02.08.25: topic; the fruits of the earth [12]; Comenius (1658); tree

Only part of the original text is used here.

A plant groweth from a seed. │planta prōcrēscit ē sēmine.

A plant waxeth to a shoot, │planta abit in fruticem,

A shoot to a tree, │frutex in arborem,

The root beareth up the tree. │rādīx sustentat arborem.

The body or stem riseth from the root. │stirps (stemma) surgit ē rādīce.

The stem divideth itself into boughs and green branches made of leaves. │stirps sē dīvidit in rāmōs & frondēs factās ē foliīs.

The top is in the height. │cacūmen est in summō.

The stock (trunk) is close to the roots. │ truncus adhæret rādīcibus.

Notes and vocabulary

[1] prōcrēscō, -ere [3]: literally: grow forth i.e. arise; spring up

[2] a plant waxeth to a shoot / grows into a shoot, │planta abit in fruticem

abit < abeō, abīre: depart; go away, but can, as here, be used more poetically to mean ‘be transformed; turn into’

In villōs abeunt vestēs, in crūra lacertī. (Ovid)│ Clothes turn (in)to fur, arms to legs.

[3] stirps sē [reflexive] dīvidit │ the stem divides itself

[4] stirps sē dīvidit in rāmōs et frondēs ¦ factās ē foliīs │ the stem divides itself into boughs and branches ¦ made of leaves; perfect passive participle (factās)

Note: frōns, frondis [3/f] in itself means a leafy branch

ē / ex + ablative indicating source or material:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/210525-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of_25.html

[5] adhaereō, -ēre [2]: stick to; cling to; be close to

truncus adhæret rādīcibus [dative] │ the trunk is close to the roots.

The verb is a compound of ad + haereō; many compound verbs in Latin take the dative case:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/130425-level-3-verbs-with-dative-case-1.html

[6] vocabulary

cacūmen, cacūminis [3/n]: top; peak; summit

folium, -ī [2/n]: leaf; petal; needle of a conifer:

Ex hīs pīnus atque pīnaster folium habent capillāmentī modo praetenue longumque et mucrōne aculeātum. (Pliny the Elder) │ Of these, the pine and wild pine have a leaf [that is] very thin and long, in the manner of hair, and tipped with a sharp point.

frōns, frondis [3/f]: a leafy branch

frutex, fruticis [3/m]: although the translator gives the meaning as ‘shoot’ i.e. the small stem of a new plant, the word refers to the trunk or lower part of the tree, and in Classical Latin also means ‘shrub’ or ‘bush’, but not in this text

rādīx, radīcis [3/f]: root

rāmus, -ī [2/m]: branch; bough

sēmen, sēminis [3/n]: seed

stemma, stemmatis [3/n]: stem; the noun has the original meaning of ‘garland’ or ‘wreath’ as well as ‘lineage’, genealogical tree; the English word stem is of Germanic origin (OE: stemn; Gmn: Stamm)

stirps, stirpis [3/f]: lower part of the plant; stem; stalk; the noun can also refer to a person’s lineage (i.e. family roots)

truncus, -ī [2/m]: tree trunk

01.08.25: Level 1; Road to Latin [23]; Tullia, magistra fīliārum II

"Nōnne rōsae sunt pulchrae, fīliae meae? Manē ego in vīllam rosās portō. Tū, Cornēliā, aquam portās. Secunda quoque aquam portat. Tum nōs rōsās ad statuās deārum portāmus et statuās ōrnāmus. Vōs puellae rubrās rosās amātis et vestrās rosās rubrās ad Diānae statuam portātis. Cotīdiē agricolae corbulās plēnās rosārum ad vīllam nostram portant. Ego rosās libenter cūrō.

"Nōnne corōnae rosārum pulchrae sunt, puellae? Vidēsne corōnam rosārum albārum, Cornēlia?

"Corōnam videō, Tullia. Nōnne est pulchra?" "Videtne dea Diāna corōnās, Tullia?" "Certē, mea fīlia parva! Deae omnia (everything) vident." "Sed nōs deās nōn vidēmus." "Vōs, puellae, deās nōn vidētis quod deae in terrā nōn habitant."

Vocabulary

amō, amāre [1]: love

cūrō, -āre [1]: take care of

habitō, habitāre [1]: live

māne: in the morning

nostra: our

ōrnō, ōrnāre [1]: decorate

portō, portāre [1]: carry

vestra: your

videō, vidēre [2]: see

Exercise

Respondē Latīnē:

1. Quō manē rosās portō?
2. Quid portās, Cornēlia?
3. Quid Secunda quoque portat?
4. Quid ad statuās deārum portāmus?
5. Quālēs rosās ad Diānae statuam portātis?
6. Quid agricolae ad vīllam nostram portant?
7. Quid vidēs, Cornēlia?
8. Num corōnam rosārum rubrārum videō?
9. Nõnne dea Diānā corānās videt?
10. Videntne deae omnia?
11. Num deās vidēmus?
12. Cūr vōs puellae deās nōn vidētis?

