Chapter 11: Deponent and Passive Verbs: Imperative and Subjunctive Moods

Occasionally a blank will need to be filled with a verb that’s not in one of the forms this Chapter covers.

Philosophia adōrētur. — Seneca, Epistles 52.1 3
Translation

Let philosophy be greeted with reverence.

More literally: Let philosophy be revered.

Details

Philosophia, philosophiae (1f): philosophy. Adōrētur is the third person singular passive subjunctive form of adōrō, adōrāre, adōrāvī, adōrātum (1): to revere, worship (subjunctive because it’s jussive).


Aut vinc a tur oportet aut vincat. — Seneca, Epistles 92.26
Translation

She must either conquer or be conquered.

More literally: It is necessary either (that) she be conquered or (that) she conquer.

Details

(Talking about virtue.) Aut (conj.): or (aut. . . aut: either. . . or). Vincātur is the third person singular passive subjunctive form of vincō, vincere, vīcī, victum (3): to win; conquer, overcome. Oportet, oportēre, oportuit, — (2): it behooves, it is fitting, it is right or necessary (impersonal verb; appears in the third person singular only—it can be completed by a verb in the subjunctive). Aut (conj.): or. Vincat is the third person singular subjunctive form of vincō, vincere, vīcī, victum (3): to win; conquer, overcome.


Itaque ab his ōrdiāmur. — Cicero, On the Ends of Good and Evil 5.34
Translation

We will therefore begin with them.

More literally: So let us begin from these.

Details

Itaque (adv.): therefore, so. Ab /ā (prep.): (away) from; by (takes the ablative). Hīs is the m/f/n (here n) ablative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Ōrdiāmur is the first person plural subjunctive form of ōrdior, ōrdīrī, ōrsus sum (4, deponent): to begin (subjunctive because it’s hortatory).


Adsignatum a natura locum tuēre. — Seneca, On the Firmness of the Wise Man 19.3
Translation

Maintain the post that Nature assigned you.

Alt. : Keep (sg.) the position assigned to you by nature.

Details

Adsignātum is the m/n accusative singular form of adsignātus/adsignāta/adsignātum (1/2), the perfect passive participle of adsignō, adsignāre, adsīgnāvī, adsīgnātum (1—also assignō): to assign, attribute, confer (upon). Ab/ ā (prep.): (away) from; by (takes the ablative). Nātūrā is the ablative singular form of nātūra, nātūrae (1f): nature. Locum is the accusative singular form of locus, locī (2m): place. Tuēre is the imperative singular form of tueor, tuērī, tuitus sum (2, deponent): to protect, maintain, keep (up).


Necesse est aut imitēris aut oderis. — Seneca, Epistles 7.8
Translation

You must either imitate them or detest them.

More literally: It is necessary either (that) you imitate or (that) you hate.

Details

(He’s talking about the bad examples set by other people.) Necesse (indeclinable adj.): inevitable, necessary. Est: it is (the phrase necesse est can be completed by a subjunctive verb). Aut (conj.): or (aut. . . aut: either. . . or). Imitēris (or imitēre) is the second person singular subjunctive form of imitor, imitārī, imitātus sum (1, deponent): to imitate; copy, represent. Aut (conj.): or. Ōderīs is the second person singular perfect subjunctive form of ōdī, ōdisse, ōsum (irreg.): to hate, detest, dislike (perfect forms have present meanings).


Tibi ipse levior videar esse. — Cicero, Letters to Friends 5.2.3
Translation

I would seem less than sincere.

More literally: I would seem to you to be rather unreliable myself.

Details

Tibi is the dative form of tū: you. Ipse /ipsa/ipsum (pron. or adj.): himself/herself/itself/myself/etc. ; in person; the very. Levior /levior/levius (3) is the comparative form of levis/levis/leve (3): light; slight; fickle, unreliable. Videar is the first person singular passive subjunctive form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see; (in the passive) seem (subjunctive because it describes a potential). Esse: to be.


Semper me tales hostes īnsequantur. — Erasmus, Adagia (1536)
Translation

O may such enemies always pursue me.

Details

(As when having certain enemies is a source of credit.) Semper (adv.): always. is the accusative form of ego. Tālēs is the m/f nominative plural form of tālis/tālis/tāle (3): such. Hostēs is the nominative plural form of hostis, hostis (3m/f): enemy. Īnsequantur is the third person plural subjunctive form of īnsequor, īnsequī, īnsecūtus sum (3, deponent): to pursue (subjunctive because it’s optative—a wish).


Clāmāte, et vōciferāminī. — Josh. 6:10
Translation

Cry and shout.

Details

Clāmāte is the plural imperative form of clāmō, clāmāre, clāmāvī, clāmātum (1): to cry out, shout. Et (conj.): and. Vōciferāminī is the plural imperative form of vōciferor, vōciferārī, vōciferātus sum (1, deponent): to cry out loud, shout.


