While most of these problems involve ablative absolutes, there are also occasional blanked words that aren’t ablative absolutes but might be mistaken for them. To avoid giving away the case, the notes present the blanked words from the quotes in the same way regardless of the case the words are in. The basic forms of participles are most of the time kept secret, too; you’re expected to figure out by yourself which kind of participle to use. So a note that would have looked like this in The Latin Tamer (or in other exercises). . .
Factus /facta/factum (1/2) is the perfect passive participle of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make.
. . . can appear here like this:
is the singular form of the participle of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make.
(With the blanks standing for factus, masculine nominative, and perfect passive.)
The gender is often blanked as well because it would provide information as to what case a word might be in or what kind of participle it could be. (E. g. , if you saw m/n singular, you would know that the word couldn’t be a nominative perfect participle because the masculine and neuter endings are different there: –us vs. – um.)
Though you do not move a finger, he will die.
More literally: Even with you being at rest, he will die.
(He’s saying you shouldn’t waste energy being angry at others; your enemy will be dead soon enough.) Etiam (particle): still; even; also. is the form of tū: you. is the form of the participle of quiēscō, quiēscere, quiēvī, quiētum (3): to rest, be at rest; keep quiet. Moriētur is the third person singular future form of morior, morī, mortuus sum (3, –ior, deponent): to die.
With God my leader, the sword my companion.
More literally: God (being my) leader, the sword (being my) companion.
is the form of deus, deī (2m, irreg.): god. is the form of dux, ducis (3m/f): leader. is the form of ferrum, ferrī (2n): iron; sword. is the form of comes, comitis (3m/f): companion, comrade.
When the talebearer is taken away, contentions will cease.
Alt. : Without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
More literally: With the mutterer removed, quarrels quiet down.
is the ablative singular form of susurrō, susurrōnis (3m): whisperer, mutterer. is the form of the of subtrahō, subtrahere, subtrāxī, subtractum (3): to drag from under; take away, remove. Iūrgia is the nominative plural form of iūrgium, iūrgiī (2n): quarrel, strife; abuse, invective. Conquiēscunt is the third person plural form of conquiēscō, conquiēscere, conquiēvī, conquiētum (3): to rest; settle down, quiet down, stop.
They are already calling him king while his father still lives.
More literally: (His) father (still) alive, they call him king.
Eum is the masculine accusative singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Iam (adv.): already; now; soon. Rēgem is the accusative singular form of rēx, rēgis (3m): king. is the form of vīvus/vīva/vīvum (1/2): alive. is the form of pater, patris (3m): father. Appellant is the third person plural form of appellō, appellāre, appellāvī, appellātum (1): to address, call.
So saying, sweet-scented nectar she sprinkled the blood.
More literally: Having so spoken, . . .
Sīc (adv.): thus, so, in such manner. is the form of fātus/fāta/fātum (1/2), the perfect active participle of for, fārī, fātus sum (1, deponent): to speak, say () Cruōrem is the accusative singular form of cruor, cruōris (3m): blood, gore. Nectare is the ablative singular form of nectar, nectaris (3n): nectar. Odōrātō is the m/n ablative singular form of odōrātus/odōrāta/odōrātum (1/2): scented, fragrant, sweet-smelling. Sparsit is the third person singular perfect form of spargō, spargere, sparsī, sparsum (3): to scatter, sprinkle.
And having left them, he went away.
Alt. : And he left them, and departed.
More literally: And those (people) having been left behind, he went away.
Et (conj.): and. is the form of the participle of relinquō, relinquere, relīquī, relictum (3): to leave behind, abandon, relinquish. is the form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it. Abiit is the third person singular perfect form of abeō, abīre, abiī, abitum (irreg.): to depart, go away.
Pastor came with not a trace of reproach on his face.
More literally: Pastor came, (his) face reproaching nothing.
(Pastor was a Roman knight who was invited to dinner by Caesar after Caesar had executed his son.) Vēnit is the third person singular perfect form of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come. Pāstor, Pāstōris (3m): a proper name. is the form of vultus, vultūs (4m): countenance; (facial) expression; face; appearance. Nihil (n, indeclinable, nom. or acc. only—here acc.): nothing. is the form of the participle of exprobrō, exprobrāre, exprobrāvī, exprobrātum (1): to reprove, reproach.
At long last, and by your advice, I have come to my senses.
More literally: With you (as) an adviser, I have finally barely come to my senses.
