11.06.25; Level 3; summary of of the uses of the ablative case [14]: the ablative of respect / specification

Discussed here: Beasts in Egypt and Libya [2]; ablative of description (quality); ablative of respect

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/300425-level-3-beasts-in-egypt-and.html

https://adckl2.blogspot.com/2025/02/level-3-beasts-in-egypt-and-libya-2.html

Latin tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsOyjHhxK-k

The ablative of respect is used to indicate in what respect something ‘is’ or is done:

magnitūdine ¦ taurīs sunt similēs │ They are similar to bulls … > In what respect are they similar? Can you be more specific? > in terms of size: they are similar to bulls in size

ūnō oculō ¦ captus │  blind … and, to be more specific … in one eye

virtūte ¦ praecēdunt │ they excel in courage

Sunt enim hominēs nōn rē sed nōmine. │ For they are not men in fact but in name.

nōn tōtā rē sed temporibus errāstī (Cicero) │ you were not mistaken in (terms of) everything but in (terms of) dates

Corpore senex esse poterit, animō numquam erit. │ He may be an old man in (terms of) body [with respect to his body], he never will be [old] at heart.

maior ¦ nātū: greater with respect to age = older

minor nātū: younger

11.06.25: Level 3; summary of of the uses of the ablative case [13]: the ablative of description / quality

Discussed here:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/04/080324-ablative-of-description-quality.html

and: Beasts in Egypt and Libya [2]; ablative of description (quality); ablative of respect

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/300425-level-3-beasts-in-egypt-and.html

https://adckl2.blogspot.com/2025/02/level-3-beasts-in-egypt-and-libya-2.html

Latin tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_1xx9iC0t8

The ablative without a preposition is used here to describe either a person’s physical features or their personal qualities, the construction using an adjective + noun both of which are in the ablative case.

vir ¦ magnō nasō │ a man ¦ with a big nose

vir ¦ [i] barbā albā et [ii] capillō prōmissō │ a man ¦ [i] with a white beard and [ii] long hair

fēmina ¦ oculīs caeruleīs│a lady ¦ with blue eyes

senex ¦ [i] cānīs capillīs et [ii] veste sordidā  │ an old man [i] with grey hair and [ii] dirty clothing

mulier ¦ eximiā pulchritūdine │ a woman ¦ of exceptional beauty

vir ¦ magnā prudentiā │ a man ¦ of great wisdom

Puerī ¦ statūrā parvā ¦ sunt. │ The boys are ¦ small in stature (of small stature).

11.06.25; Level 3; summary of of the uses of the ablative case [12]: [i] the ablative of the object of comparison [ii] the ablative of the degree of difference

Discussed here:

[i] ablative of the object of comparison

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/121124-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-6.html

Latin tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTyQM41nfUk&t=80s

[ii] ablative of the degree of difference

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/201124-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-9.html

Latin tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a2lb9pTnEo

Both discussed at:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/120525-level-3-beasts-in-egypt-and.html

https://adckl2.blogspot.com/2025/02/level-3-beasts-in-egypt-and-libya-6.html

[i] object of comparison

The second nose is longer ¦ than the first nose.

‘than’ introduces the object of comparison i.e. the person / thing which is being compared.

Latin can form the object of comparison in two ways:

[1] comparative + quam (than) + the person / thing being compared; similar to English:

Nāsus secundus est longior quam nāsus prīmus.

[2] The object of comparison is in the ablative case without quam

Nāsus secundus est longior nāsō prīmō.

[1] and [2] have the same meaning

[ii] degree of difference

The adverb multō ‘by much’, originally an ablative of multus, is used when emphasising the amount of difference; in grammar this is known as the ablative of degree of difference i.e. by how much /the extent to which something / someone is taller, wider, richer etc.

Rēx multō fortior quam frāter est. │ The king is much / far braver than his brother.

Examples of other adverbs which function in the same way are:

[i] paulō: by a little

haec quaestiō paulō difficilior est │ this problem is a little more difficult

[ii] tantō: by so much; tantō melior / melius │ all (so much) the better

'tantō melior' inquit 'Massa, dōnō tibi cālīgās'. (Petronius) │ “Better than ever, Massa,” he said, “I will give you a pair of boots.”

[iii] dīmidiō:  by half; dimidio brevius │ shorter by half; half as short

Hibernia īnsula, dīmidiō minor ut exīstimātur quam Britannia (Caesar) │ Ireland, smaller, as is reckoned, than Britain, by one half

[iv] aliquantō: by a little (somewhat); considerably

Johannes Jonstonus’s 300 page work on birds published in 1657 gives a good example of the use of aliquantō:

Masculus aliquantō longior est, corpore, collō ac cristā ampliōrī. Rōstrum fēminae brevius est … [Johannes Jonstonus: Historiae naturalis de avibus (1657)] │ The male is somewhat longer, with a larger body, neck, and crest. The female's beak is shorter … 

11.06.25: Level 3; Ritchie; Fābulae Facilēs; Perseus [4]: Andromeda Servanda [2]

Listen to the recording without looking at the transcript and answer the questions.