Sine apud me nūtriātur. — Seneca the Elder, Controversies 9.5.2
Translation

Let him be reared at my house.

More literally: Allow (that) he be raised with me.

Details

Sine is the singular imperative form of sinō, sinere, sīvī, situm (3): to allow (it can be completed by a subjunctive verb). Apud (prep.): at, near; with, among; in front of; at the house of (takes the accusative). is the accusative form of ego. Nūtriātur is the third person singular passive subjunctive form of nūtriō, nūtrīre, nūtrīvī/nūtriī, nūtrītum (4): to nourish; rear, raise.


Vidēte ne sēdūcāminī. — Luke 21:8
Translation

See that you are not led astray.

Alt. : Take (pl.) heed you be not seduced.

Details

Vidēte is the plural imperative form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. (conj.): that not, lest. Vidēre nē + subjunctive = to see to it that not. . . , to take care not to. . . Sēdūcāminī is the second person plural passive subjunctive form of sēdūcō, sēdūcere, sēdūxī, sēductum (3): to draw aside; lead astray, seduce.


Aliquem habeat animus quem vereātur. — Seneca, Epistles 11.9
Translation

The soul should have someone it can respect.

Alt. : Let the mind have someone it can respect.

More literally: . . . someone whom it may respect.

Details

Aliquem is the masculine accusative singular form of aliquis/aliqua/aliquid (pron.): someone, something; anyone, anything. Habeat is the third person singular subjunctive form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have (subjunctive because it’s jussive). Animus, animī (2m): mind, soul. Quem is the masculine accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Vereātur is the third person singular subjunctive form of vereor, verērī, veritus sum (2, deponent): to revere, have respect for; fear (subjunctive because it’s in a relative clause of characteristic).


Quinque cum tyranno proximi familiae pūniantur. — Flaccus, Declamations 1
Translation

A tyrant and his five closest family members shall be subject to the death penalty.

More literally: Let the five closest of the family be punished with the tyrant.

Details

Quīnque (indeclinable): five. Cum (prep.): with (takes the ablative). Tyrannō is the ablative singular form of tyrannus, tyrannī (2m): tyrant; ruler. Proximī is the masculine nominative plural form of proximus/proxima/proximum (1/2): closest, nearest, next—the superlative form of propinquus/propinqua/propinquum (1/2): close, near. Familia, familiae (1f): household; family. Pūniantur is the third person plural passive subjunctive form of pūniō, pūnīre, pūnīvī/pūniī, pūnītum (4): to punish (subjunctive because it’s jussive).


Convertere ad nostros. — Pliny the Younger, Letters 2.13.2
Translation

Turn to mine.

More literally: Turn (sg.) to ours. (The first person plural is sometimes used for the first person singular.)

Details

(That is, turn from helping your friends to helping mine.) Convertere is the singular passive imperative form of convertō, convertere, convertī, conversum (3): to turn; invert; convert (the reflexive passive). Ad (prep.): to (takes the accusative). Nostrōs is the masculine accusative plural form of noster/nostra/nostrum (1/2): our, ours.


Nonne plane desipere videāre? — Cicero, On the Nature of the Gods 2.17
Translation

Would you not be thought absolutely insane?

More literally: Would you (sg.) not seem to be absolutely insane?

Details

Nōnne (interrog. particle): not—in a question that expects a “yes” answer. Plānē (adv.): clearly, distinctly; absolutely, utterly. Dēsipiō, dēsipere, dēsipuī, — (3, –iō): to be out of one’s mind, be insane. Videāre (or videāris) is the second person singular passive subjunctive form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see; (in the passive) seem (subjunctive because it describes a potential).


Moriar si quisquam me tenet praeter te. — Cicero, Letters to Atticus 16.5.3
Translation

I’ll be hanged if anyone holds me back except yourself.

More literally: May I die if anyone restrains me except you.

Details

Moriar is the first person singular subjunctive form of morior, morī, mortuus sum (3, –ior, deponent): to die (subjunctive because it’s a wish). (conj.): if. Quisquam /quicquam (pron.): anyone, anything. is the accusative form of ego. Tenet is the third person singular form of teneō, tenēre, tenuī, tentum (2): to hold; keep; restrain. Praeter (prep.): besides, except, aside from (takes the accusative). is the accusative form of tū: you.


Quapropter quid sentiātis prōloquiminī. — Anonymous, The African War 44.4
Translation

Declare your mind.

More literally: Therefore declare (pl.) what you think.

Details

Quāpropter (rel. adv.): for which reason, wherefore, therefore. Quid is the neuter accusative singular form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Sentiātis is the second person plural subjunctive form of sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sēnsum (4): to feel; think (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Prōloquiminī is the plural imperative form of of prōloquor, prōloquī, prōlocūtus sum (3, deponent): to speak out, declare.