Vix (adv.): barely; with difficulty. Aliquandō (adv.): sometimes; finally. is the ablative form of tū: you. is the of auctor, auctōris (3m/f): creator; author; supporter; adviser; initiator; agent; seller. Resipīscō, resipīscere, resipuī/resipiī/ resipīvī, — (3): to come to one’s senses.
Having taken water, he did wash the hands before the multitude.
Alt. : He took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd.
More literally: With water having been taken, he washed hands before the people.
is the form of the participle of accipiō, accipere, accēpī, acceptum (3, –iō): to receive, accept, take. is the singular form of aqua, aquae (1f): water. Lāvit is the third person singular perfect form of lavō, lavāre/lavere, lāvī, lavātum/lautum (1/3): to wash. Manūs is the accusative plural form of manus, manūs (4f): hand. Cōram (prep.): in the presence of, before (takes the ablative). Populō is the ablative singular form of populus, populī (2m): people.
While the Roman people wept, he did not even change countenance.
(He’s talking about Tiberius Caesar delivering a eulogy for his own son without emotion.) is the of the participle of fleō, flēre, flēvī, flētum (2): to weep, cry. is the form of populus, populī (2m): people, nation. is the form of Rōmānus/Rōmāna/Rōmānum (1/2): Roman. Nōn: not. Flexit is the third person singular perfect form of flectō, flectere, flexī, flexum (3): to bend; change; persuade. Vultum is the accusative singular form of vultus, vultūs (4m): countenance; (facial) expression; face; appearance.
An involuntary act is not one’s own act.
More literally: An act done with me unwilling is not my act.
Āctus, āctūs (4m): act. is the form of ego: I (me). is the form of invītus/invīta/invītum (1/2): unwilling. Factus /facta/factum (1/2) is the perfect passive participle of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. Nōn: not. Est: is. Meus /mea/meum (1/2): my, mine. Āctus, āctūs (4m): act.
Bowing his head, he gave up the ghost.
Alt. : Having bowed his head, he delivered up his spirit.
More literally: Head having been bowed, he delivered up the spirit.
is the form of the participle of inclīnō, inclīnāre, inclīnāvī, inclīnātum (1): to bend, bow, tilt. is the form of caput, capitis (3n): head. Trādidit is the third person singular perfect form of trādō, trādere, trādidī, trāditum (3): to hand over; surrender; deliver; hand down; relate. Spīritum is the accusative singular form of spīritus, spīritūs (4m): breath; spirit.
Our deeds will speak even if we are silent.
More literally: Things will speak with us being silent.
Rēs is the nominative plural form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair. Loquentur is the third person plural future form of loquor, loquī, locūtus sum (3, deponent): to speak. is the form of nōs: we. is the form of the active participle of taceō, tacēre, tacuī, tacitum (2): to be silent.
Many in addition threw away their arms and fled.
More literally: Many in addition, having been stripped of arms, fled.
(The work is traditionally attributed to Caesar but now widely thought to have been written by an unknown author.) Multī is the masculine nominative plural form of multus/multa/multum (1/2): much, many. Praetereā (adv.): in addition, moreover. Armīs is the ablative form of arma, armōrum (2n, plural only): arms. is the form of the participle of exuō, exuere, exuī, exūtum (3): to take off (clothes); strip, lay bare (the thing one is stripped of goes in the ablative) (). Fūgērunt is the third person plural perfect form of fugiō, fugere, fūgī, fugitūrus (3, –iō): to flee, run away.
Jesus, having uttered a loud cry, expired.
Alt. : With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
More literally: Jesus, with a great cry having been sent out, expired.
Iēsūs, Iēsū (irreg. , m): Jesus. is the form of the participle of ēmittō, ēmittere, ēmīsī, ēmissum (3): to send out, utter, emit. is the form of vōx, vōcis (3f): voice; cry. is the form of magnus/magna/magnum (1/2): great. Exspīrāvit is the third person singular perfect form of exspīrō, exspīrāre, exspīrāvī, exspīrātum (1): to exhale; expire, die.
No outrage shall occur while I look on.
More literally: . . . with me (being) witness.
Nūllus/nūlla/ nūllum (1/2, irreg.): not any, no, none. is the form of testis, testis (3m/f): witness. is the form of ego: I (me). Fīet is the third person singular future form of fīō, fierī, —, — (irreg.): to be done; be made; become; happen. Nefās (n, indeclinable, occurs only as nom. or acc. sg. ; here it’s nom.): sacrilege; outrage, wrong or wicked act.
