

Ego laeta vīsa sum quia soror vēnisset (Plautus)

• I seemed happy because my sister had come.

[vi] A two part statement from Cicero that describes allegations made against Manlius by Pomponius, a tribune of the plebs:

L. Mānliō … cum dictātor fuisset, M. Pompōnius tr(ibūnus). pl(ēbis). diem dīxit, (1) quod is paucōs sibi diēs ad dictātūram gerendam addidisset; crīminābātur etiam, (2) quod Titum fīlium … ab hominibus relēgāsset et rūrī habitāre iussisset.

L. Mānlīō … cum dictātor fuisset │ When L. Manlius … had been dictator, …

M. Pompōnius, tribūnus plēbis, diem dīxit │ M. Pomponius,  a tribune of the plebs named the day [i.e. for his trial = indicted him]

(1) quod is paucōs sibī diēs ad dictātūram gerendam addidisset;

• because he (Manlius) had added a few days for conducting his dictatorship [ = had extended his dictatorship beyond its expiration]

crīminābātur etiam │ he was also accused

(2) quod Titum fīlium … ab hominibus relēgāsset et rūrī habitāre iussisset.

• because he had banished his son Titus … from people [ = from having companionship with others] and had ordered him to live in the countryside.

[iv] Be careful not to misinterpret the use of quod in indirect statements. In certain circumstances quod can be translated as the conjunction ‘that’ but they are (1) referring to known facts or (2) offering reasons rather than reporting what, for example somebody said or thought:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/11/170226-level-3-indirect-statement.html

(1) quod: (the fact) that …

quod rediit ¦ nōbīs mīrābile vidētur (Cicero)

• (the fact) that he returned ¦ seems marvellous to us

praetereō ¦ quod eam sibī domum dēlēgit (Cicero)

• I pass over ¦ the fact that he chose that house for himself

i.e. these two do not ‘report’ an event, but express a reaction to something already known

(2) verbs of emotion / feeling are followed by either quod or quia; a way of differentiating the use of quod (or quia) in this context is mostly to interpret the meaning as because rather than ‘that’.

Quod scrībis . . . gaudeō.

• I am glad ¦ that you write.

i.e. The writer is offering a reason why he is glad; “I am glad because you are writing”

Gaudēmus quod ad tempus adestis.

• We rejoice ¦ that you are here on time.

Faciō libenter quod eam nōn possum praeterīre.

• I am glad ¦ that I cannot pass it by.

Gaudet quod vivit.

• He rejoices ¦ that he is alive.

Opportūnissima rēs accidit quod Germānī vēnērunt.

• A very fortunate thing happened, ¦ (namely) that the Germans came.

Optimum, quod sustulistī.

• It is a very good thing ¦ that you have removed [him].

Dolet mihi quod tū nunc stomachāris (Cicero)

• I'm sorry ¦ that you're angry now.

… quī ¦ quia nōn habuit ā mē turmās equitum ¦ fortasse suscēnset (Cicero)

• … who perhaps feels angry ¦ that he did not receive squadrons of cavalry from me.

23.08.26: Level 3; Reading (review); [32] In the giant’s cave (2)

Ulixēs autem sociōs haec iussit et eīs suāsit: “Satis diū ille nōs ursit et torsit, satis diū superbiae eius cessimus. Ecce flammae, ecce palūs: sī hic pālus ārdēbit, Polyphēmum oculō spoliābimus. Id nōbīs certē continget, nisi timidī erimus!”

Quibus verbīs postquam animōs eōrum auxit, eōs sēcum dūxit, ūnā cum eīs Polyphēmum temptāvit. Iam pālus in oculō eius haesit, iam Polyphēmus clāmāvit, iam amīcōs vocāvit: “Nēmō mē oculō spoliāvit, nēmō mē necāre studet!

At frūstrā clāmat, nam ā nūllō adiuvātur. Cēterī enim Cyclōpēs: “Sī nēmō tē spoliat, sī ā nūllō necāris, nūllīus auxiliō egēs!”