Obversentur species honestae animo. — Cicero, Tusculan Disputations 2.52
Translation

Let the ideals which a true man honors be kept constantly before his eyes.

More literally: Let honorable visions hover before the mind.

Details

Obversentur is the third person plural subjunctive form of obversor, obversārī, obversātus sum (1, deponent): to hover before, appear to one (subjunctive because it’s jussive). Speciēs is the nominative plural form of speciēs, speciēī (5f): appearance; vision; type, kind, species. Honestae is the feminine nominative plural form of honestus/honesta/honestum (1/2): honorable, noble. Animō is the dative singular form of animus, animī (2m): mind, soul; will, intention.


Si mortuorum aliquis miserētur, et non natorum misereātur. — Seneca, Consolation to Marcia 19.5
Translation

If anyone pities the dead, he must also pity those who have not been born.

Alt. : Anyone who feels pity for the dead should also feel pity for the unborn.

More literally: If anyone pities the dead, let him also pity those not born.

Details

(conj.): if. Mortuōrum is the m/n (here m) genitive plural form of mortuus/mortua/mortuum (1/2): dead, having died—the perfect active participle of morior, morī, mortuus sum (3, –ior, deponent): to die. Aliquis /aliqua/aliquid (pron.): someone, something; anyone, anything. Miserētur is the third person singular passive form of miseret, miserēre, miseruit/miseritum est (2): (impersonal) something causes one to feel pity, one feels pity; (in the passive) to feel pity (the person pitied goes in the genitive). Et (adv.): even; also. Nōn: not. Nātōrum: is the m/n (here m) genitive plural form of nātus/nāta/nātum (1/2): born—the perfect active participle of nāscor, nāscī, nātus sum (3, deponent): to be born (of the not born). Misereātur is the third person singular passive subjunctive (because it’s jussive) form of miseret, miserēre, miseruit/miseritum est (2): (impersonal) something causes one to feel pity, one feels pity; (in the passive) to feel pity (with the active form, the person who feels pity is expressed as a direct object in the accusative, and the person receiving the pity is put in the genitive case. When the verb is turned passive, as it is here, the direct object naturally becomes the subject: misereor means more or less literally I am caused to feel pity, though a more natural translation is I feel pity. This is a quasi-deponent usage.


Non est quod te ad hunc locum respiciens mētiāris. — Seneca, Epistles 43.1
Translation

There is no reason why you should measure yourself according to this part of the world.

More literally: There is not (anything) in respect to/because of which you should measure yourself looking to this place.

Details

Nōn: not. Est: there is. Quod (conj.): that, the fact that; in that, because; because of which, why (in phrases like nōn est quod + subjunctive = there is no reason why. . .). is the accusative form of tū: you. Ad (prep.): to (takes the accusative). Hunc is the masculine singular accusative form of hic/haec/hoc (adj.): this. Locum is the accusative singular form of locus, locī (2m): place. Respiciēns, respicientis (3) is the present active participle of respiciō, respicere, respexī, respectum (3, –iō): to look back at; look to; consider, turn attention to. Mētiāris (or mētiāre) is the second person singular subjunctive form of mētior, mētīrī, mēnsus sum (4, deponent): to measure.


Revertere ad parentes. — Seneca the Elder, Controversies 7.8.6
Translation

Return (sg.) to your parents.

Details

Revertere is the singular imperative form of revertor, revertī, reversus sum (3, deponent): to turn back, return. Ad (prep.): to (takes the accusative). Parentēs is the accusative plural form of parēns, parentis (3m/f): parent.


Vidēte ne turbēminī. — Matt. 24:6
Translation

See that you are not alarmed.

Alt. : See (pl.) that ye be not disturbed.

Details

Vidēte is the plural imperative form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. (conj. , with subjunctive): that not, lest. Turbēminī is the second person plural passive subjunctive form of turbō, turbāre, turbāvī, turbātum (1): to disturb, upset.


Quod sentimus loquāmur, quod loquimur sentiāmus. — Seneca, Epistles 75.4
Translation

Let us say what we feel, and feel what we say.

More literally: What we feel let us speak, what we speak let us feel.

Details

Quod is the neuter accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Sentīmus is the first person plural form of sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sēnsum (4): to feel; think. Loquāmur is the first person plural subjunctive form of loquor, loquī, locūtus sum (3, deponent): to speak (subjunctive because it’s hortatory). Loquimur is the first person plural form of loquor, loquī, locūtus sum (3, deponent): to speak. Sentiāmus is the first person plural subjunctive form of sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sēnsum (4): to feel; think (subjunctive because it’s hortatory).


Vide quis alimenta rogētur et quis roget. — Seneca the Elder, Controversies 1.1.5
Translation

Look who is asked for support, and who is asking!