. . . even though poverty stand in the way, and even though lowliness and disgrace block the path.
More literally: . . . even with poverty placed in front (of it), even with lowliness and disgrace lying in the way.
Chapter 45: Adverbs
Most of these exercises are like the illustrations to the corresponding chapter in The Latin Tamer: they use regular adverbs. But a couple of them here depend on adverbs that aren’t quite as regular and are discussed earlier in that chapter.
(To someone with accurate vision, virtue will be visible even under the conditions described.) Etiam (particle): still; even; also. is the form of paupertās, paupertātis (3f): poverty. is the singular form of the participle of oppōnō, oppōnere, opposuī, oppositum (3): to place in front or against, station opposite, set against, oppose. is the form of humilitās, humilitātis (3f): lowness; lowliness, insignificance; submissiveness, subservience. Et (conj.): and. is the singular form of īnfāmia, īnfāmiae (1f): infamy, disgrace. is the form of the participle of obiaceō, obiacēre, obiacuī, — (2): to lie before one, lie in the way, block the way. Note why that last participle is plural: the nouns with which it agrees are singular, but there are two of them. It could also have been singular, technically agreeing with the closest noun but logically applying to both.
Most of these exercises are like the illustrations to the corresponding chapter in The Latin Tamer: they use regular adverbs. But a couple of them here depend on adverbs that aren’t quite as regular and are discussed earlier in that chapter.
For this reason we are harassed if we possess them.
More literally: So they are possessed anxiously.
(He’s talking about worldly goods; he’s just said they are fleeting.) Itaque (adv.): and so, therefore. is an adverb formed from sollicitus/sollicita/sollicitum (1/2): agitated, anxious. Possidentur is the third person plural passive form of possideō, possidēre, possēdī, possessum (2): to own, possess.
I will confess frankly.
is an adverb formed from simplex, simplicis (3, adj.): single; simple; frank, candid. Fatēbor is the first person singular future form of fateor, fatērī, fassus sum (2, deponent): to admit, acknowledge, confess.
A Cilician finds it hard to speak the truth.
More literally: A Cilician does not easily speak the truth.
(Cilicia is a region in what is now southern Turkey.) Cilix, Cilicis (3m): a Cilician. Haud (adv.): not; not at all, by no means. is an adverb formed from (3): easy. Vērum is the accusative singular form of vērum, vērī (2n): truth, reality. Dīcit is the third person singular form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say.
Gentlemen, the simple fact is this:
More literally: I say so much very briefly, gentlemen:
Tantum (adv.): so much; only. is the superlative form of breviter, an adverb formed from (3): brief. Iūdicēs is the vocative plural form of iūdex, iūdicis (3m/f): judge. Dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say.
How much more spirited was Alexander!
More literally: How much more nobly (did) Alexander (act)!
Quantō (interrog. adv.): how much? by what degree? # how much% is the comparative form of animōsē, an adverb formed from animōsus/animōsa/animōsum (1/2): brave, spirited; high-minded, noble. Alexander, Alexandrī (2m): Alexander.
Necessity teaches them to bear them bravely.
(. . . and habit teaches them to bear them easily. He’s talking about prisoners getting used to their shackles.) Necessitās, necessitātis (3f): necessity, exigency. is an adverb formed from (3): courageous, brave; strong. Ferō, ferre, tulī, lātum (3, irreg.): to carry, bear; endure. Docet is the third person singular form of doceō, docēre, docuī, doctum (2): to teach.
But what he understands he expresses clearly enough.
More literally: But he clearly says what he understands.
Sed (conj.): but. : clearly, distinctly; quite, absolutely—an adverb formed from plānus/plāna/plānum (1/2): flat; plain, clear. Dīcit is the third person singular form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say. Quod is the neuter accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Intellegit is the third person singular form of intellegō, intellegere, intellēxī, intellēctum (3): to understand, realize.
These general propositions they cut up into still smaller divisions.
More literally: But these general things they cut up even more minutely (into even smaller pieces).
Haec is the neuter accusative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. # these things% Autem (particle): on the other hand, but, however; and, moreover. Ūniversa is the neuter accusative plural form of ūniversus/ūniversa/ūniversum (1/2): whole, entire, all taken collectively; general, universal. Concīdunt is the third person plural form of concīdō, concīdere, concīdī, concīsum (3): to cut up; kill. Etiam (particle): still; even; also. is the comparative form of minūtē, an adverb formed from minūtus/minūta/minūtum (1/2): small—originally the perfect passive participle of minuō, minuere, minuī, minūtum (3): to make smaller, reduce, lessen; reduce to fragments, chop up or pulverize.