Vocabulary

cyclōps, -is [3/m]: cyclops, the one-eyed giant from Greek and Roman mythology, of which Polyphemus was one:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyclopes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyphemus

image: head of a Cyclops (1^st c. AD); Colosseum, Rome

pālus, -ī [2/m]: pole, stake

contingō, -ere, contigī, contāctus [3] (here: + dative) to fall to one’s lot; befall; happen (to)

• id nōbīs … continget: this will happen to us

Notes: conjugation ‘patterns’

[i] Most (not all) 1^st conjugation verbs have the same pattern of principal parts e.g. 

necō, necāre, necāvī, necātus [1]: kill

spoliō, spoliāre, spoliāvī, spoliātus [1]: rob; deprive

temptō, temptāre, temptāvī, temptātus [1]: attempt

Other conjugations, however, are far less predictable, but there are some patterns to note in perfect tense stems of 2^nd conjugation verbs:

-s(s)-; -x-

ardeō, ardēre, ārsī, ārsus [2]: burn

haereō, -ēre, haesī, haesum (supine: no passive) [2]: (here) stick

suadeō, suādēre, suāsī, suāsus [2]: persuade

torqueō, -ēre, torsī, tortus [2]: torment; torture

urgeō, -ēre, ursī, - [2]: oppress

iubeō, iubēre, iussī, iussus [2]: command; order

augeō, augēre, auxī, auctus [2]: increase; strengthen

(b) -uī-

egeō, -ēre, eguī, egitūrus (fut. act. participle: no passive; no supine) [2]: lack; be without

studeō, -ēre, studuī, - [2]: (here) try

From the previous section of this text:

• adhibeō, adhibēre, adhibuī, adhibitus [2]: apply; use
• admoneō, admonēre, admonuī, admonitus [2]: warn; remind
• arceō, arcēre, arcuī, arcitus [2]: keep (off / away); prevent
• praebeō, praebēre, praebuī, praebitus [2]: offer
• sustineō, sustinēre, sustinuī,  sustentus [2]: endure; withstand

[ii] Bear in mind at this level that ‘patterns’ cannot be assumed, for example:

cēdō, cedere, cessī, cessus [3]: yield

dūcō, dūcere, dūxī, ductus [3]: lead

From the previous section of this text:

• domō, domāre, domuī, domitus [1]: subdue; tame
• impleō, implēre, implēvī, implētus [2]: fill
• colō, colere, coluī, cultus [3]: worship; honour
• tribuō, tribuere, tribuī, tribūtus [3]: grant; bestow

___________________

But Ulysses ordered these things to his companions and persuaded them: “For a long time that creature has oppressed and tormented us; for a long time we have yielded to his arrogance. Look—flames, look—a stake: if this stake burns, we will deprive Polyphemus of his eye. This will certainly happen for us, if we are not cowardly!”

After he had strengthened their spirits with these words, he led them with him and, together with them, attacked Polyphemus. Now the stake stuck in his eye, now Polyphemus shouted, now he called his friends: “Nobody has deprived me of my eye, nobody is trying to kill me!”

But he shouts in vain, for he is helped by no one. For the other Cyclopes say: “If nobody is injuring you, if you are being killed by no one, you need no help from anyone!”

22.08.26: Level 2 (review); Carolus et Maria [32] [3]

Carolus et Cassius erunt mīlitēs ubi erunt virī. Sīc dēsīderant. Itaque fābulās magistrae dē bellīs antīquīs laetē audiunt. Hodiē quod nix est alta et diēs nōn est grātus, in scholā discipulī manent. Magistra haec legit. Legiō Rōmāna interdum circiter tria mīlia mīlitum habēbat. Exercitus multōs ducēs habēbat. Aliī erant lēgātī, aliī erant centuriōnēs. Imperātor omnī exercituī imperābat. Centuriōnēs centum mīlitēs dūcēbant. Tōtus exercitus ācriter pugnābat ubi perīculum erat grave. Sī imperātor hostēs vincēbat, interdum corōnam ā cīvitāte excipiēbat. Haec erat praemium. Sīc Rōmānī imperātōrēs bonōs laudābant.