Details

Vidē is the singular imperative form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. Quis /quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Alimenta is the accusative plural form of alimentum, alimentī (2n): food, sustenance; maintenance, support. Rogētur is the third person singular passive subjunctive form of rogō, rogāre, rogāvī, rogātum (1): to ask, request (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Et (conj.): and. Roget is the third person singular form of rogō, rogāre, rogāvī, rogātum (1): to ask, request (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question).


Convertiminī, filii hominum. — Ps. 89:3 (Vulgate); 90:3 (English)
Translation

Be converted, ye children of men.

Details

Convertiminī is the plural passive imperative form of convertō, convertere, convertī, conversum (3): to turn; invert; convert. Fīliī is the vocative plural form of fīlius, fīliī (2m): son; (pl.) children. Hominum is the genitive plural form of homō, hominis (3m): man, human.


Aliquando miserēminī sociorum. — Cicero, Against Verres 2.28.72
Translation

At last feel some pity for our allies.

Details

Aliquandō (adv.): sometimes; someday, sometime; once; finally, at last. Miserēminī is the plural passive imperative form of miseret, miserēre, miseruit/miseritum est (2): (impersonal) one feels pity; (in the passive) to feel pity (the person pitied goes in the genitive). Sociōrum is the genitive plural form of socius, sociī (2m): partner, companion, ally.


Sic loquere, sic vīve. — Seneca, Epistles 10.4
Translation

Speak, and live, in this way.

Alt. : This is how you should speak; this is how you should live.

More literally: So speak, so live (sg.).

Details

Sīc (adv.): thus, so, in such manner. Loquere is the singular imperative form of loquor, loquī, locūtus sum (3, deponent): to speak. Vīve is the singular imperative form of vīvō, vīvere, vīxī, vīctum (3): to live.


Quae sint mala, quae videantur ostendit. — Seneca, Epistles 90.28
Translation

She shows us what things are evil and what things are seemingly evil.

Alt. : It indicates the things that are really bad and those that merely seem so.

More literally: It shows what things are bad, what things seem (bad).

Details

(Speaking of wisdom.) Quae is the f/n (here n) nominative plural form of quī/quae/quod (interrog. pron.): which (one)? (n. pl.) what things? Sint is the third person plural subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Mala is the neuter nominative plural form of malus/mala/malum (1/2): bad; evil. Videantur is the third person plural passive subjunctive form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see; (in the passive) seem (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Ostendit is the third person singular form of ostendō, ostendere, ostendī, ostentum/ostēnsum (3): to expose, show, exhibit.


Sed fortuna fortes; quare cōnāre, quaeso. — Cicero, On the Ends of Good and Evil 3.16
Translation

But fortune favors the bold; so make (sg.) the attempt, I beg of you. (The verb favors is left implied in the Latin; see notes.)

Details

Sed (conj.): but. Fortūna, fortūnae (1f): fortune, luck; fate. Fortēs is the m/f accusative plural form of fortis/fortis/forte (3): brave; strong. Quārē (rel. adv.): for which reason, wherefore, therefore. Cōnāre is the singular imperative form of cōnor, cōnārī, cōnātus sum (1, deponent): to try, attempt. Quaesō (3, defective): to ask, beg, request. (The opening phrase is an abbreviation of the adage fortēs fortūna adiuvat; the verb, adiuvat, is the third person singular form of adiuvō, adiuvāre, adiūvī, adiūtum (1): to help, assist; favor, sustain.)


Si īrāscāre, agnita videntur. — Tacitus, Annals 4.34
Translation

If you show yourself irritated, you will be thought to have deserved it.

More literally: If you (sg.) were to get angry, they (those things/accusations) seem admitted.

Details

(He’s giving advice about handling insults and accusations.) (conj.): if. Īrāscāre (or īrāscāris) is the second person singular subjunctive form of īrāscor, īrāscī, īrātus sum (3, deponent): to become angry; be angry (subjunctive because the subject is a general you —a special application of the potential subjunctive). Agnita is the neuter nominative plural form of agnitus/agnita/agnitum (1/2), the perfect passive participle of agnōscō, agnōscere, agnōvī, agnitum (3): to recognize; admit, acknowledge. Videntur is the third person plural passive form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see; (in the passive) seem.


Temptā et experīre. — Seneca, Epistles 47.16
Translation

Make the experiment, and you will find it so.

More literally: Try (sg.) (it) and learn by experience. (Less literally: Try it and see.)

Details

Temptā is the singular imperative form of temptō, temptāre, temptāvī, temptātum (1): to test; try, attempt; attack. Et (conj.): and. Experīre is the singular imperative form of experior, experīrī, expertus sum (4, deponent): to try, make trial of, put to the test; learn by experience.

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