Notes

[1] verbs: 1^st conjugation

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/04/verbs-first-conjugation-present-tense.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/397175869560354

https://mega.nz/file/yYtDTBJb#x6MNIqoFJb_As9X2_9BsmnGZOzMOaoxAj7K-B4lG3uo

[2] verbs: 2^nd conjugation

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/04/010324-2nd-conjugation-verbs-present.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/399789079299033/

https://mega.nz/file/mQFijRxD#aCvwzNlq3dHeEP7hr7VGmdLry_1z6cCoGYFAhdh8K6g

31.07.25: Level 3; pronominal adjectives [8](2); alter … alter: the one … the other

Two boys were playing the street. One [of them] was kicking a ball.

There’s nothing unusual about that second sentence if the speaker is only focussing on one boy. However, if he is focussing on both of them …

One [of them] was kicking a ball, the other riding his bike.

When referring to two people / things and expressing, for example, what one person was doing as opposed to what the other person was doing, Latin uses alter … alter …

Cīvēs [i] alterīus cōnsulis verbīs sunt territī, [ii] alterīus factīs. Neutrī pārēbant. │ The citizens were terrified by the words of [i] the one consul and terrified by the deeds of [ii] the other. They were obeying neither.

Caesar et Orgetorix prīncipēs fuērunt; alter necātus (est), alter ob victōriam laudātus est │ Caesar and Orgetorix were leaders; one was killed, the other praised on account of the victory.

Alter lēgātus hostēs moenibus prohibēre, alter incolās convocāre coepit │ One commander began keeping the enemy from the walls, the other (began) summoning the citizens.

Cum Caesar in Galliam vēnit, alterīus factiōnis prīncipēs erant Aeduī, alterīus Sēquanī. │ When Caesar came to Gaul, the leaders of one faction were the Aedui, (0f) the other were the Sequani.

impōnit geminum alterum in nāvem pater …  illum relīquit alterum apud mātrem domī  (Plautus)│ The father put one twin in the ship … that other one he left at home with the mother.

Diūtius cum sustinēre nostrōrum impetūs nōn possent, alterī sē, ut coeperant, in montem recēpērunt, alterī ad impedīmenta et carrōs suōs sē contulērunt (Caesar) │ When they could no longer withstand the attacks of our men, the one division [= one group of men; nominative plural], as they had begun to do, betook themselves to the mountain; the other [ = group of men; the others] repaired to their baggage and wagons.

Factum est ut inimīcī alter ¦ alterī auxiliō essent. │ It happened that the (two) enemies were of help to one another [ = one ¦ to the other].

bellum illud quod cīvēs nostrī alterī ¦ cum alterīs ¦ gessērunt │ that war which our citizens waged with one another [ = ones (i.e. one group of the citizens) ¦ with the others (the other group)

Exercise: Complete the Latin sentences with the appropriate forms of alter; in most of the sentences, the gender and case of alter is the same for both, but pay close attention to sentence [5]

[1] One boy is a sailor, the other a farmer. │ _____ puer est nauta, _____ agricola.

[2] He has two cats. One is white, the other black. │ Duās fēlēs habet. _____ alba, _____ nigra est.

[3] One town is big, the other small. │ _____ oppidum est magnum, _____ parvum.

[4] Lesbia is the maidservant of the one master (one of the two masters), Tullia (the maidservant) of the other. │ Lesbia est ancilla _____ dominī, Tullia _____.

[5] How is one (thing) distinguished from the other? │ Quōmodo _____ ab _____ discernitur?

[6] Some (i.e. one group of people) see the king, the others the queen. │ _____ rēgem vident, _____ rēgīnam vident.

alterum; alterum; alterum; alterō; alterīus; alterīus; alterī; alterī; altera; altera; alter; alter

____________________

[1] Alter puer est nauta, alter agricola.

[2] Duae fēlēs habet. Altera alba, altera nigra est.

[3] Alterum oppidum est magnum, alterum parvum.

[4] Lesbia est ancilla alterīus dominī, Tulliā alterīus.

[5] Quōmodo alterum ab alterō discernitur?

[6] Alterī rēgem vident, alterī rēgīnam vident.

31.07.25: Level 3; pronominal adjectives [8](1); alter, -a, -um; the other; the second

Compare these two English sentences:

[i] I spoke to another senator.

[ii] I spoke to the other senator.

In [i] it is not stated how many senators are present i.e. the speaker refers to one of a number of them.

In [ii], by stating ‘the other’, the speaker makes it clear that only two senators are present.

We are focussing here only on [ii].

alter, -a, -um: the other (of two), the second (of two); it can also function as an ordinal number with the same meaning as secundus, -a, -um: second

Magnā difficultāte ad alteram rīpam flūminis pervēnit. │ With great difficulty he reached the other bank of the river.

Sī quis tē percusserit in dexterā māxillā tuā praebē illī et alteram (Vulgate) │ If anyone strikes you on your right cheek, offer him the other one too.