Omnēs discipulī hās fābulās laudant. Aestāte eī in silvā sunt et mīlitēs sunt. In duās partēs dīvīsī sunt. Ūna pars agmen facit et ad flūmen prōcēdit. Sub colle quīdam ex discipulīs castra pōnunt. Locus nōn est inīquus. Reliquī multās rēs faciunt. Aliī sunt nūntiī, aliī sunt vigilēs. Alia pars discipulōrum est exercitus hostium. Signum datur et hostēs appropinquant. Tēla iaciunt et nūntiōs in omnēs partēs mittunt. Carolus et eius comitēs vāllum celeriter aedificant quod impetūs hostium timent. Post hoc vāllum sē cēlant. Tēla hostium ā comitibus Carolī excipiuntur et iterum eadem ad hostēs mittuntur. Proelium graviter pugnātur. Lēgātī centuriōnēsque bene dūcunt. Tandem fuga hostium est grāta Carolō et eius comitibus. Nēmō interficitur. Subitō signum audītur. Magistra vocat. Discipulī respondent. Fīnis proeliī est.

Find the Latin:

[1]

[i] a battle is fought

[ii] no one is killed

[iii] the signal is heard

[iv] the signal is given

[v] weapons (missiles) are caught and sent back again

[vi] they have been/are divided

[2]

They will be soldiers when they are men

[3]

[i] some are …, others are …

[ii] some were …, others were …

[iii] all the pupils

[iv] (he) issued orders to all the army / every part of the army

[v] in all directions

[vi] into two parts

[vii] one part

[viii] another part

[ix] some of the pupils

[x] the whole army was fighting

____________________

[1]

[i] proelium … pugnātur

[ii] nēmō interficitur

[iii] signum audītur

[iv] signum datur

[v] tēla … excipiuntur … et iterum … mittuntur

[vi] dīvīsī sunt

[2]

erunt mīlitēs ubi erunt virī

[3]

[i] aliī sunt …, aliī sunt ….

[ii] aliī erant …, aliī erant ….

[iii] omnēs discipulī

[iv] omnī exercituī imperābat

[v] in omnēs partēs

[vi] in duās partēs

[vii] ūna pars

[viii] alia pars

[ix] quīdam ex discipulīs

[x] tōtus exercitus …pugnābat

21.08.26: Level 1 (review); vocabulary [8]: saying what’s wrong (2)

[1] Label the images:

pedēs mihi dolent

oculus mihi dolet

dentēs mihi dolent

digitus mihi dolet

aurēs mihi dolent

pēs mihi dolet

oculī mihi dolent

auris mihi dolet

dēns mihi dolet

digitī mihi dolent

[2] Label the images:

bracchium mihi dolet

calcāneum mihi dolet

caput mihi dolet        

collum mihi dolet       

crūs mihi dolet           

dorsum mihi dolet     

genū mihi dolet

manus mihi dolet       

nāsus mihi dolet        

tālus mihi dolet          

umerus mihi dolet

venter mihi dolet

____________________

[1]

[2]

20.08.26; Level 3+; Subjunctive [89] dependent uses [14] quīn and quōminus; clauses of prevention

[i] quīn and quōminus: similarities and differences

Firstly, briefly review the use of quīn with verbs of hindering and preventing:

Nōn recūsat ¦ quīn iūdicēs (Cicero)

• He does not object ¦ to your judging.

Prōrsus nihil abest ¦ quīn sim miserrimus (Cicero)

• Absolutely nothing prevents me ¦ from being utterly wretched.

Tenērī nōn potuī ¦ quīn tibi apertius illud īdem … dēclārārem.

• I could not restrain myself ¦ from expressing that very thing to you more openly ...

[ii] Quōminus functions in a similar way to quīn with verbs that express ‘hindering’ or ‘preventing’ except that – with quōminus – the verb in the main clause can be positive or negative.

Compare the uses of [A] quīn and [B] quōminus:

[A] quīn is used only with negative verbs in the main clause:

Negative: Nōn tē dēterreō quīn hoc faciās.

• I do not prevent you from doing this.

Negative: Mē homō nēmō dēterrēbit, quīn ea sit in hīs aedibus (Plautus)

• No man will prevent me from having her in this house.

[B] Quōminus can be used with either negative or positive verbs in the main clause.

Negative: Nōn tē dēterreō quōminus hoc faciās.

• I do not prevent you from doing this.

However, when the verb in the main clause is positive, only quōminus can be used.

Positive: Mē dēterruit quōminus Romam abīrem. 

• He prevented me from departing to Rome.