afficiō, -ere, -fēcī, fectus [3-iō]: affect, afflict

bēlua, -ae [1/f]: monster, beast

dēsuper: from above, overhead

ēdūcō, -dūcere, -dūxī, -ductus [3]: draw / take out

exanimātus, -a, -um: killed; exhausted

īnficiō, -ere, -fēcī, -fectus [3-iō]: stain

mergō, mergere, mersī, mersus [3]: sink

meritus, -a, -um: deserved, due

reditus, -ūs [4/m]: return

spēs, -eī [5/f]: hope

tollō, -ere, sustulī, sublātus [3]: raise / lift up

vinculum, -ī [2/n]: chain

[A] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AaW0y0kG6M

[At Perseus ubi haec vīdit, gladium suum ēdūxit, et postquam tālāria induit, in āera sublātus est. Tum dēsuper in mōnstrum impetum subitō fēcit, et gladiō suō collum eius graviter vulnerāvit. Mōnstrum ubi sēnsit vulnus, fremitum horribilem ēdidit, et sine morā tōtum corpus in aquam mersit. Perseus dum circum lītus volat, reditum eius exspectābat. Mare autem intereā undique sanguine īnficitur. Post breve tempus bēlua rūrsus caput sustulit; mox tamen ā Perseō ictū graviōre vulnerāta est. Tum iterum sē in undās mersit, neque posteā vīsa est.]

In which order are the following referred to?

a more serious injury

blood-stained sea

drawing a sword

flying around the shore

making an attack

neck injury

never seen again

producing a horrible roar

putting on winged sandals

reappearance of the head

sinking into the water

sinking into the water for a second time

taken up into the air

waiting for the return

[B] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKvZuaU0ezY

[Perseus postquam ad lītus dēscendit, prīmum tālāria exuit; tum ad rūpem vēnit ubi Andromeda vīncta erat. Ea autem omnem spem salūtis dēposuerat, et ubi Perseus adiit, terrōre paene exanimāta erat. Ille vincula statim solvit, et puellam patrī reddidit. Cēpheus ob hanc rem maximō gaudiō affectus est. Meritam grātiam prō tantō beneficiō Perseō rettulit; praetereā Andromedam ipsam eī in mātrimōnium dedit. Ille libenter hoc dōnum accēpit et puellam dūxit. Paucōs annōs cum uxōre suā in eā regiōne habitābat, et in magnō honōre erat apud omnēs Aethiopēs. Magnopere tamen mātrem suam rūrsus vidēre cupiēbat. Tandem igitur cum uxōre suā ē rēgnō Cēpheī discessit.]

[i] What did Perseus first do after he reached the shore? (1)

[ii] What did he then do? (2)

[iii] How did Andromeda feel? (4); [Ea autem [1] omnem spem ¦ [2] salūtis ¦ [1] dēposuerat … [3] terrōre [4] paene exanimāta erat.]

[iv] What two actions did Perseus take? (2)

[v] How did Cephesus react emotionally? (1)

[vi] How did he show his appreciation? (2)

[vii] How long did they stay in the kingdom? (1)

[viii] What did the Ethopians think of Perseus? (1)

[ix] What did Perseus greatly desire? (1)

[x] What did he finally do? (2)

[C] Find the Latin either by listening or from the transcript:

[i] (he) made an attack ¦ on the monster

[ii] (she) had given up all hope

[iii] after a short time

[iv] again (2 words)

[v] finally

[vi] for a few years

[vii] without delay

[viii] and was not seen ¦ afterwards

[ix] had been tied

[x] was raised up

[xi] is stained ¦ in / with blood

[xii] was wounded ¦ by a more serious blow

[xiii] had (almost) died ¦ of fright [ = was almost killed / exhausted]; ablative of cause

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/240525-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of_51.html

[xiv] was affected ¦ by the greatest / very great joy

____________________

[A] a more serious injury [12]; blood-stained sea [10]; drawing a sword [1]; flying around the shore [8]; making an attack [4]; neck injury [5]; never seen again [14]; producing a horrible roar [6]; putting on winged sandals [2]; reappearance of the head [11]; sinking into the water [7]; sinking into the water for a second time [13]; taken up into the air [3]; waiting for the return [9]

[A] At Perseus ubi haec vīdit, [1] gladium suum ēdūxit, et postquam [2] tālāria induit, [3] in āera sublātus est. Tum dēsuper [4] in mōnstrum impetum subitō fēcit, et gladiō suō [5] collum eius graviter vulnerāvit. Mōnstrum ubi sēnsit vulnus, [6] fremitum horribilem ēdidit, et sine morā tōtum corpus [7] in aquam mersit. Perseus dum [8] circum lītus volat, [9] reditum eius exspectābat. [10] Mare autem intereā undique sanguine īnficitur. Post breve tempus bēlua [11] rūrsus caput sustulit; mox tamen ā Perseō [12] ictū graviōre vulnerāta est. [13] Tum iterum sē in undās mersit, [14] neque posteā vīsa est.

11.06.25: Level 3; Ritchie; Fābulae Facilēs; Perseus [3]: Andromeda Servanda [1]

Listen to the recording without looking at the transcript and answer the questions.

dēplōrō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: lament

extrahō, -ere, -trāxī, -tractus [3]: (here) remove; get (somebody) out of (e.g. a difficult situation); extricate

fremitus, -ūs [4/m]: roar

Hammōn / Ammōn, -is [3/m]: Egyptian god often associated with Jupiter or Zeus

iniciō, -ere, -iēcī, -iectus [3-iō]: [i] throw in; [ii] (here) cause

pavor, pavōris [3/m]: panic; terror

rūpēs, -is [3/f]: rock; cliff

Note:

Andromeda servanda

servandus, -a, -um: needing to be saved; (who is) to be saved: gerundive

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/020625-level-3-gerundive-1.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/020625-level-3-gerundive-2-practice-1.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/050625-level-3-gerundive-3-practice-2.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/050625-level-3-gerundive-4-practice-3.html

[A] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtZyO4MWdhY

[Post haec Perseus in fīnēs Aethiopum vēnit. Ibi Cēpheus quīdam illō tempore rēgnābat. Hic Neptūnum, maris deum, ōlim offenderat; Neptūnus autem mōnstrum saevissimum mīserat. Hoc cottīdiē ē marī veniēbat et hominēs dēvorābat. Ob hanc causam pavor animōs omnium occupāverat. Cēpheus igitur ōrāculum deī Hammōnis cōnsuluit, atque ā deō iussus est fīliam mōnstrō trādere. Eius autem fīlia, nōmine Andromeda, virgō fōrmōsissima erat. Cēpheus ubi haec audīvit, magnum dolōrem percēpit. Volēbat tamen cīvēs suōs ē tantō perīculō extrahere, atque ob eam causam imperāta Hammōnis facere cōnstituit.]

[i] Who was Cepheus? (1)

[ii] What had he done to Neptune? (2)

[iii] What had Neptune sent and what did it do? (4)

[iv] How did everybody feel? (1)

[v] What did Cepheus consult? (1)

[vi] What was he ordered to do? (1)

[vii] How is Andromeda described? (1)

[viii] How did Cepheus feel about this command?

[ix] Why did he decide to carry it out? (2)

[B] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pi-eXjs8Bw

[Tum rēx diem certam dīxit et omnia parāvit. Ubi ea diēs vēnit, Andromeda ad lītus dēducta est, et in cōnspectū omnium ad rūpem adligāta est. Omnēs fātum eius dēplōrābant, nec lacrimās tenēbant. At subitō, dum mōnstrum exspectant, Perseus accurrit; et ubi lacrimās vīdit, causam dolōris quaerit. Illī rem tōtam expōnunt et puellam dēmōnstrant. Dum haec geruntur, fremitus terribilis audītur; simul mōnstrum horribilī speciē procul cōnspicitur. Eius cōnspectus timōrem maximum omnibus iniēcit. Mōnstrum magnā celeritāte ad lītus contendit, iamque ad locum appropinquābat ubi puella stābat.]

[i] Where was Andromeda taken? (1)

[ii] What happened to here there? (1)

[iii] How did everybody react? (2)

[iv] When did Perseus run up to them? (1)

[v] What did he ask them and why? (2)

[vi] What was heard? (2)

[vii] What was seen? (3)

[viii] How did the monster approach the shore? (1)

[ix] Where did it approach? (1)

[C] Find the Latin either by listening or from the transcript:

[i] at that time; ablative of time when

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/300525-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of.html

[ii] with great speed; ablative of manner

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/210525-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of_37.html

[iii] at the same time

[iv] in view of everybody

[v] the king appointed a certain day

[vi] for this reason (2 phrases)

[vii] (a monster) is spotted (caught sight of)

[viii] (a roar) is heard

[ix] (he) was ordered (commanded)

[x] (she) was led down

[xi] (she) was tied

[xii] while these things are happening [ = are being carried out]

[xiii] very beautiful

[xiv] very great fear

[xv] very savage / fierce

10.06.25: blunt razors, blood-letting and glowing walnut shells; Comenius LXXVI; at the barber’s shop [7]

The guy who cuts my hair in Thailand didn’t know the origin of the traditional red and white striped pole he has above his shop, but he knows now - even though I think he still doesn’t believe me!

Comenius continues …

Sometimes he cutteth a Vein with a Pen-knife, 11. where the Blood spirteth out, 12. │ Interdum secat Vēnam Scalpellō, 11. ubi Sanguis prōpullulat, 12.

The Chirurgeon cureth Wounds. │ Chīrūrgus cūrat Vulnera.

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

chīrūrgus, -ī [2/m]: surgeon

medicus, -ī [2/m]: doctor

scalpellum, -ī [2/n]: small surgical knife; scalpel

sanguis, sanguinis [3/m]: blood

secō, -āre, -uī [1]: cut off; the English word secateurs derived from French but originally from Latin refers to a pair of pruning shears

vulnus, vulneris [3/n]: wound; Engl. derivative: vulnerable

[1] A short (and painful) extract from Ørberg’s Familia Rōmāna:

Medicus (ad Iūlium): “Tenē bracchium puerī!” (ad Aemiliam): “Tenē pōculum sub bracchiō!” (ad Quīntum): “Claude oculōs, puer!” Medicus Quīntum oculōs claudere iubet, quod puer cultrum medicī timet.

Ecce medicus cultrum ad bracchium puerī appōnit. Perterritus Quīntus cultrum medicī sentit in bracchiō, nec oculōs aperīre audet. Capillī horrent. Cor palpitat. Medicus vēnam aperit. Ruber sanguis dē bracchiō in pōculum fluit. Quīntus sanguinem dē bracchiō fluere sentit atque horret. Frōns et genae alba sunt ut līlia …

horreō, -ēre, -uī [2]: stand upright; tremble; capillī horrent: (his) hair stands on end

[2] cumque lēgisset Iudi trēs pāgellās vel quattuor scidit illud scalpellō scrībae et prōiēcit in igne │ It happened, when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, that [the king] cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire (Vulgate)

[3] Extrīnsecus vērō interdum sīc ictus oculum laedit, ut sanguis in eō suffundātur. Nihil commodius est quam sanguine vel columbae vel palumbī vel hirundinis inunguēre │ but an external blow at times so injures the eye that blood is poured in it [ = it is suffused with blood]. Nothing is then better than to anoint (the eyeball) with the blood of a pigeon, dove, or swallow.