Alterum iter per prōvinciam nostram multō facilius est │ The other route through our province is much easier.

Sed Gesslerus "Cūr alteram cēpistī sagittam?" inquit │ But Gesslerus said “Why did you take the second / other arrow?”

Sed līberātus mox Tellius superbum hominem alterā illā sagittā necāvit │ But Tellius, having been freed, soon killed the arrogant man with that second arrow.

Ibi praesidium pōnit et in alterā parte flūminis │ There he placed the garrison on the other part of the river.

annō trecentēnsimō alterō (Livy) │ in the three hundred and second year

Quōrum adventū altera castra ad alteram oppidī partem pōnit (Caesar) │ On their arrival he made a second camp on the other part of the town

Helvētiī undique nātūrā locī continentur, ¦ ūnā ex parte ¦ flūmine Rhēnō, … ¦ alterā ex parte ¦ monte Iūra altissimō …¦ tertiā ¦ lacū Lemannō et flūmine Rhodanō (Caesar)

the Helvetians are surrounded from all sides by the nature of the place: ¦ on one side ¦ by the Rhine River, … on the other / second (side) by the very high Jura Mountain Range, … on the third (side) by Lake Geneva and the Rhone river …

A slightly adapted quotation from Cicero:

Accūsātor nōn ferendus est is, quī, quod in alterō vitium reprehendit, in eō ipsō reprehenditur

He cannot be admitted as accuser who is himself caught in the very vice he reprehends in another.

Exercise: Complete the Latin sentences with the appropriate form of alter:

[1] The angry general will send a second message to the soldiers. │ Dux īrātus ____ mīlitibus nūntium mittet.

[2] Hurry to the other city where you will find friendlier citizens. │ Properāte ad ____ urbem, ubi cīvēs amīciōrēs inveniētis.

[3] He left the ambassador on the other side of the river. │ In ____ parte flūminis lēgātum relīquit.

[4] I received the other letter of yours about this matter yesterday. │ ____ litterās tuās dē hāc rē accēpī hesternō diē.

[5] The other girl, called Julia, is in the garden too. │ Etiam in hortō est ____ puella, nōmine Iulia.

[6] The Romans surpassed the other soldiers in bravery. │ Rōmānī fortitūdīne _____ mīlitēs vīcērunt.

altera; alterā; alteram; alterās; alterōs; alterum

____________________

[1] Dux īrātus alterum mīlitibus nūntium mittet.

[2] Properāte ad alteram urbem, ubi cīvēs amīciōrēs inveniētis.

[3] In alterā parte flūminis lēgātum relīquit.

[4] Alterās litterās tuās dē hāc rē accēpī hesternō diē.

[5] Etiam in hortō est altera puella, nōmine Iūlia.

[6] Rōmānī fortitūdīne alterōs mīlitēs vīcērunt.

31.07.25: Level 3; Sonnenschein; Prō Patriā [7]; Pax Rōmāna [3]; review: passive voice of 1st conjugation

Medius erat mēnsis September cum patruus meus haec dē Britanniā Rōmānā explicāvit. Mārcus et Alexander tum aderant: nam prīdiē Dubrīs adventāverant et apud nōs pernoctāverant. Et patruō meō necesse erat eīs dē rebelliōne Galgācī et Calēdonum narrāre. Nam historiā patriae suae magnopere dēlectantur. Tum ille "Nōnne rēctē" inquit "Agricola ā Tacitō laudātur? Nam ab aliīs imperātōribus Rōmānīs oppida expugnābantur, agrī vastābantur, nātiōnēs barbarae dēbellābantur; sed Agricola Britannōs nōn sōlum dēbellāvit sed etiam ad vītam hūmāniōrem revocāvit."

Et Alexander "Magnopere dēlector" inquit "sī victor iūstus et clēmēns fuit. Sed num hic vir omnia illa aedificia Rōmāna aedificāvit?" Et ille "Britannia per quattuor saecula aedificiīs Rōmānīs ōrnābātur. Multae ex illīs reliquiīs posteriōris aetātis sunt."

Tum Mārcus "Num fīliī prīncipum Britannicōrum studiō linguae Latīnae dēlectābantur?" inquit.

Et ille "Fīliī Britannōrum antīquōrum animō ācrī et impigrō erant; linguae Latīnae libenter operam dabant. Agricola eōs aptiōrēs esse ad studia litterārum affirmābat quam Gallōrum puerōs. Et Mārtiālis, poēta Rōmānus illīus aetātis, Britannōs carmina sua cantāvisse affirmat. Vōs hodiernī pilā et folle dēlectāminī.

Et ego "Nōnne tū ipse, patrue mī patruissime, corporis certāminibus dēlectāris? Magna est scientia pilam dextrā laevāque captāre."

Et ille "Adulēscentulus" inquit "illā scientiā satis dēlectābar; cum senex fuerō, fortasse nōn dēlectābor."