[iii] The literal translation of quōminus is “by which the less” i.e. the action in the main clause prevents / does not prevent the action in the quōminus clause from being ‘less’ done.

Mē impedīvit quōminus in urbem inīrem.

[Very literally: He prevented me ¦ by which I would enter the city ‘less’.]

• He prevented me ¦  from entering the city.

Impedīvit eam pater ¦ quōminus puerum vīseret.

[Very literally: The father prevented her ¦ by which she would see the boy ‘less’.]

• The father prevented her ¦  from seeing the boy.

Note in the next example that who is (not) being prevented may not be specifically stated in the main clause but can be deduced from the verb in the quōminus clause.

Nihil impedit ¦ quōminus id facere possīmus (Cicero)

[Very literally: Nothing prevents ¦ by which we could do this ‘less’.]

• Nothing prevents us ¦  from being able to do that.

[iv] A wide range of verbs and expressions are used in this construction:

dēterreō, -ēre, -ui, deterritus [2]: deter; discourage

impediō, -īre, -īvī, impeditus [4]: hinder

prohibeō, -ēre, -uī, prohibitus [2]: forbid; prohibit; prevent

recūsō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: refuse; object

Tempestās imperātōrem dēterruit ¦ quōminus Graeciam nāvigāret.

• The bad weather discouraged the commander ¦ from sailing to Greece.

Nec aetās impedit ¦ quōminus agrī colendī studia teneāmus (Cato)

• Nor does age prevent ¦ us from retaining an interest in tilling the soil.

Quōminus ad ultimam senectūtem perveniant, ¦ nōn prohibentur (Celsus)

• They are not prevented ¦ from reaching the last stage of old age.

Omnia ... cōnfessus est neque recūsāvit ¦ quōminus lēgis poenam subīret (Nepos)

• He … confessed everything and he did not refuse ¦ to submit to the punishment of the law.

[v] Further examples; quōminus may appear in texts as two separate words:

[1] Primary tense sequence

Itaque interclūdor dolōre, quō minus ad tē plūra scrībam (Cicero)

• Therefore, I am prevented by grief from writing more to you.

Tē iūstā causā impedīrī, quō minus ad nōs veniās, videō (Cicero)

• I see that you are prevented by a good reason from coming to us.

Nōn impedit, quō minus adsim (Cicero)

• He does not prevent me from being present.

Neque tē dēterreō, quō minus id disputēs (Cicero)

• Nor am I stopping you from arguing that.

Nōn dēterret sapientem mors quō minus in omne tempus reī pūblicae suisque cōnsulat (Cicero)

• Death does not deter the wise man from looking after the interests of the state and his family for all time.

[2] Secondary / historic tense sequence:

Tē impedīret, quō minus mēcum essēs (Cicero)

• It would prevent you from being with me.

Dēterrēre eum voluit ... quōminus medicāmentum biberet (Rufus)

• He wanted to dissuade him from drinking the medicine.

Impedīre coepērunt quōminus sē in castra reciperent (Bellum Africum)

• They began to prevent them from entering the camp.

Q. Cicerōnī obsistī nōn potuit, quō minus Thyamim vidēret (Cicero)

• Q. Cicero could not be stopped from seeing the (river) Thyamis.

Itaque dēterritus nōn est quōminus … reliqua pars exercitūs opus faceret (Bellum Alexandrinum)

• And so he was not deterred from the rest of the army carrying out the work…

20.08.26; Level 3+; Subjunctive [88] dependent uses [14] quīn (2) practice

[1]

Primary sequence: complete the translations of the quīn clauses with the phrases given below.

[i] Quārē nōn dubitō, quīn tibi quoque id molestum sit.

Therefore I do not doubt that __________.

[ii] Nōn dubitō quīn Gnaeus in fugā sit; 

I do not doubt that __________.

[iii] Nōn dubitō, quīn ad tē statim veniam.

I do not doubt that __________.

[iv] Nec vērō dubitō, quīn exitiōsum bellum impendeat.

Nor indeed do I doubt that __________.

[v] Nōn dubitō quīn istum offenderim.

I don’t doubt that __________.

[vi] Sed nōn dubitō, quīn senātus cōnsultum expedītum sit.

But I do not doubt that __________.

[vii] Nec dubitat Dēiotarus … quīn cum omnibus cōpiīs ipse … Euphrātēn trānsitūrus sit.