[4] Est etiam genus īnflammātiōnis, in quā, sī cui tument ac distenduntur cum dolōre oculī, sanguinem ex fronte ēmittī necessārium est (Celsus)│ There is also a class of inflammation in which, if the eyes swell and become tense with pain, it is necessary to let blood from the forehead

Image #1: blood-letting, amputation, tooth extraction, application of leeches … and they would also cut your hair! While the physicians examined your urine, the barber-surgeons cut things off and pulled things out. There are varying interpretations of the original red and white stripes, the red representing blood-letting, the white representing bones or teeth; another interpretation is that it depicts clean and blood-covered bandages. The pole itself can refer to a staff which the “patient” held tightly in order to stimulate blood flow (which is shown in the second image).

Image #2: one of the features of many images from the Middle Ages is the expressionless faces, but not in this case. You can share the pain of this poor chap as he experiences blood-letting, while holding the staff to stimulate the blood flow – and being kept firmly in his place by the foot of the barber-surgeon!

Image #3: depiction of blood-letting in Ancient Greece

10.06.25: blunt razors, blood-letting and glowing walnut shells; Comenius LXXVI; at the barber’s shop [6]

linteum, -ī [2/n]: linen cloth; bedsheet; sail; towel … but also napkins, the theft of which upsets the poet Catullus; it isn’t the money, but the sentimental value! Extract from Catullus 12; the full poem is at:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catullus_12

Marrūcīnē Asinī, manū sinistrā / nōn bellē ūteris: in iocō atque vīnō / tollis lintea neglegentiōrum… │ Marrucinius Asinius, your left hand you do not use beautifully; in joke and in wine you lift the napkins of the careless people …

ūtor, ūtī [3/deponent verb]: use; followed by the ablative case

manū sinistrā / nōn … ūteris │ you do not use the left hand

tollō, -ere, sustulī [3]: lift up

Quārē aut hendecasyllabōs trecentōs / exspectā, aut mihi linteum remitte │ Therefore, either expect three hundred poems, or send the napkin back to me

hendecasyllabus, -ī [2/m]: a line of poetry comprising eleven syllables, which was a feature of Catullus’s poetry

quod mē nōn movet aestimātiōne, / vērum est mnēmosynum meī sodālis. │ which doesn't move me with [by means of / because of its] value, but because it is a souvenir of my comrade.

aestimātiō, aestimātiōnis [3/f]: estimation (of value)

mnēmosynum, -ī [2/n]: souvenir; keepsake

sodālis, -is [3m/f]: mate, buddy, companion

Nam sūdāria Saetaba ex Hibērīs / mīsērunt mihi mūnerī Fabullus / et Verānius │ for Fabullus and Veranius sent the Saetaban cloths from the Iberians to me as a gift;

Hibērus, or Ibērus, -a, -um: Iberian, the adjective related to Hibērēs or Ibērēs, the Greek word for Spaniards

munus, muneris [3/n]: gift

Saetabis, a city near the eastern coast of Spain and noted for the manufacture of flax

sūdārium, -ī [2/n]: small piece of cloth e.g. a handkerchief or for removing perspiration

And so, after all of this, could you in Ancient Rome go to the barber’s, cut your hair (with heated walnuts), comb your hair, curl your hair, shave your beard, dye your hair brown, pluck the eyebrows, wear a wig, anoint yourself from a perfume bottle, cut yourself with a blunt razor, admire your handiwork in a mirror and steal napkins? Yes, because – either through what they wrote or we can see – they did all of it and, as the image shows,  you could also smother your face in cream. Sure, we can, and should, read about Caesar and Hannibal and Augustus, but we can also learn about Romans who had a bad hair day.

Image: unearthed at Southwark, a pot of cosmetic cream or ointment, 2000 years old, Roman and still with the fingerprints of whoever used it

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/627986733145932/

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/jul/28/artsnews.london

But there’s one more thing that the barber could do …

10.06.25: blunt razors, blood-letting and glowing walnut shells; Comenius LXXVI; at the barber’s shop [5]

 An interesting aspect of looking at Latin from the Renaissance period is that – as is still done – they would create or “rework” Classical Latin words to convey ideas that, during the Classical period, did not exist. In earlier posts, the Latin words for certain types of fruit and musical instruments were discussed. Posts are also being included on the words for games.

sāpō, sāpōnis [3/m]: soap, but …

“… though it denoted not a detergent, but a sort of pomade used for colouring the hair a light brown. It was made with goat's tallow and ashes, and was sold in balls, in which form it was imported by the Romans from Germany and Gaul, and used to bleach the hair.” (Harry Thurston Peck: Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities)

lixīv(i)us, -a, -um and the noun lixīvum, -ī [2/n]: both, but we can see why Comenius uses it to refer to soap suds since they originally refer to lye, a chemical compound used in soap-making

“A formula for making a soap-like substance was written on a Sumerian clay tablet around 2500 BC. This was produced by heating a mixture of oil and wood ash, the earliest recorded chemical reaction, and used for washing woolen clothing.”

