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

(He’s quoting Epicurus.) Meditāre is the singular imperative form of meditor, meditārī, meditātus sum (1, deponent): to think on, meditate on, contemplate; rehearse. Mortem is the accusative singular form of mors, mortis (3f): death.

Alterum is the masculine accusative singular form of alter/altera/alterum (1/2, irreg.): the other (of two) (alter. . . alter = one. . . another). Intuēre is the singular imperative form of intueor, intuērī, intuitus sum (2, deponent): to look at, keep an eye on. Nē (conj.): lest, that not (with the subjunctive). Laedāris is the second person singular passive subjunctive form of laedō, laedere, laesī, laesum (3): to hurt. Alterum is the masculine accusative singular form of alter/altera/alterum (1/2, irreg.): the other (of two). Nē (conj.): lest, that not (with the subjunctive). Laedās is the same, but active. (Laedāris and laedās are subjunctive because they’re in (negative) purpose clauses.)

Sequere is the singular imperative form of sequor, sequī, secūtus sum (3, deponent): to follow. Nātūram is the accusative singular form of nātūra, nātūrae (1f): nature.

Prīmum (adv.): first. Patere is the singular imperative form of patior, patī, passus sum (3, –ior, deponent): to suffer; endure; allow. Mē is the accusative form of ego. Esse: to be. Cūriōsum is the m/n accusative singular form of cūriōsus/cūriōsa/cūriōsum (1/2): inquisitive; curious.

Dēmōlīre is the singular imperative form of dēmōlior, dēmōlīrī, dēmōlītus sum (4, deponent): to demolish. Ūniversa is the neuter accusative plural form of ūniversus/ūniversa/ūniversum (1/2): all (together); whole, entire; general. Eius is the m/f/n genitive singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that.

(Once attributed to Seneca, but now not viewed as his.) Palam (adv.): openly, publicly. Timēre is the singular passive imperative form of timeō, timēre, timuī, — (2): to fear, be afraid.

Neu (or nēve) (conj): or not, and not, nor. Bellum, bellī (2n): war. Terrēre is the singular passive imperative form of terreō, terrēre, terruī, territum (2): to frighten, terrify. Minīs is the ablative form of minae, minārum (1f, plural only): threats.

Īte is the plural imperative form of eō, īre, iī/īvī, itum (irreg.): to go. Ergō (particle): therefore, then. Et (conj.): and. Operāminī is the plural imperative form of operor, operārī, operātus sum (1, deponent): to work.

Intuēminī is the plural imperative form of intueor, intuērī, intuitus sum (2, deponent): to look at. Magnitūdinem is the accusative singular form of magnitūdō, magnitūdinis (3f): magnitude, greatness, size. Scelus, sceleris (3n): crime.

(A directive to ignorant students of an ignorant teacher.) Mātrem is the accusative singular form of māter, mātris (3f): mother. Sequiminī is the plural imperative form of sequor, sequī, secūtus sum (3, deponent): to follow. Porcī is the vocative plural form of porcus, porcī (2m): pig.

Proindē (adv.): accordingly, therefore, then. Hinc (adv.): from here. Vōs is the accusative form of vōs: you (pl.); used reflexively: yourselves. Āmōlīminī is the plural imperative form of āmōlior, āmōlīrī, āmōlītus sum (4, deponent): to move away, remove.

Venīte is the plural imperative form of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come. Et (conj.): and. Cūrāminī is the plural passive imperative form of cūrō, cūrāre, cūrāvī, cūrātum (1): to attend to, look after, care (for or about); cure.

Dētur is the third person singular passive subjunctive form of dō, dare, dedī, datum (1, irreg.): to give; offer; grant. Is/ea/ id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Vōbīs is the dative form of vōs: you (pl.).

Ab /ā (prep.): from; by (takes the ablative). Aliīs is the m/f/n (here m) ablative plural form of alius/alia/aliud (1/2, irreg.): other, another. Ergō (particle): therefore, then. Laudēmur is the first person plural passive subjunctive form of laudō, laudāre, laudāvī, laudātum (1): to praise.

Dēlectentur is the third person plural passive subjunctive form of dēlectō, dēlectāre, dēlectāvī, dēlectātum (1): to delight, please. In (prep.): in, on (takes the ablative in this sense). Laetitiā is the ablative singular form of laetitia, laetitiae (1f): gladness, joy.

