Chapter 41: The Gerundive

Ista timidis timenda sunt. — Seneca, Epistles 85.27
Translation

These things are only to be feared by those who are fearful.

More literally: These things are to be feared by the fearful.

Details

Ista is the neuter nominative plural form of iste/ista/istud (pron.): that, this. Timidīs is the m/f/n (here m) dative plural form of timidus/timida/timidum (1/2): fearful, timid, cowardly. Timenda is the neuter nominative plural form of timendus/timenda/timendum, the gerundive of timeō, timēre, timuī, — (2): to fear, be afraid. Sunt: (they) are.


Hae praetexebantur causae ad continuandam potentiam. — Seneca, Epistles 94.64
Translation

These were merely excuses and pretexts for extending his power.

More literally: These causes were assigned as pretexts for continuing (his) power (power-to-be-continued).

Details

(Pompey’s reasons for going to war.) Hae is the feminine nominative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (adj.): this. Praetexēbantur is the third person plural imperfect passive form of praetexō, praetexere, praetexuī, praetextum (3): to weave before; pretend, assign as a pretext. Causae is the nominative plural form of causa, causae (1f): cause, reason. Ad (prep.): to, toward; for, for the purpose of; according to (takes the accusative). Continuandam is the feminine accusative singular form of continuandus/continuanda/continuandum, the gerundive of continuō, continuāre, continuāvī, continuātum (1): to connect; continue. Potentiam is the accusative singular form of potentia, potentiae (1f): power.


Nec ideo inutilis et fōrmandīs animis inefficax est. — Seneca, Epistles 94.39
Translation

Yet it is not on that account ineffectual and useless in the training of the soul.

More literally: Nor is it on that account useless and ineffectual for shaping minds.

Details

(He’s talking about philosophy, and the fact that it isn’t helpful in every situation.) Neque/ nec (conj.): and not, neither, nor. Ideō (adv.): therefore, on that account. Inūtilis /inūtilis/inūtile (3): useless, unprofitable. Et (conj.): and. Fōrmandīs is the m/f/n dative plural form of fōrmandus/fōrmanda/fōrmandum, the gerundive of fōrmō, fōrmāre, fōrmāvī, fōrmātum (1): to shape, form. Animīs is the dative plural form of animus, animī (2m): mind, soul. Inefficāx, inefficācis (3, adj.): ineffectual. Est: is it.


Nihil aeque in beneficio dandō vītandum est quam superbia. — Seneca, On Benefits 2.11.6
Translation

In giving a benefit nothing ought to be avoided so much as haughtiness.

More literally: Nothing is equally to be avoided in giving a benefit as haughtiness.

Details

Nihil (n, indeclinable, nom. or acc. only—here nom.): nothing. Aequē (adv.): equally, just as. In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Beneficiō is the ablative singular form of beneficium, beneficiī (2n): a kindness, service, benefit. Dandō is the m/n ablative singular form of dandus/danda/dandum, the gerundive of dō, dare, dedī, datum (1, irreg.): to give. Vītandus/vītanda/ vītandum is the gerundive of vītō, vītāre, vītāvī, vītātum (1): to avoid. Est: is. Quam (rel. adv.): than; as. Superbia, superbiae (1f): pride, vanity, haughtiness.


Satisne est nobis vos metuendōs esse? — Livy, History of Rome 3.67.11
Translation

Is it not enough that we must fear you?

More literally: Is it enough that you must be feared by us?

Details

Even more literally: Is it enough you to be to be feared for ( = by) us?

Satisne (n, indeclinable, nom. or acc. only—here nom): enough; the enclitic interrogative particle –ne turns the word into part of a question. Est: is it. Nōbis: to/for us (with a gerundive: by us)—the dative form of nōs: we. Vōs is the accusative form of vōs: you (pl.). Metuendōs is the masculine accusative plural form of metuendus/metuenda/metuendum, the gerundive of metuō, metuere, metuī, metūtum (3): to fear. Esse: to be.