calamistrum, -ī [2/n]: curling iron / tongs

crīspō, -āre, -āvī [1]: curl

crispus, -a, -um: curly; crimped (of hair) > Engl. derivative: crisp

linteum, -ī [2/n]: linen cloth; bedsheet; sail; towel (but see the Catullus quotation in the next post); “lintea: no clear line seems to have been drawn between handkerchiefs, napkins, and even towels” (Merrill)

pēlvis, -is [3/f]: basin

tergō, -ere, tersī [3] (or tergeō, -ēre [2]): wipe

From the authors:

[1] And did the Romans have curling tongs? You bet they did, and they go back certainly as far as the Egyptians; image #1: bronze hair curling tongs and trimmer, Egypt, 1575-1194 (Science Museum, UK)

At ita mē volsellae, pecten, speculum, calamistrum meum bene mē amāssint meaque *axitia* (= axicia) linteumque extersuī (Plautus) │ And so may my tweezers, my comb, my looking-glass, my crisping-iron, and my hair-scissors and scrubbing-towel love me well

axicia, -ae [1/f]: pair of shears / scissors

extersus, -ūs [4/m]: rubbing dry / down

speculum, -ī [2/n]: mirror; image #2: Roman silver mirror 1^st century AD

volsella, -ae [1/f]: a pair of tweezers; image #3

09.06.25: Level 1; readings [16]: the good old days; imperfect tense 1st / 2nd conjugation [2]

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Latin_for_beginners_(1911)/Part_II/Lesson_XX

tense signs

Instead of using auxiliary verbs to express differences in tense, like was, shall, will, etc., Latin adds to the verb stem certain elements that have the force of auxiliary verbs. These are called tense signs (also known as tense markers).

formation and inflection of the imperfect

The tense sign of the imperfect is -ba- / -bā-, which is added to the present stem. The imperfect consists, therefore, of three parts:

[1] present stem: amā-

[2] tense sign: -ba-

[3] personal ending: -m

> amā¦ba¦m

The inflection is as follows:

1^st conjugation

amābam: I was loving / used to love

amābās: you (singular) were loving

amābat: (s)he was loving

amābāmus: we were loving

amābātis: you (plural) were loving

amābant: they were loving

2^nd conjugation

monēbam: I was advising / used to love

monēbās: you (singular) were advising

monēbat: (s)he was advising

monēbāmus: we were advising

monēbātis: you (plural) were advising

monēbant: they were advising

Note that the ā of the tense sign -bā- is shortened to -ba- before the personal endings -m, -t and -nt.

meaning of the imperfect

The Latin imperfect describes an act as going on or progressing in past time, like the English past-progressive tense (I was walking). It is the regular tense used to describe a past situation or condition of affairs.

Exercises

arō, -āre [1]: plough

cūrō, -āre [1]: care for

desīderō, -āre [1]: desire, long for

dō, dare [1]: give

habitō, -āre [1]: live

labōrō, -āre [1]: work

laudō, -āre [1]: praise

mātūrō, -āre [1]: hurry

narrō, -āre [1]: tell (e.g. a story); recount

necō, -āre [1]: kill

nūntiō, -āre [1]: announce

parō, -āre [1]: prepare

portō, -āre [1]: carry

properō, -āre [1]: rush

pugnō, -āre [1]: fight

vocō, -āre [1]: call

dēleō, -ēre [2]: destroy

habeō, -ēre [2]: have

iubeō, -ēre [2]: order

moveō, -ēre [2]: move

videō, -ēre [2]: see

[1]

[i] vidēbāmus, dēsīderābat, mātūrābās

[ii] dabant, vocābātis, dēlēbāmus

[iii] pugnabant, laudābās, movēbātis

[iv] iubēbant, properābātis, portābāmus

[v] dabās, nārrābant, labōrābātis

[vi] vidēbant, movēbās, nūntiābāmus

[vii] necābat, movēbam, habēbat, parābātis

[2]

[i] you were having (sing and plur), we were killing, they were working

[ii] he was moving, we were ordering, we were fighting

[iii] we were telling, they were seeing, he was calling

[iv] they were living, I was longing for, we were destroying

[v] you were giving, you were moving, you were announcing, (sing and plur)

[vi] they were caring for, he was ploughing, we were praising

[3] Niobe and her children (1)

fōrma, -ae, [1/f]: form, beauty

poena, -ae, [1/f]: punishment, penalty

potentia, -ae, [1/f]: power 

rēgīna, -ae, [1/f]: queen 

superbia, -ae, [1/f]: pride, haughtiness

trīstitia, -ae, [1/f]: sadness, sorrow

septem: seven

superbus, -a, -um: proud, haughty 

nōn sōlum . . . sed etiam: not only . . . but also

Niobē, rēgīna Thēbānōrum, erat pulchra fēmina sed superba. Erat superba nōn sōlum fōrmā suā marītīque potentiā sed etiam magnō līberōrum numerō. Nam habēbat septem fīliōs et septem fīliās. Sed ea superbia erat rēgīnae causa magnae trīstitiae et līberīs causa dūrae poenae.