Nōs cachinnāmus. Nam patruus meus lūdō trigōnālī magnopere dēlectātur. Tū, mī patrue, huius lūdī perītissimus es:

Nec tibi mōbilitās minor est, sī forte volantem

Aut gemināre pilam iuvat aut revocāre cadentem...

Laus Pisonis I.185-186

ut est apud poētam Rōmānum. Mūtātō nōmine dē tē, patrue, fābula narrātur.

https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Laus_Pisonis/text*.html#178

Notes:

[1] patruus meus lūdō trigōnālī magnopere dēlectātur

lūdus, -ī [2/m] or lūsus, -ūs [4/m] trīgōnālis

trīgōnālis, -e: adjective referring to trigōn, -is [3/m] from Ancient Greek τρίγων [trígōn] or τρίγωνον [trígōnon: triangle]; trīgōn was a Roman ball game which involved three people (hence trīgōn) in a triangle; the word could also mean the small ball used in the game:

Fugiō campum, lūsumque trigōnem. (Horace) │ I avoid the Campus (Martius) i.e. the Field of Mars and the game of hand-ball.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trigon_(game)

[2]

[a] Agricola ¦ [i] eōs aptiōrēs [ii] esse ad studia litterārum affirmābat quam Gallōrum puerōs.

[b] Et Mārtiālis … ¦ [i] Britannōs carmina sua [ii] cantāvisse affirmat.

Both of these are examples of indirect statement:

[a] Agricola … affirmabat … │ Agricola stated …

[b] Mārtiālis … affirmat … │ Martial states …

In English an indirect statement is introduced by the conjunction that e.g. he stated that …

In Latin an indirect statement is conveyed by [i] the subject of the indirect statement in the accusative case and [ii] the verb of the indirect statement as an infinitive:

[a] Agricola ¦ [i] eōs aptiōrēs [ii] esse ad studia litterārum affirmābat quam Gallōrum puerōs.

Literally: Agricola stated [i] them [ii] to be more suited to the study of letters than the sons of the Gauls.

> Agricola stated ¦ that [i] they [ii] were more suited …

 [b] Et Mārtiālis … ¦ [i] Britannōs carmina sua [ii] cantāvisse affirmat.

In this sentence we see a perfect active infinitive meaning ‘to have sung’

[i] Take the 3^rd principal part i.e. the perfect tense: cantō, -āre, cantāvī [1]: sing  

[ii] remove the -ī ending: cantāv-

[iii] add -isse: cantāvisse │ to have sung

Literally: Martial states [i] the Britons [ii] to have sung their own songs.

> Martial states ¦ that [i] the Britons [ii] sang …

Indirect statements are a lengthy topic and the topic is soon to be discussed in detail. However, it is referred to here:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/070225-speaking-latin-on-campus_30.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/03/020625-level-3-sonnenschein-pro-patria.html

[3]

Nec tibi mōbilitās minor est, ¦ sī forte volantem / Aut [ii] gemināre pilam [i] iuvat ¦ aut [iii] revocāre cadentem...

No less is your nimbleness, ¦ if perhaps [i] it is your pleasure either [ii] to return the flying ball​ ¦ or [iii] recover (it) (when) falling …

Exercises

This passage provides some review of the passive voice which was discussed in over thirty posts, all of which are available here:

https://mega.nz/file/rYkjzCgC#gfnqLlfHt23oFmHeGZyWaNsmtbXQag9Tkwm4rcXJZPs

[1] Present passive; find the Latin:

[i] I am really pleased [literally: I am greatly delighted]

[ii] you (sg.) take pleasure in / enjoy athletics [literally: you are delighted by contests of the body]

[iii] the tale is told (about you)

[iv] my uncle greatly enjoys a (hand-) ball game [literally: … is delighted by …]

[v] you boys nowadays take pleasure in / enjoy … [literally: you boys of today are delighted …]

[vi] they take interest in history [literally: they are delighted ¦ by history]

[vii] under a different name [literally: with a changed name i.e. a name that has been changed]

[2] Imperfect passive; find the Latin:

[i] Fields were laid waste [devastated]

[ii] Nations were defeated.

[3] passive agent; ablative of means  instrument

How is by conveyed in these two sentences in the Latin text? Why is it conveyed differently in each one?

[i] Surely Agricola is justly praised ¦ by Tacitus?

[ii] Britain was decorated ¦ by / with Roman buildings

Translate:

[i] ab aliīs imperātōribus Rōmānīs oppida expugnābantur

[ii] Num fīliī prīncipum Britannicōrum studiō linguae Latīnae dēlectābantur?

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/240525-level-3-summary-of-of-uses-of_26.html

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

[4] Here is a less literal translation of one of the sentences in the text. Find the Latin original and compare them:

As a young man I was happy enough with knowing that; when I’m an old man perhaps I won’t take pleasure in it.

