Chapter 21. The First Declension

Lingua is the vocative singular form of lingua, linguae (1f): tongue; language. Quō (interrog. adv.): where (as a direction)? where to? whither? Vādis is the second person singular form of vādō, vādere, vāsī, — (3): to go (esp. rapidly, violently, or purposefully).

(From an appeal for help made to a god.) Rōma, Rōmae (1f): Rome. Rogat is the third person singular form of rogō, rogāre, rogāvī, rogātum (1): to ask.

Pecūnia, pecūniae (1f): money. Superābat is the third person singular imperfect form of superō, superāre, superāvī, superātum (1): to climb over; overcome; surpass; be present in excess; abound; survive.

Etiam (particle): still; even; also. Pīrāta, pīrātae (1m): pirate. Dīcitur is the third person singular passive form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say; call. When dīcitur or a similar passive verb is used in this way—to describe what someone “is called”—the word for what the person is called typically goes in the nominative case in agreement with the subject, just as it does after sum; as we saw earlier, this is known as a subject complement.

Immānis/ immānis /immāne (3): huge, immense (misspelled as imanis). Mentula, mentulae (1f, slang): prick, penis. Es: you are. (Cf. Catullus 115, which refers to his subject as mentula magna mināx —a monstrous menacing cock.)

(Thus a CV is another term for what Americans sometimes call a résumé.) Curriculum, curriculī (2n): race; course. Vīta, vītae (1f): life.

(A term for people who aren’t parties to a case but contribute their views to a court.) Amīcus, amīcī (2m): friend. Cūria, cūriae (1f): court.

(A legal doctrine allowing the state, or a court, to serve as guardian of children or others who can’t protect their own interests. In classical times it meant father of the country, and was a title given by the Roman Senate to Cicero, Caesar, and others for distinguished service.) Parēns, parentis (3m/f): parent. Patria, patriae (1f): country, fatherland.

Habet is the third person singular form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have. Pecūnia, pecūniae (1f): money. Cupiditātem is the accusative singular form of cupiditās, cupiditātis (3f): desire, longing, craving, lust. (The natural English translation uses the word for, which might make you think pecūniae is dative. But it’s genitive, because in Latin one speaks about a desire of something. The general point: Latin sometimes uses the genitive where a word other than of would be found in English.)

Omnis /omnis/omne (3): every; all. Ars, artis (3f): art. Nātūra, nātūrae (1f): nature. Imitātiō, imitātiōnis (3f): imitation. Est: is.

Rēx, rēgis (3m): king. Ait is the third person singular form of aiō (3, defective): to say (ait = he/she says or said). Puellae is the dative singular form of puella, puellae (1f): girl.

Agō, agere, ēgī, āctum (3): to drive, put in motion; do; act. Grātiās is the accusative plural form of grātia, grātiae (1f): favor; friendship; gratitude, (in plural) thanks; grātiās agō = I give thanks. Fortūnae is the dative singular form of fortūna, fortūnae (1f): fortune, luck, chance.

Cēdant is the third person plural subjunctive form of cēdō, cēdere, cessī, cessum (3): to go away, withdraw; yield (subjunctive because it’s jussive). Arma, armōrum (2n, plural only): arms. Togae is the dative singular form of toga, togae (1f): toga. (This is a line from a poem Cicero wrote about his consulship. The poem survives only in fragments. It was sometimes ridiculed at the time as self-aggrandizing, but Cicero liked this line enough to refer to it in his other writings.)

Ipsī is the m/f/n dative singular form of ipse/ipsa/ipsum (adj.): himself/herself/itself/oneself/myself, etc. ; in person; the very. Nātūrae is the dative singular form of nātūra, nātūrae (1f): nature. Vim is the accusative singular form of vīs, vīs (3f, irreg.): power; force; violence. Parat is the third person singular form of parō, parāre, parāvī, parātum (1): to prepare; intend.

(Adapted from Theocritus, a Greek poet.) Cicāda, cicādae (1f): cricket, cicada. Cicādae is the dative singular form of cicāda, cicādae (1f): cricket, cicada. Cārus/ cāra /cārum (1/2): dear; precious. Formīcae is the dative singular form of formīca, formīcae (1f): ant. Formīca, formīcae (1f): ant. The verb (est — is) is implied.