Ait enim iram esse cupiditatem doloris repōnendī. — Seneca, On Anger 1.3.3
Translation

For he says that anger is the desire to repay suffering.

More literally: For he says anger to be the desire of repaying suffering.

Details

Ait is the third person singular form of aiō (3, defective): to say. Enim (particle): for, indeed. Īram is the accusative singular form of īra, īrae (1f): anger. Esse: to be. Cupiditātem is the accusative singular form of cupiditās, cupiditātis (3f): desire, longing, craving, lust. Dolor, dolōris (3m): pain, suffering. Repōnendī is the m/n genitive singular form of repōnendus/repōnenda/repōnendum, the gerundive of repōnō, repōnere, reposuī, repositum/repostum (3): to put back; repay.


Animus noster ad vera perspicienda caligat. — Seneca, Epistles 71.24
Translation

Our souls are too dull of vision to perceive the truth.

Alt. : Our minds are too clouded to see things as they really are.

More literally: Our mind has blurred vision to perceive true things.

Details

Animus, animī (2m): mind; will, intention. Noster /nostra/nostrum (1/2): our, ours. Ad (prep.): to; for, for the purpose of; in regard to, in relation to, as to. Vēra is the neuter accusative plural form of vērus/vēra/vērum (1/2): true, real. Perspicienda is the neuter accusative plural form of perspiciendus/perspicienda/perspiciendum, the gerundive of perspiciō, perspicere, perspexī, perspectum (3, –iō): to perceive. Cālīgat is the third person singular form of cālīgō, cālīgāre, cālīgāvī, cālīgātum (1): to be dark; be misty or cloudy; have blurred vision.


Neutrum faciendum est. — Seneca, Epistles 3.4
Translation

We should do neither.

More literally: Neither is to be done.

Details

Neuter/neutra/ neutrum (1/2, irreg.): neither. Faciendus/facienda/ faciendum is the gerundive of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. Est: is.


Omnes sensus perdūcendī sunt ad firmitatem. — Seneca, On Anger 3.36.1
Translation

All our senses ought to be trained to endurance.

More literally: All the senses must be brought to endurance.

Details

Omnēs is the m/f nominative plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): all; every. Sēnsūs is the nominative plural form of sēnsus, sēnsūs (4m): sensation, perception, feeling; faculty of perception, any of the physical senses. Perdūcendī is the masculine nominative plural form of perdūcendus/perdūcenda/perdūcendum, the gerundive of perdūcō, perdūcere, perdūxī, perductum (3): to lead, bring, take (all the way to a place). Sunt: (they) are. Ad (prep.): to, toward; according to (takes the accusative). Firmitātem is the accusative singular form of firmitās, firmitātis (3f): firmness, durability, endurance.


Itaque eius orationes aspiciendās tamen censeo. — Cicero, Brutus 220
Translation

Thus in spite of his defects I consider his orations worth looking at.

More literally: So I nevertheless judge his orations to be looked at.

Details

Itaque (adv.): and so, therefore. Eius is the m/f/n genitive singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Ōrātiōnēs is the accusative plural form of ōrātiō, ōrātiōnis (3f): speech, oration. Aspiciendās is the feminine accusative plural form of aspiciendus/aspicienda/aspiciendum, the gerundive of aspiciō, aspicere, aspexī, aspectum (3, –iō): to look at. Tamen (adv.): nevertheless, yet, still. Cēnseō, cēnsēre, cēnsuī, cēnsum (2): to express as one’s opinion; judge.


Me Albani gerendō bello ducem creavere. — Livy, History of Rome 1.23.8
Translation

The Albans have made me their leader for carrying out the war.

Details

is the accusative form of ego. Albānī is the masculine nominative plural form of Albānus/Albāna/Albānum (1/2): Alban (of the city Alba Longa). Gerendō is the m/n dative singular form of gerendus/gerenda/gerendum, the gerundive of gerō, gerere, gessī, gestum (3): to bear, carry; carry on, transact, conduct, do, accomplish; wage (war). Bellō is the dative singular form of bellum, bellī (2n): war. Ducem is the accusative singular form of dux, ducis (3m/f): leader. Creāvēre is the third person plural perfect form (also creāvērunt) of creō, creāre, creāvī, creātum (1): to create, make.