30.07.25: topic; the fruits of the earth [11]; Comenius (1658); the dressing of gardens (extract) [iii]: notes and vocabulary III and IV

III: The Gardener diggeth in a Garden-plot, with a Spade, or Mattock, and maketh Beds, and places wherein to plant Trees, on which he setteth Seeds and Plants.

Hortulānus (Olitor), fodit in Viridāriō, Ligōne, aut Bipāliō, facitque Pulvīnōs, ac Plantāria, quibus īnserit Sēmina & Plantās.

IV: The Tree-Gardener planteth Trees, in an Orchard and grafteth Cyons* in Stocks.

Arborātor, plantat Arborēs, in Pōmāriō, īnseritque Surculōs, Vīvirādīcibus.

*cyon: obsolete spelling of ‘scion’: shoot, twig containing buds

[4] hortulānus, -ī [2/m]: gardener

(h)olitor, (h)olitōris [3/m]: gardener; vegetable grower; herb / vegetable seller

a feminine form exists (although not from the Classical period): (h)olitrīx, (h)olitrīcis [3/f]

[5] fodiō, -ere, fōdī, fossus [3-iō]: dig (up); also: mine, quarry

[6] viridārium, -ī [2/n]: in Classical Latin it refers to a plantation of trees or pleasure-garden / park

[7] two references to garden tools:

[i] ligō, ligōnis [3/m]: hoe; the translation describes it as a ‘spade’ i.e. as any instrument with a flat blade used for digging; the word can also mean a mattock, a tool similar to a pickaxe, a grub-axe

There are other Latin words used to describe these tools:

• batillum, -ī [2/n]: shovel; shovel for coal, firepan
• dolābra, -ae [1/f], pick-axe
• pāla, -ae [1/f]: spade; shovel
• sarculum, -ī [2/n]: hoe

[ii] bipālium, -ī [2/n]: double mattock (see image)

It is not always easy precisely to identify the objects which the vocabulary refers to; a similar issue occurs when finding images that represent specific types of Roman crockery and dishes:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/408980231713251/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/496565872954686/

The images below are all of Roman origin and, I think, best convey what the vocabulary is referring to.

[9] pulvīnus, -ī [2/m]: [i] cushion, pillow [ii] a raised border, bank, (here) bed i.e. a garden plot

[10] plantārium, -ī [2/n]: a nursery garden; as the translation states: a place wherein to plant

[11] serō, -ere, sēvī, satus [3], and īnserō, -ere, īnsēvī, īnsitus [3]: sow, plant

nōs frūgēs serimus, nōs arborēs (Cicero) │ we sow the crops and trees

[12] sēmen, sēminis [3/n]: seed

[13] planta, -ae [1/f]: plant

[14] arborātor, arborātōris [3/m]: (rare in Classical Latin) a pruner of trees, a ‘tree-gardener’

[15] plantō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus [1]: plant

coepit autem dīcere ad plēbem parabolam hanc homō plantāvit vīneam et locāvit eam colōnīs et ipse peregrē fuit multīs temporibus (Vulgate) │ He began to tell the people this parable. "A man planted a vineyard, and rented it out to some farmers, and went into another country for a long time.

[16] arbor, -is [3/f]: tree

[17] pōmārium, -ī [2/n]: orchard; also: pomētum, -ī [2/n]

The last sentence refers to grafting, the joining together of plants parts

[18] surculus, -ī [2/m]: shoot, sprig, sprout, twig

[19] vīvirādix, vīvirādicis [3/f] < vīvus (living) +‎ rādīx (root), a cutting which has a root; the English translation refers to the plant onto which the sprout is grafted

30.07.25: topic; the fruits of the earth [10]; Comenius (1658); the dressing of gardens (extract) [ii]: notes and vocabulary I and II

I: The Dressing of Gardens. │ Hortōrum cultūra.

The first and most ancient sustenance, were the Fruits of the Earth. │ Prīmus & antīquissimus Victus, erant Frūgēs Terræ.

II: Hereupon the first labour of Adam, was the dressing of a garden. │ Hinc prīmus Labor Adamī, Hortī cultūra.

[1] cultūra, -ae [1/f]: care; cultivation

The English term horticulture dates from the 17^th century i.e. hortus, -ī [2/m] (garden) + cultūra, -ae [1/f] (cultivation) following the earlier English agriculture: ager, agrī [2/m] (field) + cultūra; ‘dressing’ simply refers to the cultivation of land, a garden etc.

The verb colō, -ere, -uī, cultus [3], from which cultūra is derived, has two main meanings:

[i] cultivate (the land); [ii] worship

[i] Sicilia magna et mīra īnsula Ītaliae est. Terra fēcunda atque oleīs ūvīsque plēna, Sicilia agricolārum et nautārum patria est. Multī incolae agricolae sunt et sūcōsās olīvās, tenerum frūmentum, cōpiōsa pōma colunt.

Sicily is a large and wonderful island in Italy. A fertile land full of olives and grapes, Sicily is the homeland of farmers and sailors. Many of the inhabitants are farmers and cultivate juicy olives, tender wheat and abundant apples.