(That is, don’t delay.) Nē (adv.): not (in a command or wish). Cūnctēris is the second person singular subjunctive form of cūnctor, cūnctārī, cūnctātus sum (1, deponent): to delay. Veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come. Ad (prep.): to (takes the accusative). Mē is the accusative form of ego. (In classical Latin, second-person negative commands with nē usually take a perfect subjunctive verb; but the use of the present subjunctive instead became very common in later Latin.)

(He’s talking about how a Stoic should deal with people who are in the grip of vices—i.e., like a doctor dealing with the maladies of patients.) Luctētur is the third person singular subjunctive form of luctor, luctārī, luctātus sum (1, deponent): to wrestle, struggle. Cum (prep.): with (takes the ablative). Vitiīs is the ablative plural form of vitium, vitiī (2n): fault, vice. Resistat is the third person singular subjunctive form of resistō, resistere, restitī, — (3): to remain standing; withstand, resist.

(He’s speaking of possessions and other external goods.) Ūtāmur is the first person plural subjunctive form of ūtor, ūtī, ūsus sum (3, deponent): to use, take advantage of (takes an object in the ablative case). Illīs is the m/f/n (here n) ablative plural form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it; the former. Nōn: not. Glōriēmur is the first person plural subjunctive form of glōrior, glōriārī, glōriātus sum (1, deponent): to boast, glory.

Quid is the neuter accusative singular form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Hominēs is the nominative plural form of homō, hominis (3m): man, human. Suspicentur is the third person plural subjunctive form of suspicor, suspicārī, suspicātus sum (1, deponent): to suspect (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Vidētis is the second person plural form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see; understand.

Quantō is the m/n ablative singular form of quantus/quanta/quantum (1/2, interrog. adj.): how great? Maerōre is the ablative singular form of maeror, maerōris (3m): grief, sorrow, mourning. Urgear is the first person singular passive subjunctive form of urgeō, urgēre, ursī, — (2): to press; oppress (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question). Profectō (adv.): undoubtedly, certainly, definitely. Vidēs is the second person singular form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see.

(Advice for orators.) Nihil (n, indeclinable, nom. or acc. only—here nom.): nothing. Videātur is the third person singular passive subjunctive form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. Fictus/ficta/ fictum (1/2): feigned, false. Sollicitus/sollicita/ sollicitum (1/2): disturbed, troubled, anxious. (In the passive, videō behaves like the verb sum: it can take a predicate complement in the nominative case—here fictum and sollicitum).

Torqueātur is the third person singular passive subjunctive form of torqueō, torquēre, torsī, tortum (2): to twist; torment.

(Of virtue.) Huius is the m/f/n genitive singular form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Quādam is the feminine ablative singular form of quīdam/quaedam/quoddam (adj.): some, a certain, a(n). Superstitiōne is the ablative singular form of superstitiō, superstitiōnis (3f): superstition. Teneantur is the third person plural passive subjunctive form of teneō, tenēre, tenuī, tentum (2): to hold; grasp, understand.

Quōmodo (interrog. adv.): how? Hoc is the neuter accusative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): he, she, it; this; the latter. Tuear is the first person singular subjunctive form of tueor, tuērī, tuitus sum (2, deponent): to look at; watch over, protect, preserve, defend (subjunctive because it’s in a deliberative question).

Fateāre is the second person singular subjunctive form of fateor, fatērī, fassus sum (2, deponent): to admit, acknowledge (grammatically it could also have been fateāris, but that wouldn’t fit the meter). Necessest is a contraction of necesse est —necesse (adj.): inevitable; necessary (indeclinable, used only as nom. or acc. , and always predicatively—i.e., together with a form of esse or the like) + est: it is) (necesse est = it is necessary that. . . ; it can be followed by a subjunctive verb). Mortālem is the m/f accusative singular form of mortālis/mortālis/mortāle (3): mortal. Esse: to be. Animam is the accusative singular form of anima, animae (1f): breath; soul, spirit; life.

Vērum is the accusative singular form of vērum, vērī (2n): truth; reality. Fateāmur is the first person plural subjunctive form of fateor, fatērī, fassus sum (2, deponent): to confess, admit.

(He’s describing how his opponents would have to respond to an argument he is imagining.) Necesse (adj.): necessary, inevitable. Est: it is. Cōnfiteantur is the third person plural subjunctive form of cōnfiteor, cōnfitērī, cōnfessus sum (2, deponent): to confess, admit.

Nescīs is the second person singular form of nesciō, nescīre, nescīvī/nesciī, nescītum (4): to not know. Quis/quis/ quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Graecō is the m/n ablative singular form of Graecus/Graeca/Graecum (1/2): Greek. Nōmine is the ablative singular form of nōmen, nōminis (3n): name. Dīcar is the first person singular passive subjunctive form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say; call, name (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question).