Notes:

[i] Erat superba …[1] fōrmā suā … marītīque [2] potentiā … [3] magnō ¦ liberōrum ¦ [3] numerō │ she was arrogant … because of [1] her beauty … [2] the power ¦ of her husband … [3] the large number ¦ of children; the ablative case can be used to express cause

[ii]

rēgīnae [dative] causa ¦ magnae trīstitiae [genitive] │ a cause ¦ of great sadness ¦ to the queen

līberīs [dative] causa ¦ dūrae poenae [genitive] │ a cause ¦ of harsh punishment ¦  for the children

[4] Niobe and her children (2)

sacrum, -ī [2 n]: sacrifice, offering, rite

verbum, -ī [2/n]: word

sedeō, -ēre [2]: sit

volō, -āre [1]: fly 

interfectus, -a, -um: slain

molestus, -a, -um: troublesome, annoying (molest)

perpetuus, -a, -um: perpetual, continuous

Apollō et Diāna erant līberī Lātōnae. Eīs Thēbānī sacra crēbra parābant. Oppidānī amābant Lātōnam et līberōs eius. Id superbae rēgīnae erat molestum. “Cūr,” inquit, “Lātōnae et līberīs sacra parātis? Duōs līberōs habet Lātōna; quattuordecim habeō ego. Ubi sunt mea sacra?” Lātōna eīs verbīs īrāta līberōs suōs vocat. Ad eam volant Apollō Diānaque et sagittīssuīs miserōs līberōs rēgīnae superbae dēlent. Niobē, nūper laeta, nunc misera, sedet apud līberōs interfectōs et cum perpetuīs lacrimīs eōs dēsīderat.

Notes:

Apollō Diānaque … sagittīs suīs … līberōs rēgīnae … dēlent │ Apollo and Diana … destroy the queen’s children with (by means of) their arrows; the ablative case is used to indicate the means or instrument by which an action is performed

09.06.25: Level 1; readings [16]: the good old days; imperfect tense 1st / 2nd conjugation [1]

Demaratus talks about the time when his country wasn’t occupied by the Romans:

“Multa saecula Athēnae, patria mea, līberae erant. Nōs Graecī līberī erāmus cūnctī, dum in nostrīs oppidīs līberī habitābāmus. Interdum tyrannī in nōnnūllīs oppidīs rēgnāre studēbant, sed Graecī vītam līberam valdē amābant et tyrannōs ut adversāriōs fugāre solēbant.”

Tum Epicharmus: “Pīsistratus quidem multōs annōs imperium Athēnārum obtinēbat, quod bonus et iūstus erat…”

Sed Mārcus: “Dionȳsius autem Syrācūsānīs totidem ferē annōs imperābat, quamquam neque bonus neque iūstus, sed iniūstus et malus erat: Populum enim iniūriīs terrēbat, multōs virōs integrōs necābat. Dionȳsiō quidem magnum rēgnum, magnae dīvitiae erant; neque tamen beātus, immō vērō miser erat, quod semper īnsidiās timēbat.”

[1] This text uses the imperfect tense; this tense describes:

[i] what somebody was doing i.e. an action that was incomplete

[ii] what somebody used to do i.e. an action that happened frequently in the past

[iii] an action that took place or a situation that existed over a period of time with no real sense of beginning or end e.g. what the character of a person was like

dum in nostrīs oppidīs … habitābāmus │ while we were living / used to live in our towns

Nōs Graecī līberī erāmus …│ We Greeks were / used to be free

semper īnsidiās timēbat │ he always feared / used to fear treachery

bonus et iūstus erat │ he was good and just

Pīsistratus … multōs annōs imperium … obtinēbat │ Pisistratus … held political power … for many years

Dionȳsius autem Syrācūsānīs totidem ferē annōs imperābat │ Dionysius ruled the Syracusans for almost as many years.

[2] a verb to look out for is soleō, -ēre [2]: to be accustomed (to doing something); it is used with an infinitive and can translate as somebody who usually does or did something i.e. the verb conveys a frequentative meaning.

Graecī … adversāriōs ¦ fugāre ¦ solēbant │literally: the Greeks ¦ were accustomed ¦ to putting ¦ enemies to flight = the Greeks usually chased their enemies away

[3] Links to all posts on the imperfect tense:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/permalink/469186202359320/

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/07/220824-maxey-11-2-past-tenses-2.html

[4] Latin tutorial: imperfect tense

https://youtu.be/3-OLocTTe50

08.06.25: Level 3; the gerundive [7]; practice (5)

In all of these examples, note that English would use [i] an infinitive + [ii] a direct object e.g. a desire [i] to climb (for climbing) + [ii] the mountain (direct object) whereas the Latin examples here are using a gerundive in agreement with the noun in case, gender and number. Complete the English translations with the words listed below.

[1] cupīdō montis ascendendī  │ a desire to [i] __________ the [ii] __________

[2] spēs faciendae pācis │the hope of [i] __________ [ii] __________

[3] locus idōneus castrīs pōnendīs │ a place suitable for [i] __________ [ii] __________

[4] genus armōrum aptum tegendīs corporibus │the kind of weapons suitable for [i] __________ [ii] __________

[5] Lībrīs legendīs discimus. │We learn by [i] __________ [ii] __________.

[6] Iuvenēs gaudium cēpērunt ē puellīs pulchrīs videndīs. │ The young men took joy in [i] __________ the [ii] __________ [ii] __________.

[7] Nārrandīs fābulīs magister puerīs placuit. │The teacher pleased the boys by [i]  __________ [ii] __________.

[8] Nautae in portum salūtis petendae causā nāvigant. │ The sailors sailed into the port for the sake of [i] __________ [ii] __________.

[9] Nōs vīsitābant victōriae nūntiandae causā. │They visited us for the purpose of [i] __________ [ii] __________.

[10] Vītandae suspīciōnis grātiā discessērunt. │ They departed for the purpose of [i] __________ [ii]  __________.

