Chapter 9: The Passive Voice

Mons cum monte non miscētur. — Erasmus, Adagia (1536)
Translation

Mountains never meet.

More literally: A mountain is not joined with a mountain.

Details

(People of equally exalted stature do not agree.) Mōns, montis (3m): mountain. Cum (prep.): with (takes the ablative). Monte is the ablative singular form of mōns, montis (3m): mountain. Nōn: not. Miscētur is the third person singular passive form of misceō, miscēre, miscuī, mixtum/mistum (2): to mix, mingle; unite, join.


Sine causa abs te accūsor. — Cicero, Letters to Atticus 1.5.3
Translation

You find fault with me unjustly.

More literally: I am accused by you without cause.

Details

Sine (prep.): without (takes the ablative). Causā is the ablative singular form of causa, causae (1f): cause, reason. Abs is an alternative form of ab/ā (prep.): (away) from; by (takes the ablative). is the ablative form of tū: you. Accūsor is the first person singular passive form of accūsō, accūsāre, accūsāvī, accūsātum (1): to accuse; blame, reproach.


Ex quo natus es, dūceris. — Seneca, Epistles 4.9
Translation

Since the day you were born you are being led thither.

More literally: From (the time) at which you were born, you are being led.

Details

(Toward death—an argument against being fearful of it.) Ex /ē (prep.): out of, from (takes the ablative). Quō is the m/n (here n) ablative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what (ex quō = from the time when, since the time that). Nātus es is the second person masculine singular perfect form of nāscor, nāscī, nātus sum (3, deponent): to be born. Dūceris (or dūcere) is the second person singular passive form of dūcō, dūcere, dūxī, ductum (3): to lead.


Tota ergo pars ista philosophiae summovērī potest. — Seneca, Epistles 94.12
Translation

Therefore, that whole department of philosophy may be abolished.

Alt. : Therefore this entire part of philosophy is able to be dispensed with.

Details

Tōtus/ tōta /tōtum (1/2, irreg.): whole, entire, total, all. Ergō (particle): therefore, then. Pars, partis (3f): part. Iste/ ista /istud (adj.): that (of yours). Philosophia, philosophiae (1f): philosophy. Summovērī is the passive infinitive form of summoveō, summovēre, summōvī, summōtum (2): to remove; banish, send away. Potest is the third person singular form of possum, posse, potuī, — (irreg.): to be able, can.


Furiosus solo furore pūnītur. — legal maxim
Translation

A madman is punished by his madness alone.

Details

Furiōsus /furiōsa/furiōsum (1/2): mad; raging, furious. Sōlō is the m/n ablative singular form of sōlus/sōla/sōlum (1/2, irreg.): alone; only, sole. Furōre is the ablative singular form of furor, furōris (3m): madness; rage, fury. Pūnītur is the third person singular passive form of pūniō, pūnīre, pūnīvī/pūniī, pūnītum (4): to punish.


Post naufragium maria temptantur. — Seneca, Epistles 81.2
Translation

The seas are tried after a shipwreck.

Details

Post (prep.): after (takes the accusative). Naufragium is the accusative singular form of naufragium, naufragiī (2n): shipwreck. Maria is the nominative plural form of mare, maris (3n): sea. Temptantur is the third person plural passive form of temptō, temptāre, temptāvī, temptātum (1): to test; try; attack.


Pacui discipulus dīcor. — Pompilius, Epigrams 1
Translation

I am called a pupil of Pacuvius.

More literally: I am said (to be) a student of Pacuvius.

Details

Pācuī (also Pācuiī) is the m/n (here m) genitive singular form of Pācuius/Pācuia/Pācuium (1/2—also Pācuvius): a Roman family name, here referring to Roman poet Pacuvius. Discipulus, discipulī (2m): disciple, student, pupil. Dīcor is the first person singular passive form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say.


Quidni non possit beata vita rescindī? — Seneca, Epistles 92.23
Translation

Why, you urge, may not a happy life possibly be destroyed?

More literally: Why would not a happy life not be able to be annulled?

Details

(In other words, why can’t a happy life be destroyed?) Quidnī (interrog. adv.): why not? (It takes a verb in the subjunctive (here possit) and expresses a rhetorical question where why not? implies of course it’s true; here the true statement is a happy life is not able to be destroyed.) Nōn: not. Possit is the third person singular subjunctive form of possum, posse, potuī, — (irreg.): to be able, can. Beātus/ beāta /beātum (1/2): happy; prosperous. Vīta, vītae (1f): life. Rescindī is the passive infinitive form of rescindō, rescindere, rescidī, rescissum (3): to cut off; tear open; repeal, annul, abolish.