Itaque alia differenda sunt, alia dērīdenda, alia dōnanda. — Seneca, On Anger 3.11.1
Translation

Some, therefore, ought to be put aside, others derided, others condoned.

More literally: Therefore some (things) are to be deferred, others to be laughed at, others to be condoned.

Details

(He’s talking about how to respond to insults.) Itaque (adv.): and so, therefore. Alia is the neuter nominative plural form of alius/alia/aliud (1/2, irreg.): other, another (alia. . . alia = some. . . others). Differenda is the neuter nominative plural form of differendus/differenda/differendum, the gerundive of differō, differre, distulī, dīlātum (3, irreg.): to scatter; disturb; defer, put off; differ. Sunt: (they) are. Alia is the neuter nominative plural form of alius/alia/aliud (1/2, irreg.): other, another. Dērīdenda is the neuter nominative plural form of dērīdendus/dērīdenda/dērīdendum, the gerundive of dērīdeō, dērīdēre, dērīsī, dērīsum (2): to deride, laugh at. Dōnanda is the neuter nominative plural form of dōnandus/dōnanda/dōnandum, the gerundive of dōnō, dōnāre, dōnāvī, dōnātum (1): to endow, reward; give; condone, forgive, pardon.


Cupiditas accipiendōrum. — Seneca, Epistles 81.28
Translation

(Do you ask what it is that makes us forget benefits received?) It is our extreme greed for receiving others.

Alt. : Our desire to obtain more.

More literally: Greed of getting (benefits).

Details

Most literally: Greed of (benefits-)to-be-received.

Cupiditās, cupiditātis (3f): greed, desire. Accipiendōrum is the m/n (here n) genitive plural form of accipiendus/accipienda/accipiendum, the gerundive of accipiō, accipere, accēpī, acceptum (3, –iō): to receive, accept, take. (The word for the benefits he’s talking about is beneficium, beneficiī (2n).)


Et revelabo pudenda tua in facie tua. — Nah. 3:5
Translation

And I will discover thy shame to thy face.

More literally: And I will reveal your to-be-ashamed-ofs in your face.

Details

Et (conj.): and. Revēlābō is the first person singular future form of revēlō, revēlāre, revēlāvī, revēlātum (1): to uncover, reveal. Pudenda is the neuter accusative plural form of pudendus/pudenda/pudendum, the gerundive of pudeō, pudēre, puduī/puditum est (2): (impersonal) to cause shame; (personal, rare outside the gerundive) be ashamed. Tua is the neuter accusative plural form of tuus/tua/tuum (1/2): your, yours. In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Faciē is the ablative singular form of faciēs, faciēī (5f): face. Tuā is the feminine ablative singular form of tuus/tua/tuum (1/2): your, yours.


Tempus istius probandae rei veniet. — Seneca, On Benefits 7.5.1
Translation

The time will come for proving this statement.

More literally: The time will come of proving this matter.

Details

Tempus, temporis (3n): time. Istīus is the m/f/n genitive singular form of iste/ista/istud (adj.): that, this. Probandae is the feminine genitive singular form of probandus/probanda/probandum, the gerundive of probō, probāre, probāvī, probātum (1): to approve; test; prove. Rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair. Veniet is the third person singular future form of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come.


Primum apes abigendae. — Erasmus, Adagia (1536)
Translation

First you must drive off the bees.

More literally: First the bees (are) to be driven off.

Details

(. . . then you may take the honey.) Prīmum (adv.): first. Apēs is the nominative plural form of apis, apis (3f): bee. Abigendae is the feminine nominative plural form of abigendus/abigenda/abigendum, the gerundive of abigō, abigere, abēgī, abāctum (3): to drive away, drive off.