[i] announcing; avoiding; climb; making; pitching; protecting; reading; seeing; seeking; telling

[ii] beautiful; bodies; books; camp; girls; mountain; peace; safety; stories; suspicion; victory

08.06.25: Level 3; the gerundive [6]; practice (4)

[a] Complete each phrase with the gerundives listed below:

[1] to find / for the purpose of finding the boy │ ad puerum __________

[2] to carry the food │ad cibum __________

[3] to seek peace │ ad pācem __________

[4] to destroy the town │ad oppidum __________

[5] to eat dinner │ ad cēnam __________

[6] to kill the animal │ ad animal __________

[7] to drag away the captives │ ad captīvōs __________

[8] to see the men │ad virōs __________

[9] to build the villas │ad vīllās __________

[10] to burn the camp │ ad castra __________

aedificandās; cōnsūmendam; dēlendum; incendenda; interficiendum; inveniendum; petendam; portandum; trahendōs; videndōs

[b] Complete the English translations; the gerundive phrases will translate either as to + infinitive or for the purpose of … ing

Example:

He himself set forth further into Gaul for the purpose of conducting ¦ meetings. │ Ipse in citeriōrem Galliam ad agendōs ¦ conventūs profectus est

[1] Ad hōs librōs legendōs latīnam discimus.

[2] Grumiō venit ad cēnam parandam.

[3] Ad secandōs arborēs illī illīc vēnērunt.

[4] Eō diē hī ad Caesarem bis veniēbant ad laudandum eum.

[5] Tempus ad arma capienda nōn habuerant.

[6] Lēgātī Rōmam missī sunt ad rogandum auxilium.

[7] Equitēs ad interficiendum Cicerōnem vēnērunt.

[8] Nōn ad laudandum Caesarem at sepeliendum vēnī.

[1] We learn Latin to __________.

[2] Grumio came __________.

[3] Those men came there for the purpose of __________.

[4] They came to Caesar twice on that day __________.

[5] They did not have time __________.

[6] The envoys were sent to Rome __________.

[7] The knights came __________.

[8] I have not come to __________ but __________ [him].

08.06.25: Level 3; the gerundive [5]; purpose

In the posts on the gerund some sentences were highlighted:

Ad legendum [gerund] + librōs [direct object; accusative] vēnit. │ He came ¦ to read books.

Legendō [gerund] + librōs [direct object; accusative] legere discimus. │ We learn to read ¦ by reading books.

Terit tempus scrībendō [gerund] + epistulās [direct object; accusative] │ He spends time ¦ in writing letters.

Cupidī erant Rōmānī insulam nostram [direct object; accusative] … vīsitandī et explōrandī [gerund]. │ The Romans were desirous … ¦ of visiting and exploring our island.

Dat operam agrōs [direct object; accusative] colendō [gerund]. │ He attends ¦ to tilling fields.

All of these use the gerund with a direct object. These sentences are perfectly correct Latin, but there is a parallel construction used with the gerundive:

When the gerund would have an object in the accusative, the Gerundive is generally used instead. (Allen & Greenhough)

This involves a slight “rethinking” because the way in which Latin expresses this idea is completely different from the way in which English translates it.

We’ll take a sentence from a far earlier post:

Next month I shall first go to Iowa ¦ to visit a friend.

The sentence expresses purpose which, in English, is conveyed by an infinitive; French, German and Russian would also use infinitive constructions.

Now look at the Latin; it does not use an infinitive:

Mēnsē proximō ībō prīmum ad Iowa ¦ ad amīcum vīsitandum. 

Therefore, the structure is markedly different:

[i] English: I shall go to Iowa ¦ to visit [infinitive] a friend [the direct object of the infinitive]

[ii] Latin: Ībō ad Iowa ¦ ad amīcum [accusative after ad] + vīsitandum [gerundive: agreeing in gender, number and case with the noun]

Here are some further examples from earlier posts:

Venīte mēcum ¦ ad eōs spectandōs.

Literally: Come with me ¦ to look at them.

inter Dubrās et Rutupiās est locus ¦ ad nāvigia applicanda ¦ idōneus │ between Dover and Richborough is a place suitable ¦ to bring vessels to land [ = for vessels (which are) to be brought to land]

locus idōneus est ¦ ad cōpiās explicandās │ it’s a suitable place ¦ to deploy forces [ = for forces (which are) to be deployed]

Image #2 shows examples of how this gerundive construction can be translated with an English infinitive even though, in the Latin, there is no infinitive

Image #3: the use of the gerundive + noun where English would use an infinitive + a direct object is not restricted to constructions with ad + accusative. The table shows these parallel constructions: [i] the gerund with an object in the accusative, and [ii] the gerundive agreeing in case, gender and number with the noun; both constructions mean the same

Latin tutorial:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm5F9C_mWgs

08.06.25: Level 3; Ritchie; Fābulae Facilēs; Perseus [2]: Contrā Medūsam

Listen to the recording without looking at the transcript and answer the questions.

abscīdō, -ere, -cīdī, -cīsus [3]: cut off

aes, aeris [3/n]: bronze

anguis, -is [3m/f]: snake, serpent

contegō, -ere, -tēxī, -tēctus [3]: cover

continēns, -entis [3/f]: mainland

dīmittō, -mittere, -mīsī,  -missus [3]: send away

dūdum: a short time ago; not long since

falx, falcis [3/f]: sickle

ictus, -ūs [4/m]: blow, strike

ignāvus, -a, -um: lazy

praestō, -stāre, -stitī [1]: show

quō usque …?