• cōpiōsus, -a, -um: plentiful, abundant
• fēcundus, -a, -um: fertile
• sūcōsus, -a, -um: juicy
• tener, -a, -um: soft, delicate, tender

[i] agrī nōn omnēs frūgiferī sunt quī coluntur (Cicero) │ not all fields which are cultivated are fruitful

We see the word in:

• agricola, -ae [1/f]: farmer
• colōnus, -ī [2/m]: farmer

[ii] et piē sānctēque colimus nātūram excellentem atque præstantem (Cicero) │ and we worship, in piety and holiness, a sublime and exalted nature

also: incolō, -ere [3]: inhabit; incola, -ae [1 m/f]: inhabitant

Gallia est omnis dīvīsa in partēs trēs, quārum ūnam incolunt Belgae (Caesar) │ Gaul, taken as a whole, is divided into three parts, one of which the Belgae inhabit

hæc loca, quæ nōs incolimus (Cicero) │ those places which we inhabit

[2] vīctus, -ūs [4/m]: nourishment, diet, sustenance

In later Latin the word is used to refer to all the necessities of life:

Verbō vīctus continentur, quae ēsuī pōtuīque cultuīque corporis quaeque ad vīvendum hominī necessāria sunt. (Justinian I) │ By the word vīctus is meant that which is necessary for the feeding and hydration and care of the body and for the life of a human.

[3] frūx, frūgis [3/f]: fruit, mainly in the sense of produce from fields as opposed to fructus, -ūs [4/m]: fruit from a tree

frugifer, -a, -um: fruitful < frūx, frūgis (fruit) + -fer (bearing, carrying)

ager frūgifer: a fertile field

terra vērō fēta frūgibus et variō legūminum genere (Cicero) │ the earth, teeming with crops and the different kinds of leguminous produce

30.07.25: topic; the fruits of the earth [9]; Comenius (1658); the dressing of gardens (extract) [i]: text and translation

I: The Dressing of Gardens. │ Hortōrum cultūra.

The first and most ancient sustenance, were the Fruits of the Earth. │ Prīmus & antīquissimus Victus, erant Frūgēs Terræ.

II: Hereupon the first labour of Adam, was the dressing of a garden. │ Hinc prīmus Labor Adamī, Hortī cultūra.

III: The Gardener diggeth in a Garden-plot, with a Spade, or Mattock, and maketh Beds, and places wherein to plant Trees, on which he setteth Seeds and Plants.

Hortulānus (Olitor), fodit in Viridāriō, Ligōne, aut Bipāliō, facitque Pulvīnōs, ac Plantāria, quibus īnserit Sēmina & Plantās.

IV: The Tree-Gardener planteth Trees, in an Orchard and grafteth Cyons* in Stocks.

Arborātor, plantat Arborēs, in Pōmāriō, īnseritque Surculōs, Vīvirādīcibus.

*cyon: obsolete spelling of ‘scion’: shoot, twig containing buds

29.07.25: Level 1; Road to Latin [22]; Tullia, magistra fīliārum I

[present tense of sum, and of verbs of the first and second conjugation]

Tullia Cornēliam et Secundam linguam Latīnam docet. Tullia sevēra magistra est; itaque puellae dīligenter student.

"Ego sum (I am) fēmina. Ego sum mātrōna Rōmāna. Tū (You), Cornēlia, es (are) puella. Tū es fīlia mea. Secunda quoque est puella Rōmāna. Secunda est parva fīlia mea. Sum matrōna Rōmāna; es fīlia mea; Secunda est parva fīlia mea."

Vocabulary

dīligenter: diligently, carefully

doceō, docēre [2]: teach

Latīna: Latin

lingua, -ae [1/f]: tongue, language

mātrōna, -ae [1/f]:  matron; married woman

mea: my​ (feminine singular)

sevēra: severe

studeō, studēre [2]: be eager; study

Exercise [1]

Respondē Latīnē:

1. Quis sum?
2. Quis es Cornēlia?
3. Quis est Secunda?
4. Quis es Secunda?
5. Quis est Cornēlia?
6. Quis est Tullia?

"Sum incola Rōmae. Tū, Cornēlia, quoque es incola Rōmae. Ego et tū sumus (are) incolae Rōmae. Nōs (We) sumus laetae. Tū, Cornēlia, es fīlia mea. Tū quoque, Secunda, es fīlia mea. Vōs (You all), puellae, estis (are) fīliae meae. Estis puellae cārae. Lucia est fīlia Camillae. Tertia est parva fīlia Camillae. Lucia et Tertia sunt fīliae Camillae."

meae: my (feminine plural)

Exercise [2]

Respondē Latīnē:

1. Quis sum?
2. Quis es?
3. Estisne incolae Rōmae?
4. Nōnne sumus laetae, Tullia?
5. Cuius fīliae sunt Lucia et Tertia?

Only the key points will be referred to since these texts deal with topics that have been covered extensively in earlier posts; links to the most important posts are given below

