Chapter 14: The Perfect Tense

Quodcumque sibi imperāvit animus obtinuit. — Seneca, On Anger 2.12.4
Translation

Whatever command the mind gives to itself holds its ground.

More literally: Whatever the mind has commanded to itself has held (its ground). Or: Whatever the mind has commanded to itself, it (i.e., the mind) has kept (to it).

Details

Quodcumque is the neuter accusative singular form of quīcumque/quaecumque/quodcumque (pron.): whoever, whatever, whosoever, whatsoever. Sibi is the dative form of the reflexive pronoun. Imperāvit is the third person singular perfect form of imperō, imperāre, imperāvī, imperātum (1): to command; govern; demand. Animus, animī (2m): mind, soul. Obtinuit is the third person singular perfect form of obtineō, obtinēre, obtinuī, obtentum (2): to occupy; hold, keep; obtain.


Filium minus crudelem habuistī. — Seneca the Elder, Controversies 1.7.7
Translation

You had a son who was less cruel.

More literally: You (sg.) had a less cruel son.

Details

Fīlium is the accusative singular form of fīlius, fīliī (2m): son. Minus (adv.): less. Crūdēlem is the m/f accusative singular form of crūdēlis/crūdēlis/crūdēle (3): cruel. Habuistī is the second person singular perfect form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have.


Non eris nec fuistī. — Seneca, Epistles 77.11
Translation

You (sg.) will not be, and you were not.

Details

(In other words, you’ll be no worse off dead than you were before you were born.) Nōn: not. Eris is the second person singular future form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Neque/ nec (conj.): and not, neither, nor. Fuistī is the second person singular perfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be.


Nihil adhuc cōnsecūtus es. — Seneca, Natural Questions 1. pr.6
Translation

As yet you (m. sg.) have attained nothing.

Details

Nihil (n, indeclinable, nom. or acc. only—here acc.): nothing. Adhūc (adv.): still, yet. Cōnsecūtus es is the second person masculine singular perfect form of cōnsequor, cōnsequī, cōnsecūtus sum (3, deponent): to follow; overtake, catch up with; attain.


Signo secundae vigiliae convēnistis. — Livy, History of Rome 7.35.11
Translation

You have come together on the signal of the second watch.

Details

Signō is the ablative singular form of signum, signī (2n): sign; signal (a specialized use of the ablative case—the ablative of time when). Secundae is the feminine genitive singular form of secundus/secunda/secundum (1/2): second. Vigilia, vigiliae (1f): watch, guard. Convēnistis is the second person plural perfect form of conveniō, convenīre, convēnī, conventum (4): to come together, meet.


Ignōvērunt multi hostibus. — Seneca, On Anger 3.24.2
Translation

Many have pardoned their enemies.

Details

Ignōvērunt (or ignōvēre) is the third person plural perfect form of ignōscō, ignōscere, ignōvī, ignōtum (3): to forgive, pardon (the person forgiven goes in the dative). Multī is the masculine nominative plural form of multus/multa/multum (1/2): much, many—an adjective used substantively. Hostibus is the dative plural form of hostis, hostis (3m/f): enemy.


Nemo eorum violātus est. — Livy, History of Rome 37.9.10
Translation

None of them were ill-treated.

Details

Nēmō, nēminis (3m): no one. Eōrum is the m/n (here m) genitive plural form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Violātus est is the third person masculine singular perfect passive form of violō, violāre, violāvī, violātum (1): to violate; treat with violence.


Demus illis Homerum philosophum fuisse. — Seneca, Epistles 88.5
Translation

Suppose we grant that Homer was a philosopher.

More literally: Let us concede to them Homer to have been a philosopher.

Details

Dēmus is the first person plural subjunctive form of dō, dare, dedī, datum (1, irreg.): to give; concede (subjunctive because it’s hortatory). Illīs is the m/f/n (here m) dative plural form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it. Homērum is the accusative singular form of Homērus, Homērī (2m): Homer. Philosophum is the accusative singular form of philosophus, philosophī (2m): philosopher. Fuisse is the perfect infinitive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be.