tālāria, -ium [3/n/pl]: winged sandals

turpis, -e: (here) shameful

[A] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia1_iT--_lo

[Perseus igitur multōs annōs ibi habitābat, et cum mātre suā vītam beātam agēbat. At Polydectēs Danaen magnopere amābat, atque eam in mātrimōnium dūcere volēbat. Hoc tamen cōnsilium Perseō minimē grātum erat. Polydectēs igitur Perseum dīmittere cōnstituit. Tum iuvenem ad sē vocāvit et haec dīxit: "Turpe est hanc ignāvam vītam agere; iam dūdum tū adulēscēns es. Quō usque hīc manēbis? Tempus est arma capere et virtūtem praestāre. Hinc abī, et caput Medūsae mihi refer."]

In which order are the following referred to?

a blissful life

bear arms

how long Perseus had been staying there

how long Perseus would stay there

leading a lazy life

Perseus now a young man

Perseus told to bring back the head of the Gorgon

Perseus told to leave

Perseus’ dislike of Polydectes’ plan

Polydectes decision to send Perseus away

Polydectes’  wish to marry Danae

show courage

[B] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFwsgNFPAl0

[Perseus ubi haec audīvit, ex īnsulā discessit, et postquam ad continentem vēnit, Medūsam quaesīvit. Diū frūstrā quaerēbat; namque nātūram locī ignōrābat. Tandem Apollō et Minerva viam dēmōnstrāvērunt. Prīmum ad Graeās, sorōrēs Medūsae, pervēnit. Ab hīs tālāria et galeam magicam accēpit. Apollō autem et Minerva falcem et speculum eī dedērunt. Tum postquam tālāria pedibus induit, in āera ascendit. Diū per āera volābat; tandem tamen ad eum locum vēnit ubi Medūsa cum cēterīs Gorgonibus habitābat. Gorgonēs autem mōnstra erant speciē horribilī; capita enim eārum anguibus omnīnō contēcta erant. Manūs etiam ex āere factae erant.]

[i] When did Perseus leave the island? (1)

[ii] When did he start to look for Medusa? (1)

[iii] Why could he not find Medusa? (1)

[iv] How did Apollo and Minerva help him? (1)

[v] Who were the Graeae? (1)

[vi] What did he receive from them? (2)

[vii] What did he receive from Apollo and Minerva? (2)

[viii] When did Perseus start to fly? (1)

[ix] Who did Medusa live with? (1)

[x] Describe them using short phrases:

[a] appearance __________ (1)

[b] heads __________ (1)

[c] hands __________ (1)

[C] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGdJacKQGn8

[Rēs difficillima erat caput Gorgonis abscīdere; eius enim cōnspectū hominēs in saxum vertēbantur. Propter hanc causam Minerva speculum Perseō dederat. Ille igitur tergum vertit, et in speculum īnspiciēbat; hōc modō ad locum vēnit ubi Medūsa dormiēbat. Tum falce suā caput eius ūnō ictū abscīdit. Cēterae Gorgonēs statim ē somnō excitātae sunt, et ubi rem vīdērunt, īrā commōtae sunt. Arma rapuērunt, et Perseum occīdere volēbant. Ille autem dum fugit, galeam magicam induit; et ubi hoc fēcit, statim ē cōnspectū eārum ēvāsit.]

[i] Why was it very difficult to behead Medusa? (2)

[ii] What had Minerva given to Perseus? (1)

[iii] How did this gift help him? (2)

[iv] When did he approach Medusa? (1)

[v] How did he behead her? (2)

[vi] How did the other Gorgons react when they saw what had happened? (3)

[vii] How did Perseus manage to escape? (2)

[D] Find the Latin either by listening or from the transcript:

[i] bring (me) back (the head)

[ii] go away ¦ from here

[iii] he wanted to marry her

[iv] with [by means of] one blow

[v] out of sight

[vi] the Gorgons were of horrible appearance; ablative of description:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/300425-level-3-beasts-in-egypt-and.html

[vii] it was a very difficult matter / thing

[viii] their hands were made

[ix] their heads were covered

[x] the Gorgons were moved (i.e. emotionally)

[xi] the Gorgons were woken up [ = were aroused from (their) sleep]

[xii] men were turned into stone

____________________

[A] a blissful life [2]; bear arms [9]; How long Perseus had been staying there [1]; how long Perseus would stay there [8]; leading a lazy life [6]; Perseus now a young man [7]; Perseus told to bring back the head of the Gorgon [12]; Perseus told to go away [11]; Perseus’ dislike of Polydectes’ plan [4]; Polydectes decision to send Perseus away [5]; Polydectes’  wish to marry Danae [3]; show courage [10]

[A] Perseus igitur [1] multōs annōs ibi habitābat, et cum mātre suā [2] vītam beātam agēbat. At Polydectēs Danaen magnopere amābat, atque [3] eam in mātrimōnium dūcere volēbat. [4] Hoc tamen cōnsilium Perseō minimē grātum erat. [5] Polydectēs igitur Perseum dīmittere cōnstituit. Tum iuvenem ad sē vocāvit et haec dīxit: "Turpe est [6] hanc ignāvam vītam agere; [7] iam dūdum tū adulēscēns es. [8] Quō usque hīc manēbis? Tempus est [9] arma capere et [10] virtūtem praestāre. [11] Hinc abī, et [12] caput Medūsae mihi refer."