Notes

[1] subject pronouns

ego (or egō): I

tū: you (singular)

is, ea, id: he / she / it (see links)

nōs: we

vōs: you (plural)

eī [m] / eae [f] / ea [n]: they (see links)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/04/subject-pronouns-it-has-already-been.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/397325229545418/

https://mega.nz/file/2B8AFZIB#JhIUpdxyusiK2MZ953PleUhHNmZ0Yd5wrXXWojbs8o8

[2] the verb esse (to be)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/02/070525-level-1-readings-6-11-review-18.html

https://www.facebook.com/groups/latinforstarters/posts/396233422987932

https://mega.nz/file/DZNlEAbB#l82i7KjEFJcpsXTeH42gMXAgWGQwzX78MV66llDnSHY

28.07.25: Level 3; pronominal adjectives [7]; neuter, -ra, -rum: neither

neuter < ne (not) + uter (either): neither (neither one nor the other; neither of the two)

Uter puer aegrotat, Mārcusne an Quīntus? │ Which boy is ill, Marcus or Quintus?

> Neuter puer, ¦ nec Mārcus nec Quīntus. │ Neither boy, neither Marcus nor Quintus.

Neuter eōrum [masc.] vēnit. │ Neither of them came.

Neutra eārum [fem.] vēnit. │ Neither of them came.

Neutra aciēs laeta ex eō certāmine abiit. (Livy) │ Neither army (battle-line) went off rejoicing from that battle.

mēcum ubi est, tēcum est tamen; tēcum ubi autem est, mēcum ibi autemst: [i] neuter [ii] neutrī [dative case with the verb invideō] invidet (Plautus) │ when she's with me, still she's with you; and when she's with you, she's with me as well: [i] neither of us envies [ii] the other.

A few more off-beat examples from Adler:

Utrum nauta baculum meum, an saccum meum habet ? Neutrum habet. │ Does the sailor have my stick or my sack? He has neither.

Utrum vēndere vult equum hunc an illum? Neutrum vēndere vult. │ Does he want to sell this horse or that one? │ He wants to sell neither [ = he doesn’t want to sell either (of them)]

Utrum occīdere vult gallīnam hanc an illam? Neutram occīdere vult. │ Does he want to kill this hen or that one? He wants to kill neither [ = he doesn’t want to kill either (of them)]

Māluntne loquī potius, quam scrībere? Neutrum libenter faciunt. │ Do they prefer to speak rather than (to) write? │ They prefer doing neither.

Exercise: Complete the Latin sentences with the appropriate form of neuter:

[1] He doesn’t want to marry either [one (f.)] of them [f.] │ ____ eārum in mātrimōnium dūcere vult.

[2] He wrote neither letter. │ ____ litterās scrīpsit.

[3] Neither of them [m.] seems very strong to me. │ ____ eōrum mihi valdē fortis vidētur.

[4] The walls of neither city are high. │ Moenia ____ urbis alta sunt.

[5] We must help neither of them [ = we mustn’t help either of them]. │ ____ eōrum iuvāre dēbēmus.

[6] Julia isn’t in either cottage / is in neither cottage. │ Iūlia est in _____ casā.

[7] The boy is neither’s son / isn’t the son of either [of them] │ _____ fīlius est puer.

neuter; neutrā; neutram; neutrās; neutrīus; neutrīus; neutrum

28.07.25: Level 3; Sonnenschein; Prō Patriā [7]; Pax Rōmāna [2]; review: superlative of adjectives

"Omnia bella saeva et inhūmāna sunt. Omnium autem bellōrum saevissima et inhūmānissima fuērunt bella illa temporibus antīquīs contrā gentēs barbarās pugnāta. Rōmānī hostēs crūdēlissimī plērumque fuērunt. Sed quid ūtilius fuit tōtī orbī terrārum quam imperium Rōmānum? Et imperiō Rōmānō nūllum maius perīculum erat quam rebelliōnēs populōrum barbarōrum. Pāx illa Rōmāna etiam populīs subiectīs ūtilissima fuit. Hominēs ferōs et inhūmānōs ā studiō bellandī ad vītam hūmāniōrem et ad litterās, artēs, scientiās revocāvit. Rōmānī Britanniam viīs optimīs et aedificiīs pulcherrimīs celeberrimīsque, templīs, basilicīs, forīs, vīllīs, lūdīs litterāriīs, ōrnāvērunt. In lūdīs litterāriīs fīliī prīncipum Britannicōrum linguae Latīnae operam dabant. Itaque Britannī īram iniūriāsque suās paulātim oblīviōnī dabant. Lībertātis suae dēfēnsōrēs fortissimī et ācerrimī fuerant. Sed tribūtum Rōmānum tolerābant, sī iniūriae aberant. Multae hodiē exstant in Britanniā reliquiae aedificiōrum illōrum Rōmānōrum. Callevae Atrebatum reliquiās pulcherrimās basilicae, forī, templī, amphitheātrī, balneārum, mūrōrum spectāvī; et in īnsulā Vectī exstant pavīmenta tessellāta vīllae Rōmānae, prīmō saeculō post Chrīstum nātum aedificātae. Sed iam ante tempora Agricolae nōnnūllae ex gentibus Britannicīs mediocriter hūmānae fuerant. Incolās Cantiī Caesar in librō quīntō Bellī Gallicī 'omnium Britannōrum hūmānissimōs' vocat."