Qui mori didicit servire dēdidicit. — Seneca, Epistles 26.10
Translation

He who has learned to die has unlearned slavery.

More literally: . . . has unlearned to be a slave.

Details

Quī /quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. # he who%Morior, morī, mortuus sum (3, deponent): to die. Didicit is the third person singular perfect form of discō, discere, didicī, discitūrus (3): to learn. Serviō, servīre, servīvī/serviī, servītum (4): to serve; be a slave. Dēdidicit is the third person singular perfect form of dēdiscō, dēdiscere, dēdidicī, — (3): to unlearn, forget.


Amicus est, fēcit quod noluit; inimicus, fēcit quod dēbuit. — Seneca, On Anger 3.24.3
Translation

He’s a friend; he didn’t mean it. He’s an enemy; what else should he do?

More literally: He is a friend, he did what he did not want; (he is) an enemy, he did what he ought (or what he had to).

Details

(What to say when provoked by someone.) Amīcus, amīcī (2m): friend. Est: he is. Fēcit is the third person singular perfect form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. Quod is the neuter accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Nōluit is the third person singular perfect form of nōlō, nōlle, nōluī, — (irreg): not to want, be unwilling, refuse. Inimīcus, inimīcī (2m): enemy. Fēcit is the third person singular perfect form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. Quod is the neuter accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Dēbuit is the third person singular perfect form of dēbeō, dēbēre, dēbuī, dēbitum (2): to owe; ought, have to.


Adfectī sumus poena. — Seneca, On Anger 2.27.4
Translation

We have been visited with punishment.

Details

Adfectī sumus is the first person masculine plural perfect passive form of adficiō, adficere, adfēcī, adfectum (3, –iō—also afficiō): to do something to one, affect someone, visit (acc.) with (abl.), bestow (abl.) upon (acc.). Poenā is the ablative singular form of poena, poenae (1f): penalty, punishment.


Fuit hoc multis periculosum. — Seneca, Epistles 105. 3
Translation

It has been dangerous to many.

Details

(He’s speaking of odium, odiī (2n): hatred, odium.) Fuit is the third person singular perfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Hic/haec/ hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Multīs is the m/f/n (here m) dative plural form of multus/multa/multum (1/2): much, many. Perīculōsus/perīculōsa/ perīculōsum (1/2): dangerous.


Philippus quoque vēndidisse contentus est. — Seneca the Elder, Controversies 10.5.11
Translation

Even Philip is satisfied with selling.

More literally: Even Philip is content to have sold.

Details

Philippus, Philippī (2m): Philip. Quoque (adv.): also, too; even. # even% Vēndidisse is the perfect infinitive form of vēndō, vēndere, vēndidī, vēnditum (3): to sell. Contentus /contenta/contentum (1/2): satisfied, content. Est: is.


Sēnsērunt ista magni duces. — Seneca, Consolation to Marcia 12.4
Translation

Great commanders have experienced them.

Details

(The sufferings that you’re experiencing now, or even greater ones.) Sēnsērunt (or sēnsēre) is the third person plural perfect form of sentiō, sentīre, sēnsī, sēnsum (4): to feel; perceive, notice; think. Ista is the neuter accusative plural form of iste/ista/istud (pron.): that (of yours); he, she, it. Magnī is the masculine nominative plural form of magnus/magna/magnum (1/2): great, large. Ducēs is the nominative plural form of dux, ducis (3m/f): leader.


Ad ianuam stetī. — Seneca the Elder, Controversies 9.5.3
Translation

I stood at the door.

Details

Ad (prep.): to, toward; at (takes the accusative). Iānuam is the accusative singular form of iānua, iānuae (1f): door. Stō, stāre, stetī, statum (1): to stand.