Corporibus autem omnis obsidētur locus. — Cicero, On the Nature of the Gods 1.65
Translation

But all space is filled with material bodies.

More literally: But every place is occupied by bodies.

Details

Corporibus is the ablative plural form of corpus, corporis (3n): body; substance. # by bodies% Autem (particle): but, however; and, moreover. Omnis /omnis/omne (3): all; every. Obsidētur is the third person singular passive form of obsideō, obsidēre, obsēdī, obsessum (2): to occupy; besiege. Locus, locī (2m): place, space.


Iure Acheros vocāris! — Livy, History of Rome 8.24.11
Translation

You are rightly called the Acheros!

More literally: You are called “Acheros” by right!

Details

(A soldier cursing a river; its name is similar to that of a river of the underworld in Greek mythology: the Acheron—a name based on the Greek word for pain.) Iūre is the ablative singular form of iūs, iūris (3n): right, law. Acheros: a now-lost river in Italy (the declension is uncertain as the name doesn’t appear in any other passage; but it can be assumed to be Acheros, Acherī (2m)). Vocāris (or vocāre) is the second person singular passive form of vocō, vocāre, vocāvī, vocātum (1): to call; summon.


Statim pūniuntur cum facta sunt. — Seneca, Epistles 87.25
Translation

The crime is punished immediately after it is committed.

More literally: They are punished immediately when they have been done.

Details

(They are crimes: scelus, sceleris (3n).) Statim (adv.): at once, immediately. Pūniuntur is the third person plural passive form of pūniō, pūnīre, pūnīvī/pūniī, pūnītum (4): to punish. Cum (conj.): when; while; since; although. Facta sunt is the third person neuter plural perfect passive form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make.


His indulgēmus, illis vincimur. — Seneca, Epistles 99.19
Translation

This sort of weeping we indulge; the former sort overcomes us.

More literally: These we indulge; by those we are subdued.

Details

(He’s talking about different kinds of tears: lacrima, lacrimae (1f).) Hīs is the m/f/n (here f) dative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Indulgēmus is the first person plural form of indulgeō, indulgēre, indulsī, indultum (2): to indulge (takes the dative). Illīs is the m/f/n (here f) ablative plural form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it. Vincimur is the first person plural passive form of vincō, vincere, vīcī, victum (3): to win; conquer, subdue; surpass.


Rex ab suis appellātur. — Caesar, The Gallic War 7.4.5
Translation

He was greeted as “king” by his followers.

More literally: He is called king by his own.

Details

Rēx, rēgis (3m): king. Ab /ā (prep.): (away) from; by (takes the ablative). Suīs is the m/f/n (here m) ablative plural form of suus/sua/suum (1/2). Appellātur is the third person singular passive form of appellō, appellāre, appellāvī, appellātum (1): to address, call (a historical present).


Sed usu possidēminī. — Livy, History of Rome 6.18.11
Translation

But you are slaves by use.

More literally: But you are owned by habit.

Details

(You weren’t born that way.) Sed (conj.): but. Ūsū is the ablative singular form of ūsus, ūsūs (4m): use; habit, custom. Possidēminī is the second person plural passive form of possideō, possidēre, possēdī, possessum (2): to own, possess, be master of.


Circumvenior, inquit, iudices, nisi subvenitis. — Cicero, Brutus 26 0
Translation

He said, I am undone, judges, unless you come to my rescue.

Details

Circumvenior is the first person singular passive form of circumveniō, circumvenīre, circumvēnī, circumventum (4): to surround; beset, oppress; cheat. Inquit is the third person singular form of inquam (irreg. and defective): to say (inquit = he/she/it says or said). Iūdicēs is the vocative plural form of iūdex, iūdicis (3m/f): judge. Nisi (conj.): unless; except. Subvenītis is the second person plural form of subveniō, subvenīre, subvēnī, subventum (4): to aid, assist, relieve, come to the rescue.


Ibi ab Achilla et Septimio interficitur. — Caesar, Civil War 3.104.3
Translation

There he is killed by Achillas and Septimius.

Details

(He’s talking about Pompey.) Ibi (adv.): there. Ab /ā (prep.): (away) from; by (takes the ablative). Achillā is the ablative singular form of Achillas, Achillae (1m): a guard of Ptolemy XIII of Egypt. Et (conj.): and. Septimiō is the m/n (here m) ablative singular form of Septimius/Septimia/Septimium (1/2): a family name; here referring to a Roman soldier working in Egypt as a mercenary. Interficitur is the third person singular passive form of interficiō, interficere, interfēcī, interfectum (3, –iō): to kill.