And Deiotarus does not doubt … that the king himself with all his forces __________.

[viii] Illud cavē dubitēs quīn ego omnia faciam. 

Do not doubt that __________.

a disastrous war is imminent

is going to cross the Euphrates

I have offended him

I shall come to you immediately

Gnaeus is fleeing

I will do all

it is also unpleasant for you

the senate decree has been issued

[2] Secondary / historic sequence: complete the Latin quotations with the verbs listed below.

[i] He did not doubt that we believed him.

Nōn dubitābat quīn eī __________.

[ii] We did not doubt that you had already reached Brundisium.

Nōn dubitābāmus, quīn tū iam Brundisium __________.

[iii] None of us doubted that Caesar had halted the marches.

Dubitābat nostrum nēmō, quīn Caesar itinera __________.

[iv] There was no doubt that the Helvetii were the most powerful.

Nōn erat dubium quīn Helvētiī plūrimum __________.

[v] I did not doubt that he would see you … at Dyrrachium.

Nōn dubitābam, quīn tē ille … Dyrrachī __________.

[vi] I had no doubt that I would see you either at Tarentum or at Brundisium.

Nōn fuerat mihi dubium, quīn tē Tarentī aut Brundisī __________.

[vii] There seemed to be no doubt that he would come before that date.

Nōn vidēbātur esse dubium, quīn ante eam diem __________.

[viii] For no one doubted that the house had been awarded to us.

Nēmō enim dubitābat, quīn domus nōbīs __________.

pervēnissēs; crēderēmus; esset adiūdicāta; possent; repressisset; ventūrus esset; vīsūrus essem; vīsūrus esset

[3] Note how English translations will often reword the clause with quīn to avoid it sounding too literal. Complete the translations with clauses and phrases from [A] the main clause and [B] the quīn clause.

[i] [A] Quis autem est, tantā quidem dē rē [B] quīn variē sēcum ipse disputet?

But [A] __________ [B] __________ with himself in various ways over such a great matter?

[ii] [A] Diēs ferē nūllus est, [B] quīn hic Satyrus domum meam ventitet.

There is [A] __________ [B] __________ Satyrus __________.

[iii] [A] Nūllum adhūc intermīsī diem, [B] quīn aliquid ad tē litterārum darem.

[A] __________ [B] __________.

[iv] [A] Facere nōn possum [B] quīn cotīdiē ad tē mittam.

[A] I __________ [B] __________ you (something) every day.

[v] [A] Tenērī nōn potuī, [B] quīn tibi apertius illud īdem hīs litterīs dēclārārem.

[A] I could not __________ [B] __________ that very thing to you more openly in these letters.

[vi] [A] Paulum āfuit [B] quīn Vārum interficeret.

[A] __________ [B] __________ Varus.

[vii] [A] Neque multum āfuit [B] quīn castrīs expellerentur. 

[A] __________ [B] __________ from the camp.

[A]

he just missed

cannot help

hardly a day

they came near

I have not yet let a day pass

restrain myself

who is there

[B]

but send

From expressing

to being driven out

that … does not pay me a visit

who does not argue

without writing something to you

killing

____________________

[1]

[i] … it is also unpleasant for you.

[ii] … Gnaeus is fleeing.

[iii] … I shall come to you immediately.

[iv] … a disastrous war is imminent.

[v] … I have offended him.

[vi] … the senate decree has been issued.

[vii] … is going to cross the Euphrates.

[viii] … I will do all.

[2]

[i] crēderēmus

[ii] pervēnissēs

[iii] repressisset

[iv] possent

[v] vīsūrus esset

[vi] vīsūrus essem

[vii] ventūrus esset

[viii] esset adiūdicāta

[3]

[i] But who is there who does not argue with himself in various ways over such a great matter?

[ii] There is hardly a day that Satyrus does not pay me a visit.

[iii] I have not yet let a day pass without writing something to you.

[iv] I cannot help but send you (something) every day.

[v] I could not restrain myself from expressing that very thing to you more openly in these letters.

[vi] He just missed killing Varus.

[vii] They came near to being driven out of the camp.

20.08.26; Level 3+; Subjunctive [87] dependent uses [14] quīn (1)

quīn

quīn can function in different ways. We will look at these separately.