Commōtī animi sunt omnium. — Cicero, Against Verres 2.2.88
Translation

All his hearers were deeply stirred.

More literally: The minds of all were moved.

Details

Commōtī (sunt) is the third person masculine plural perfect passive form of commoveō, commovēre, commōvī, commōtum (2): to move, stir, agitate, excite. Animī is the nominative plural form of animus, animī (2m): mind, soul, spirit. Sunt: part of a phrase with commōtī. #(see commōtī)% Omnium is the m/f/n (here m) genitive plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): all; every.


Post festum vēnistī. — Erasmus, Adagia (1536)
Translation

You (sg.) have come after the feast.

Details

Post (prep.): after; behind (takes the accusative). Fēstum is the accusative singular form of fēstum, fēstī (2n): feast; holiday. Vēnistī is the second person singular perfect form of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come.


Non enim i uste neque pie bellum gessistis. — Cicero, On Invention 2.70
Translation

You made war contrary to the dictates of justice and religion.

More literally: For you (pl.) did not wage war justly (n)or piously.

Details

Nōn: not. Enim (particle): for, indeed. Iūstē (adv.): justly. Neque /nec (conj.): and not, neither, nor. Piē (adv.): dutifully; piously. Bellum is the accusative singular form of bellum, bellī (2n): war. Gessistis is the second person plural perfect form of gerō, gerere, gessī, gestum (3): to bear, carry; carry on, transact, conduct, do, accomplish; wage (war).


Multum ēgērunt qui ante nos fuērunt. — Seneca, Epistles 64.9
Translation

Our predecessors achieved a great deal.

More literally: They did much who were (i.e., existed) before us.

Details

Multum is the accusative singular form of multum, multī (2n): a large amount, much. Ēgērunt (or ēgēre) is the third person plural perfect form of agō, agere, ēgī, āctum (3): to drive, put in motion; do; act. Quī is the masculine nominative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Ante (prep.): before; behind (take the accusative). Nōs is the accusative form of nōs: we. Fuērunt (or fuēre) is the third person plural perfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be.


Alia fēcimus, alia cōgitāvimus, alia optāvimus, aliis fāvimus. — Seneca, On Anger 2.28.3
Translation

Some things we’ve done, others we’ve planned, some we’ve hoped for, others still we’ve supported.

Details

Alia is the neuter accusative plural form of alius/alia/aliud (1/2, irreg.): other, another; different (alia. . . alia = some. . . others). Fēcimus is the first person plural perfect form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. Alia is the neuter accusative plural form of alius/alia/aliud (1/2, irreg.): other, another; different (alia. . . alia = some. . . others). Cōgitāvimus is the first person plural perfect form of cōgitō, cōgitāre, cōgitāvī, cōgitātum (1): to think; plan. Optāvimus is the first person plural perfect form of optō, optāre, optāvī, optātum (1): to choose; wish for, desire. Aliīs is the m/f/n (here n) dative plural form of alius/alia/aliud (1/2, irreg.): other, another. Fāvimus is the first person plural perfect form of faveō, favēre, fāvī, fautum (2): to favor, support (takes a dative object).


Dīxī: “honestus est.” Dīxī: “pulcher est.” — Seneca the Elder, Controversies (excerpts) 6.6.1
Translation

I said: “He is honorable.” I said: “He is handsome.”

Details

Dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say. Honestus /honesta/honestum (1/2): honorable, noble. Est: he is. Dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say. Pulcher /pulchra/pulchrum (1/2): beautiful, handsome.


Capta es a piratis. — Seneca the Elder, Controversies 1.2.11
Translation

You (f. sg.) were captured by pirates.

Details

Capta es is the second person feminine singular perfect passive form of capiō, capere, cēpī, captum (3, –iō): to capture; take; receive. Ab/ ā (prep.): from; by (takes the ablative). Pīrātīs is the ablative plural form of pīrāta, pīrātae (1m): pirate.