Non tu tantum terrēris, Ulixe, sed fortes etiam. — Ovid, Metamorphoses 13.8 3
Translation

Not you alone are terrified, Ulysses, but brave men also.

More literally: Not only you are terrified, Ulysses, but the brave also.

Details

Nōn: not. : you. Tantum (adv.): only. Terrēris is the second person singular passive form of terreō, terrēre, terruī, territum (2): to frighten, terrify, alarm. Ulixe is the vocative form of Ulixēs, Ulixis (3m): Ulysses. Sed (conj.): but. Fortēs is the m/f nominative plural form of fortis/fortis/forte (3): brave; strong. Etiam (particle): still; also; even.


Mundus vult dēcipī, ergo dēcipiātur. — variously attributed
Translation

The world wants to be deceived, so let it be deceived.

Details

Mundus, mundī (2m): universe; world. Vult is the third person singular form of volō, velle, voluī, — (irreg.): to wish, want. Dēcipī is the passive infinitive form of dēcipiō, dēcipere, dēcēpī, dēceptum (3, –iō): to deceive. Ergō (particle): therefore, then, so. Dēcipiātur is the third person singular passive subjunctive form of dēcipiō, dēcipere, dēcēpī, dēceptum (3, –iō): to deceive (subjunctive because it’s jussive).


Mutuis animis amant amantur. — Catullus 45.20
Translation

They love and are loved with shared souls.

Alt. : . . . with mutual feelings.

Details

Mūtuīs is the m/f/n ablative plural form of mūtuus/mūtua/mūtuum (1/2): borrowed, lent; mutual, reciprocal. Animīs is the ablative plural form of animus, animī (2m): mind, soul; the heart, feelings, passions. Amant is the third person plural form of amō, amāre, amāvī, amātum (1): to love. Amantur is the third person plural passive form of amō, amāre, amāvī, amātum (1): to love.


Nolebas scīrī debere tibi Roscium. — Cicero, In Defense of Quintus Roscius the Comedian 9
Translation

You did not want it to be known that Roscius was indebted to you.

More literally: You did not want it to be known Roscius to owe you (i.e., that Roscius owed you).

Details

Nōlēbās is the second person singular imperfect form of nōlō, nōlle, nōluī, — (irreg.): to not want, refuse, be unwilling. Scīrī is the passive infinitive form of sciō, scīre, scīvī/sciī, scītum (4): to know. Dēbeō, dēbēre, dēbuī, dēbitum (2): to owe; ought. Tibi is the dative form of tū: you. Rōscium is the m/n (here m) accusative singular form of Rōscius/Rōscia/Rōscium (1/2): a family name (here, a client of Cicero’s).


Non dēdiscitur virtus. — Seneca, Epistles 50.8
Translation

One does not unlearn virtue.

More literally: Virtue is not unlearned.

Details

Nōn: not. Dēdiscitur is the third person singular passive form of dēdiscō, dēdiscere, dēdidicī, — (3): to unlearn, forget. Virtūs, virtūtis (3f): virtue; excellence; courage; good character.


Non videntur qui errant consentire. — legal maxim
Translation

Those who make a mistake are not considered to consent.

More literally: They who err are not seen to consent.

Details

Nōn: not. Videntur is the third person plural passive form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. Quī is the masculine nominative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Errant is the third person plural form of errō, errāre, errāvī, erratum (1): to err; wander; go astray. Cōnsentiō, cōnsentīre, cōnsēnsī, cōnsēnsum (4): to agree, consent.


Līberāmur mortis metu. — Cicero, On the Ends of Good and Evil 1.63
Translation

We are freed from fear of death.

Details

Līberāmur is the first person plural passive form of līberō, līberāre, līberāvī, līberātum (1): to free, liberate, release; absolve. Mors, mortis (3f): death. Metū is the ablative singular form of metus, metūs (4m): fear.


Cremārī corpora iubet. — Tacitus, Annals 1.49
Translation

He ordered the bodies to be cremated.

More literally: He orders. . .

Details

Cremārī is the passive infinitive form of cremō, cremāre, cremāvī, cremātum (1): to burn to ashes; cremate. Corpora is the accusative plural form of corpus, corporis (3n): body. Iubet is the third person singular form of iubeō, iubēre, iussī, iussum (2): to order, command, bid (a historical present).

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