That which would be injurious, he buried deep in the earth.
More literally: He buried very deeply the things going to injure.
Nocitūra is the neuter accusative plural form of nocitūrus/nocitūra/nocitūrum (1/2), the future active participle of noceō, nocēre, nocuī, nocitum (2): to hurt, injure. is the superlative form of altē, an adverb formed from altus/alta/altum (1/2): high; deep. Pressit is the third person singular perfect form of premō, premere, pressī, pressum (3): to press, compress; bury; pursue.
Let us, then, look carefully into the matter.
Inquīrāmus is the first person plural subjunctive form of inquīrō, inquīrere, inquīsīvī/inquīsiī, inquīsītum (3): to inquire (into); investigate; search for (subjunctive because it’s hortatory). Itaque (adv.): and so, therefore, then. In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Rem is the accusative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair. is an adverb formed from dīligēns, dīligentis (3, adj.): diligent, careful.
The men of former days were better men by far.
More literally: Men were better by far then.
Tunc (adv.): then. : far away; by far—an adverb formed from longus/longa/longum (1/2): long; far off. Meliōrēs is the m/f nominative plural form of melior/melior/melius (3), the comparative form of bonus/bona/bonum (1/2): good. Erant is the third person plural imperfect form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Virī is the nominative plural form of vir, virī (2m): man.
It is an insignificant trifle, after all, that people discuss with so much concern.
More literally: That is very small about which it is discussed (i.e., people discuss; an impersonal passive verb) very anxiously.
Minimus/minima/ minimum (1/2) is the superlative form of parvus/parva/parvum (1/2): small, little. Est: it is. Dē (prep.): from, down from; about, concerning (takes the ablative). Quō is the m/n ablative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. : very anxiously, with very anxious care—the superlative form of sollicitē, an adverb formed from sollicitus/sollicita/sollicitum (1/2): anxious; solicitous. Agitur is the third person singular passive form of agō, agere, ēgī, āctum (3): to drive, put in motion; do; act; discuss.
It all presents the same aspect to us, it lies together.
More literally: It is seen in like manner. . .
(All past time.) : equally; in like manner; together—an adverb formed from pār, paris (3, adj.): even; equal. Aspicitur is the third person singular passive form of aspiciō, aspicere, aspexī, aspectum (3, –iō): to look at; see. Ūnā (adv.): together. Iacet is the third person singular form of iaceō, iacēre, iacuī, iacitum (2): to lie, be in a recumbent position.
Stop misinterpreting what fortune has done for you.
More literally: Cease to interpret the kindness of fortune wrongly.
Dēsine is the singular imperative form of dēsinō, dēsinere, dēsiī/dēsīvī, dēsitum (3): to cease, stop (often with an infinitive). Beneficium is the accusative singular form of beneficium, beneficī (2n): a kindness, favor, benefit. Fortūna, fortūnae (1f): fortune, luck; fate. is an adverb formed from (1/2): bad; evil. Interpretor, interpretārī, interpretātus sum (1, deponent): to explain; interpret; translate.
If we can, let us speak more boldly; if not, more frankly.
Si (conj.): if. Possumus is the first person plural form of possum, posse, potuī, — (irreg.): to be able, can. is the comparative form of fortiter, an adverb formed from (3): brave, bold. Loquāmur is the first person plural subjunctive form of loquor, loquī, locūtus sum (3, deponent): to speak (subjunctive because it’s hortatory). Minus (adv.): less; not. is the comparative form of apertē, an adverb formed from apertus/aperta/apertum (1/2) open; clear, obvious; frank—originally the perfect passive participle of aperiō, aperīre, aperuī, apertum (4): to open; uncover.
The collapsing building sets some people down gently.
More literally: Collapse has let down some people gently.
Quōsdam is the masculine accusative plural form of quīdam/quaedam/quiddam (pron.): a certain one, somebody, something. is an adverb formed from mollis/mollis/molle (3): soft, mild, gentle. Ruīna, ruīnae (1f): a falling down, fall, collapse, ruin. Dēposuit is the third person singular perfect form of dēpōnō, dēpōnere, dēposuī, dēpositum (3): to put down, let down.