Vos me imperatoris nomine appellāvistis. — Caesar, The Civil War 2.32.14
Translation

You have addressed me by the title of Imperator.

Details

Vōs: you (pl.). is the accusative form of ego. Imperātor, imperātōris (3m): general, commander; emperor. Nōmine is the ablative singular form of nōmen, nōminis (3n): name. Appellāvistis (or appellāstis) is the second person plural perfect form of appellō, appellāre, appellāvī, appellātum (1): to call by name; solicit with a request, entreat.


Sus tubam audīvit. — Erasmus, Adagia (1536)
Translation

The pig heard the trumpet.

Details

(To refer to someone who doesn’t understand the value of what they hear. War horses are roused by trumpets but pigs run away.) Sūs, suis (3 m/f): pig. Tubam is the accusative singular form of tuba, tubae (1f): trumpet. Audīvit (or audiit) is the third person singular form of of audiō, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear.


Miserum te iudico quod numquam fuistī miser. — Seneca, On Providence 4.3
Translation

I judge you unfortunate because you (sg.) have never been unfortunate.

Details

Miserum is the m/n (here m) accusative singular form of miser/misera/miserum (1/2): wretched, unfortunate. is the accusative form of tū: you. Iūdicō, iūdicāre, iūdicāvī, iūdicātum (1): to judge. Quod (conj.): that; the fact that; in that; because. Numquam (adv.): never. Fuistī is the second person singular perfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Miser /misera/miserum (1/2): wretched, unfortunate.


Habēre eripitur, habuisse numquam. — Seneca, Epistles 98.11
Translation

To have may be taken from us, to have had, never.

Alt. : We can be robbed of “having,” but never of “having had.”

More literally: To have is snatched away; to have had never (is snatched away).

Details

(Beforehand: “What resource do we find, then, in the face of these losses? Simply this—to keep in memory the things we have lost.”) Habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have. Ēripitur is the third person singular passive form of ēripiō, ēripere, ēripuī, ēreptum (3, –iō): to snatch away. Habuisse is the perfect infinitive form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have. Numquam (adv.): never.


Torqueatur”: hoc nec sub Philippo factum est. — Seneca the Elder, Controversies 10.5.2
Translation

“Let him be tortured”: this was not done under Philip.

Details

Torqueātur is the third person singular passive subjunctive form of torqueō, torquēre, torsī, tortum (2): to torment, torture (subjunctive because it’s jussive). Hic/haec/ hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Nec (adv.): not even; not either. Sub (prep.): (with abl.) under; (with acc.) under (with motion), toward and under. Philippō is the ablative singular form of Philippus, Philippī (2m): Philip. Factum est is the third person neuter singular perfect passive form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make.


Si bono viro dedistī, expectā. — Seneca, On Benefits 5.20.6
Translation

If you (sg.) have given to a good man, be patient.

Details

(He will make repayment without being asked.) (conj.): if. Bonō is the m/n dative singular form of bonus/bona/bonum (1/2): good. Virō is the dative singular form of vir, virī (2m): man. Dedistī is the second person singular perfect form of dō, dare, dedī, datum (1, irreg.): to give. Expectā is the singular imperative form of expectō, expectāre, expectāvī, expectātum (1): to wait; expect.


Nemo eorum qui illam accusant expertus est. — Seneca, Epistles 91.21
Translation

No one of those who malign it has made trial of it.

Details

(He’s talking about death: mors, mortis (3f).) Nēmō, nēminis (3m): no one. Eōrum is the m/n genitive plural form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Quī is the masculine nominative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Illam is the feminine accusative singular form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she it. Accūsant is the third person plural form of accūsō, accūsāre, accūsāvī, accūsātum (1): to blame, find fault with; accuse. Expertus est is the third person masculine singular perfect form of experior, experīrī, expertus sum (4, deponent): to try, make trial of, put to the test; experience.

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