[1] The “confusion” that can occur with the use of quīn is that, based on its formation, it is already negative < quī (adverb: why)  + nē (not)

In the examples below it is functioning as an adverb with the meaning “Why … not?” It is not asking a question but making a suggestion. Compare English: “Why don’t we go to the cinema?” = “How about we go…” or (more informally) “How about us going …?”

Quīn tū tacēs! (Plautus)

• Why don't you shut up!

Quīn urbēs et moenia adgredimur? (Livy)

• Why don't we attack the cities and walls?

Quīn… cōnscendimus equōs? (Livy)

• Why don’t we mount the horses?

[2]

[i] Its second use is as a conjunction with negative verbs of doubt. Here, it is better not to be influenced by the first usage since it is a separate construction.

In this construction the verb in the clause introduced by quīn is in the subjunctive.

Nōn dubitō ¦ quīn fortis sit.

• I do not doubt ¦ that he is brave; not: “I do not doubt that *he is not* brave.”

Therefore, it is better simply to think of quīn as “that” in this context.

Nōn / haud dubium erat ¦ quīn milēs fortis esset.

• There was no doubt ¦ that the soldier was brave.

[ii] Similarly, when the ‘doubt’ is being questioned, quīn is also used:

Quis dubitat ¦ quīn mīles fortis sit?

• Who doubts ¦ that the soldier is brave?

In other words, the speaker “challenges” any suggestion that the soldier may not be brave; he expects the answer to be negative.

Num quisquam dubitāre potuit ¦ quīn fortis esset?

• Surely no one could have doubted ¦ that he was brave?

Dubitās igitur, quīn nōs in hostium numerō habeat?

• Do you doubt, therefore, that he considers us [Cicero: me] as one of his enemies?

[iii] The sequence of tenses i.e. (1) primary and (2) secondary / historic applies:

(1) Primary Sequence:

Nōn dubitō [present indicative] ¦ quīn milēs fortis sit [present subjunctive].

• I do not doubt ¦ that the soldier is brave.

Mihi nōn dubium est [present indicative] ¦ quīn mīles fortiter pugnāverit [perfect subjunctive].

• I have no doubt ¦ that the soldier has fought bravely.

Nōn dubitō [present indicative], quīn tū Pompēium exspectāris [= exspectāverīs; perfect subjunctive].

• I don’t doubt that you have waited for Pompey.

(2) Secondary / Historic Sequence:

Nōn dubitābam [imperfect indicative] ¦ quīn mīles fortis esset [imperfect subjunctive].

• I did not doubt ¦ that the soldier was brave.

Haud dubium erat ¦ quīn hostēs fugissent [pluperfect subjunctive].

• There was no doubt ¦ that the enemy had fled.

[iv] Although quīn is particularly common with negative verbs of doubt, it does occur with:

(1) other negative verbs that convey ideas such as not refusing, not preventing, not delaying etc.

The verbs and expressions which are followed by quīn are too varied to provide a definitive list. In broad terms, whatever is stated in the clause with quīn is not refused or denied or prevented by the speaker in the main clause. Translations may rephrase the clause to express the idea more fluently.

Nōn recūsat ¦ quīn iūdicēs (Cicero)

• He does not object ¦ (literally) that you are judging = He does not object to your judging.

Praeterīre nōn potuī ¦ quīn scrīberem ad tē (Cicero)

• I could not neglect writing to you. 

Prōrsus nihil abest, ¦ quīn sim miserrimus (Cicero)

• nihil abest often has the sense of ‘there is nothing missing / lacking’

There is absolutely nothing lacking to make me utterly wretched.

• = Absolutely nothing prevents me from being utterly wretched.

(2) when the statement is being challenged:

Quis īgnōrat ¦ quīn tria Graecōrum genera sint? 

• Who does not know ¦ that there are three types of Greeks?

[v] There are constructions which allow for a double negative; in these examples the original negative idea of quīn can be translated:

Nēmō est ¦ quīn hoc sciat.

• There is nobody ¦ who does not know this = Everybody knows this.

Nūllus est ¦ quīn hoc videat.

• There is no one ¦ who does not see this = Everybody sees this.

Nihil est ¦ quīn intellegī possit.

• There is nothing ¦ that cannot be understood = Everything can be understood.