Frūgī is the dative singular form of frūx, frūgis (3f): fruit, crop; morality, sobriety, virtue; it’s used virtually as an (indeclinable) adjective meaning thrifty or frugal. Dīcātur is the third person singular passive subjunctive form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say.

Nōn: not. Occīdātur is the third person singular passive subjunctive form of occīdō, occīdere, occīdī, occīsum (3): to kill, slay. In (prep.): in, on (takes the ablative in this sense). Templō is the ablative singular form of templum, templī (2n): temple, sanctuary. Dominus, dominī (2m): lord, master. (In negative commands with the subjunctive, you’d typically expect the word nē rather than nōn. The usage shown here mostly shows up in later Latin.)

Expectā is the singular imperative form of expectō, expectāre, expectāvī, expectātum (1—also exspectō): to wait (for); expect; look forward to. Dum (conj.): while; until (it’s followed by the subjunctive when there’s a sense of expectancy). Lēgātī is the nominative plural form of lēgātus, lēgātī (2m): envoy, ambassador. Mittantur is the third person plural passive subjunctive form of mittō, mittere, mīsī, missum (3): to send; throw.

Moriar is the first person singular subjunctive form of morior, morī, mortuus sum (3, –ior, deponent): to die.

Nōn: not. Īrāscar is the first person singular subjunctive form of īrāscor, īrāscī, īrātus sum (3, deponent): to become angry; be angry (takes a dative object) (subjunctive because it’s in a deliberative question). Venēficō is the dative singular form of venēficus, venēficī (2m): poisoner.

Moriātur is the third person singular subjunctive form of morior, morī, mortuus sum (3, –ior, deponent): to die.

(If we’re lashed by fortune.) Patiāmur is the first person plural subjunctive form of patior, patī, passus sum (3, –ior, deponent): to suffer; endure; allow.

(Beforehand: “Many think that we Stoics are holding out expectations greater than our human lot admits of; and they have a right to think so. For they have regard to the body only.”) Revertantur is the third person plural subjunctive form of revertor, revertī, reversus sum (3, deponent): to turn back, return. Ad (prep.): to, toward (takes the accusative). Animum is the accusative singular form of animus, animī (2m): soul, mind.

Audiātur is the third person singular passive subjunctive form of audiō, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear; listen. Clāmor, clāmōris (3m): shout, cry. Dē (prep.): from, down from; about, concerning (takes the ablative). Domibus is the ablative plural form of domus, domūs (2/4f): house. Eōrum is the m/n (here m) genitive plural form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that.

Venēfica, venēficae (1f): (female) poisoner. Capite is the ablative singular form of caput, capitis (3n): head. Pūniātur is the third person singular passive subjunctive form of pūniō, pūnīre, pūnīvī/pūniī, pūnītum (4): to punish.

Quae is the f/n nominative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Tamen (adv.): nevertheless, yet, still. Iam (adv.): already; now; soon. Sciantur is the third person plural passive subjunctive form of sciō, scīre, scīvī/sciī, scītum (4): to know. Necesse (indeclinable adj.): necessary, inevitable. Est: it is.

Sed (conj.): but. Certē (adv.): certainly; at any rate. Mentiar is the first person singular subjunctive form of mentior, mentīrī, mentītus sum (4, deponent): to lie (subjunctive because it describes potential action; it’s part of a future-less-vivid conditional statement—see Chapter 18).

Veniat is the third person singular subjunctive form of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come. Nunc (adv.): now. Experiātur is the third person singular subjunctive form of experior, experīrī, expertus sum (4, deponent): to try, make trial of, put to the test; experience.

Iterum (adv.): again, a second time, once more. Experiāmur is the first person plural subjunctive form of experior, experīrī, expertus sum (4, deponent): to try, make trial of, put to the test; experience.

Nihil (n, indeclinable, nom. or acc. only—here acc.): nothing. Enim (particle): for, indeed. Prōficiant is the third person plural subjunctive form of prōficiō, prōficere, prōfēcī, prōfectum (3, –iō): to advance, progress; achieve; profit; benefit. Nisi (conj.): unless; except. Admodum (adv.): greatly; completely. Mentiantur is the third person plural subjunctive form of mentior, mentīrī, mentītus sum (4, deponent): to lie. (Both verbs are subjunctive because they describe potential action; it’s a future-less-vivid conditional statement, on which see Chapter 18.)