[1] Find the Latin:

[i] very cruel / the cruellest

[ii] very useful / most useful

[iii] very brave

[iv] very keen

[v] the most inhumane

[vi] the most savage of all the wars

[vii] I have looked at the very beautiful remains

[2] Translate:

[i] Rōmānī Britanniam viīs optimīs et aedificiīs pulcherrimīs celeberrimīsque … ōrnāvērunt.

[ii] Incolās Cantiī Caesar in librō quīntō Bellī Gallicī 'omnium Britannōrum hūmānissimōs' vocat.

[3] Translate the following extract which have further examples of the comparative:

Quid ūtilius fuit tōtī orbī terrārum quam imperium Rōmānum? ? Et imperiō Rōmānō nūllum maius perīculum erat quam rebelliōnēs populōrum barbarōrum.

[4] Links: the superlative of the adjective and adverb was covered in detail in the following posts:

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/021224-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-14.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/09/021224-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-15.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/041224-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-16.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/051224-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-17.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/071224-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-18.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/081224-degrees-of-comparison-19.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/101224-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-20.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/111224-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-21.html

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2024/10/131224-level-2-degrees-of-comparison-22.html 

27.07.25: topic; the fruits of the earth [8]; Celsus (ii)

The causes and cures for flatulence (Celsus)

If you’re suffering from īnflātiō Celsus tells you what, and what not to eat …

Īnflant autem omnia ferē legūmina, omnia pinguia, omnia dulcia, omnia iūrulenta, mustum, atque etiam id vīnum, cui nihil adhūc aetātis accessit (1); ex holeribus alium, cēpā, brassicā, omnēsque rādīcēs, exceptō sisere et pastinācā; bulbī, fīcūs etiam āridae sed magis viridēs, ūvae recentēs, nucēs omnēs, exceptīs nucleīs pīneīs, lac, omnisque cāseus; quicquid deinde subcrūdum aliquis adsūmpsit.

Now flatulence is produced by: almost all food which is leguminous, fatty, sweet, everything stewed, new wine, and also that wine which has not as yet matured; among pot-herbs, garlic, onion, cabbage, and all roots except skirret and parsnip; bulbs, figs even when dried but especially when green, fresh grapes, all nuts except pine kernels, milk, cheese of all kinds; lastly anything eaten half-cooked.

Minima īnflātiō fit ex vēnātiōne, aucupiō, piscibus, pōmīs, oleīs, conchȳliīsve, ōvīs vel mollibus vel sorbilibus, vīnō vetere. Fēniculum vērō et anetum īnflātiōnēs etiam levant.

The least flatulence comes from what is got by hunting and birding, from fish, orchard fruit, olives, or shellfish, from eggs whether cooked soft or raw, from old wine. Fennel and anise in particular even relieve flatulence.

(1) etiam id vīnum, cui nihil adhūc aetātis accessit │ literally: also that wine to which no age (nothing of age) has yet come = wine that has not yet matured

aucupium, -ī [2/n]: hunting for wild fowl

vēnātiō, vēnātiō [3/f]: hunting

āridus, -a, -um: dry

dulcis, -e: sweet

iūrulentus, -a, -um: stewed; containing juice

pinguis, -e: (here) fatty; rich

subcrūdus / succrūdus, -a, -um: half-raw; par-boiled; not fully ripe

anēt(h)um, -ī [2/n] [i] anise, a plant cultivated for its aromatic seeds and used as a spice [ii] dill

vae vōbīs scrībae et Pharisaeī hypocritae quia decimātis mentam et anēthum et cymīnum et relīquistis quae graviōra sunt lēgis iūdicium et misericordiam et fidem (Vulgate) │ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith.”

• menta, -ae [1/f]: mint
• cymīnum (cūminum), -ī [2/n]: cumin

bulbus, -ī [2/m]: bulb, especially edible

conchȳlium, -ī [2/n]: [i] (here) shellfish [ii] can refer specifically to an oyster

fēniculum / fēnuculum [2/n]: fennel

fīcus, -ūs [4 m/f] or -ī [2 m/f]: fig

legūmen, legūminis [3/n] legume e.g. peas, beans

mustum, -ī [2/n]: ‘must’; unfermented wine

nucleus, -ī [2/m]: kernel

nux, nucis [3/f]: nut (-tree)

ōvum sorbile: raw egg; sorbilis, -e (rare) refers to something that can be ‘supped’ or ‘sucked up’

rādīx, rādīcis [3/f]: [i] root (of a plant); [ii] radish