Utrum putas mīrandum esse, tuum tyrannicidium an huius silentium? — Seneca the Elder, Controversies 2.5.8
Translation

Which do you think deserves admiration, your killing or her silence?

Details

Utrum is the m/n (here n) accusative singular form of uter/utra/utrum (interrog. pron. , 1/2, irreg.): which (of two)? Putās is the second person singular form of putō, putāre, putāvī, putātum (1): to think, regard, suppose. Mīrandum is the m/n accusative singular form of mīrandus/mīranda/mīrandum, the gerundive of mīror, mīrārī, mīrātus sum (1, deponent): to wonder, marvel (at); admire. Esse: to be. Tuum is the m/n accusative singular form of tuus/tua/tuum (1/2): your, yours. Tyrannicīdium is the accusative singular form of tyrannicīdium, tyrannicīdiī (2n): tyrannicide, the killing of a tyrant. An (interrog. particle): whether; or (in a question); it can also start a direct question. Huius is the m/f/n genitive singular form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Silentium is the accusative singular form of silentium, silentiī (2n): silence; stillness.


Aut rīdenda omnia aut flenda sunt. — Seneca, On Anger 2.10.5
Translation

Everything gives cause for either laughter or tears.

More literally: All things are either to be laughed at or to be cried about.

Details

Aut (conj.): or. (aut. . . aut: either. . . or). Rīdenda is the neuter nominative plural form of rīdendus/rīdenda/rīdendum, the gerundive of rīdeō, rīdēre, rīsī, rīsum (2): to laugh (at). Omnia is the neuter nominative plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): all; every; (n. pl. used substantively) all things, everything. Aut (conj.): or. Flenda is the neuter nominative plural form of flendus/flenda/flendum, the gerundive of fleō, flēre, flēvī, flētum (2): to weep (over), cry (for/about). Sunt: (they) are.


Iniuriam in ēripiendīs legionibus praedicat. — Caesar, The Civil War 1.32.6
Translation

He emphasized the injury they did in depriving him of his legions.

Alt. : He expatiated on their injustice in taking away his legions.

More literally: He proclaims the injustice in snatching away (his) legions.

Details

Iniūriam is the accusative singular form of iniūria, iniūriae (1f): injury, wrong, injustice, injurious treatment. In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Ēripiendīs is the m/f/n ablative plural form of ēripiendus/ēripienda/ēripiendum, the gerundive of ēripiō, ēripere, ēripuī, ēreptum (3, –iō): to snatch out or away; rescue. Legiōnibus is the ablative plural form of legiō, legiōnis (3f): legion. Praedicat is the third person singular form of praedicō, praedicāre, praedicāvī, praedicātum (1): to proclaim, make publicly known.


Alia committenda, alia c ēlanda. — Erasmus, Adagia (1536)
Translation

Some things must be trusted to others, some concealed.

More literally: Some things (are) to be entrusted, others to be concealed.

Details

Alia is the neuter nominative plural form of alius/alia/aliud (1/2, irreg.): other, another (alia. . . alia = some (things). . . some/other). Committenda is the neuter nominative plural form of committendus/committenda/committendum, the gerundive of committō, committere, commīsī, commisum (3): to commit, entrust. Cēlanda is the neuter nominative plural form of cēlandus/cēlanda/cēlandum, the gerundive of cēlō, cēlāre, cēlāvī, cēlātum (1): to conceal, keep secret, disguise.


Numquid ad sūmenda spolia tu venis? — Ezek. 38:13
Translation

Art thou come to take spoils?

Alt. : Are you coming for the sake of seizing plunder?

Details

Numquid (interrog. particle): introduces a question, often with a nuance of caution or disbelief. Ad (prep.): to, toward; for, for the purpose of (takes the accusative). Sūmenda is the neuter accusative plural form of sūmendus/sūmenda/sūmendum, the gerundive of sūmō, sūmere, sūmpsī, sūmptum (3): to take, seize. Spolia is the accusative plural form of spolium, spoliī (2n, usually plural): spoils, plunder. : you. Venīs is the second person singular form of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come.

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