Grātia, grātiae (1f): favor; gratitude, (in plural) thanks. Grātiam is the accusative singular form of grātia, grātiae (1f): favor; gratitude, (in plural) thanks. Parit is the third person singular form of pariō, parere, peperī, partum (3, –iō): to give birth to; beget.

(In other words, the need for an exception implies the existence of a rule to which the exception is made.) Exceptiō, exceptiōnis (3f): exception. Probat is the third person singular form of probō, probāre, probāvī, probātum (1): to approve; test; prove. Rēgulam is the accusative singular form of rēgula, rēgulae (1f): rule.

Iam (adv.): already; now; soon. Terram is the accusative singular form of terra, terrae (1f): land. Cernēbant is the third person plural imperfect form of cernō, cernere, crēvī, crētum (3): to discern, see.

(From an argument against a man seeking to fend off execution.) Vītam is the accusative singular form of vīta, vītae (1f): life. Rogās is the second person singular form of rogō, rogāre, rogāvī, rogātum (1): to ask, request.

Perge is the singular imperative form of pergō, pergere, perrēxī, perrēctum (3): to go on, proceed, continue. In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Siciliam is the accusative form of Sicilia, Siciliae (1f): Sicily.

(The full version: “Go to the ant, thou sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise.”) Vāde is the singular imperative form of vādō, vādere, vāsī, — (3): to go. Ad (prep.): to (takes the accusative). Formīcam is the accusative singular form of formīca, formīcae (1f): ant.

Custōdia, custōdiae (1f—the length of the u is uncertain): protection; guard; watch. Contrā (prep.): against, opposite (takes the accusative). Custōdiam is the accusative singular form of custōdia, custōdiae (1f): protection; guard; watch.

Ab/ ā (prep.): from; by (takes the ablative). Nātūrā is the ablative singular form of nātūra, nātūrae (1f): nature. Discēdimus is the first person plural form of discēdō, discēdere, discessī, discessum (3): to depart.

(To suggest futility.) In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Aquā is the ablative singular form of aqua, aquae (1f): water. Scrībis is the second person singular form of scrībō, scrībere, scrīpsī, scrīptum (3): to write.

Causa, causae (1f): cause. Ex /ē (prep.): out of, from (takes the ablative). Causā is the ablative singular form of causa, causae (1f): cause. Pendet is the third person singular form of pendeō, pendēre, pependī, — (2): to be suspended, hang; depend.

Idem is the neuter accusative singular form of īdem/eadem/idem (pron.): the same. Dē (prep.): from, down from; about, concerning (takes the ablative). Luxuriā is the ablative singular form of luxuria, luxuriae (1f—the length of the first u is uncertain): luxury. Dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say.

(The (imaginary) speaker is a Spartan reflecting on Othryades, a Spartan soldier who took his own life after emerging as the last survivor in a battle that his side won.) Sine (prep.): without (takes the ablative). Vītā is the ablative singular form of vīta, vītae (1f): life. Vincimus is the first person plural form of vincō, vincere, vīcī, victum (3): to conquer; win, be victorious.

(That is, to abandon the struggle.) Harēnā is the ablative singular form of harēna, harēnae (1f—also arēna): sand; arena—typically strewn with sand (the ablative case is sometimes used without a preposition to describe separation). Cēdō, cēdere, cessī, cessum (3): to withdraw; yield; concede.

(Quoting Vulcatius.) Sīc (adv.): thus, so, in such manner. Vītā is the ablative singular form of vīta, vītae (1f): life. Vacat is the third person singular form of vacō, vacāre, vacāvī, vacātum (1): to be vacant; be without (a certain noun, given in the ablative); be at leisure. Vacat is a verb in the present tense, being used to narrate action in the past (the “historic present”); that’s why the non-literal translation uses the past tense.

(This became an entry in Erasmus, Adagia (1536).) Tōtā is the feminine ablative singular form of tōtus/tōta/tōtum (1/2, irreg.): whole, entire. Errās is the second person singular form of errō, errāre, errāvī, errātum (1): to err; wander; go astray. Viā is the ablative singular form of via, viae (1f): way, road.