19.08.26: Level 3; Reading (review); [32] In the giant’s cave (1)

During his journey home, Odysseus had to undergo many adventures, for example the one with the one-eyed giant Polyphem:

Complete the Latin text with the words and phrases below each section. Note that the word order in the English and Latin texts is sometimes different.

Vocabulary

domō, -āre, -uī, domitus [1]: subdue; tame

hospitium, -ī [2/n]: right of hospitality, the host’s duty

iactō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: toss (about)

inscius, -a, -um: unsuspecting

spelunca, -ae [1/f]: cave

[1]

Ulysses, (1) after Troy (2) had been captured by this trick, set out for his homeland but, (3) tossed about for a long time over the waves (4) by opposing winds, he endured (5) many hardships. Who (6) does not know that even that Polyphemus (7) was subdued by him, (8) whose cave he had entered unknowingly?

Ulixēs, (1) __________ dolō eius Troia (2) __________, patriam petīvit, sed ventīs (4) __________  diū per undās (3) __________ (5) __________ sustinuit. Quis (6) __________ ab eō etiam Polyphēmum illum (7) __________, (8) __________ spēluncam īnscius intrāverat?

adversīs; cuius; domitum esse; expugnāta est; iactātus; ignōrat; multaque mala; postquam

[2]

[i] In vain Ulysses (1) had warned him about the duties of hospitality; in vain had he tried (2) to keep him (3) from his wicked deeds: for Polyphemus had shouted, “(4) I have never honored the gods!”

[i]

Frūstrā Ulixēs eum dē hospitiō (1) __________, frūstrā eum (3) __________ (2) __________ studuerat: Polyphēmus enim clāmāverat, “Ego deōs numquam (4) __________!”

[ii]

He had already killed (5) some of the Greeks, when Ulysses employed a trick: he (6) offered him wine, and he taught Polyphemus (7) (who was) filled with wine, that he (8) was called (9) “Nobody.”

[ii]

Iam (5) __________ Graecōs necāverat, cum Ulixēs dolum adhibuit: vīnum eī (6) __________, Polyphēmum (7) __________ docuit sē (9) __________ (8) __________.

[iii]

(10) “Nobody,” he said, “pleases me; for he has filled me (11) with great delight. Therefore I will grant a fine gift (12) to Nobody: I will kill (13) Nobody last!” Then Polyphemus (14) gives himself over to sleep.

(10) “__________,” inquit ille, “mihi placet; nam (11) __________ mē implēvit. Itaque (12) __________ dōnum pulchrum tribuam: (13) __________ ultimum necābō!” Tum Polyphēmus (14) __________.

admonuerat; arcēre; coluī; impiīs factīs; magnō gaudiō; Nēminem; Nēminem; Nēminī; Nēmō; nōnnūllōs; praebuit; somnō sē dat; vīnō implētum; vocārī

22.07.25: Level 3; pronominal adjectives [4]; [i] nūllus, -a, -um: no, not any, none, no one [ii] nōnnūllus, -a, -um: some, several, a few

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/04/220725-level-3-pronominal-adjectives-4.html

____________________

[1]

Ulixēs, (1) postquam dolō eius Troia (2) expugnāta est, patriam petīvit, sed ventīs (4) adversīs diū per undās (3) iactātūs (5) multaque mala sustinuit. Quis (6) ignōrat ab eō etiam Polyphēmum illum (7) domitum esse, (8) cuius spēluncam īnscius intrāverat?

[2]

[i]

Frūstrā Ulixēs eum dē hospitiō (1) admonuerat, frūstrā eum (3) impiīs factīs (2) arcēre studuerat: Polyphēmus enim clāmāverat, “Ego deōs numquam (4) coluī!”

[ii]

Iam (5) nōnnūllōs Graecōs necāverat, cum Ulixēs dolum adhibuit: vīnum eī (6) praebuit, Polyphēmum (7) vīnō implētum docuit sē (9) Nēminem (8) vocārī.

[iii]

(10) “Nēmō,” inquit ille, “mihi placet; nam (11) magnō gaudiō mē implēvit. Itaque (12) Nēminī dōnum pulchrum tribuam: (13) Nēminem ultimum necābō!” Tum Polyphēmus (14) somnō sē dat.