(As when a weaker person alarms others by making outsized noises.) Leōnem is the accusative singular form of leō, leōnis (3m): lion. Lārvā is the ablative singular form of lārva, lārvae (1f): ghost, demon; (scary) mask. Terrēs is the second person singular form of terreō, terrēre, terruī, territum (2): to frighten.

Timuērunt is the third person plural perfect form of timeō, timēre, timuī, — (2): to be afraid. Nautae is the nominative plural form of nauta, nautae (1m): sailor.

Pīrātae is the nominative plural form of pīrāta, pīrātae (1m): pirate. Illum is the masculine accusative singular form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it. Dīmīsērunt is the third person plural perfect form of dīmittō, dīmittere, dīmīsī, dīmissum (3): to send away, dismiss, release.

Causae is the nominative plural form of causa, causae (1f): cause, reason. Variae is the feminine nominative plural form of varius/varia/varium (1/2): various. Trāduntur is the third person plural passive form of trādō, trādere, trādidī, trāditum (3): to hand over; surrender; deliver; hand down; relate.

(An expression applied to Petronius in Nero’s court (c. 65 ad), though Tacitus records it with the genitive singular: ēlegantiae.) Arbiter, arbitrī (2m): judge. Ēlegantiārum is the genitive plural form of ēlegantia, ēlegantiae (1f): elegance, taste.

(Later developed into a man for all seasons.) Omnium is the m/f/n genitive plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): every; all. Hōrārum is the genitive plural form of hōra, hōrae (1f): hour. Homō, hominis (3m): man, human being.

(Because he’s so hot.) Suspīrium, suspīriī (2n): deep breath; sigh. Puellārum is the genitive plural form of puella, puellae (1f): girl. Celadus, Celadī (2m). Thraex, Thraecis (3m): Thracian; a kind of gladiator armed like a Thracian.

(A more free interpretation of the meaning: You shall not show partiality in judgment. ) Nūllus/ nūlla /nūllum (1/2, irreg.): no, not any. Erit is the third person singular future form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be. Distantia, distantiae (1f): distance; difference. Persōnārum is the genitive plural form of persōna, persōnae (1f): mask; character (in a play); person.

Pīrātīs is the dative plural form of pīrāta, pīrātae (1m): pirate. Patent is the third person plural form of pateō, patēre, patuī, — (2): to be open, lie open; be exposed; be obvious. Maria is the nominative plural form of mare, maris (3n): sea.

(“At least” because her crimes were so odious that no punishment was enough.) Certē (adv.): certainly; at least. Bēstiīs is the dative plural form of bēstia, bēstiae (1f): beast. Obiciendam is the feminine accusative singular form of obiciendus/obicienda/obiciendum (1/2): (having/needing) to be thrown—the gerundive (see Chapter 41) of obiciō, obicere, obiēcī, obiectum (3, –iō): to throw (to). Prōnūntiāvit is the third person singular perfect form of prōnūntiō, prōnūntiāre, prōnūntiāvī, prōnūntiātum (1): to proclaim, announce, declare; pronounce.

Dīxit is the third person singular perfect form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say. Ergō (particle): therefore, then. Puellīs is the dative plural form of puella, puellae (1f): girl, maiden; (less common) female slave.

Dīvitiās is the accusative form of dīvitiae, dīvitiārum (1f, plural only): wealth, riches. Dēscrībō, dēscrībere, dēscrīpsī, dēscrīptum (3): to describe. Volō, velle, voluī, — (irreg.): to wish, want.

(In other words, a noble person doesn’t get caught up in trifles.) Aquila, aquilae (1f): eagle. Nōn: not. Capit is the third person singular form of capiō, capere, cēpī, captum (3, –iō): to take, seize, catch. Muscās is the accusative plural form of musca, muscae (1f): fly.

Multī is the masculine nominative plural form of multus/multa/multum (1/2): much, many. Amīcās is the accusative plural form of amīca, amīcae (1f): female friend; mistress. Habent is the third person plural form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have.

(He’s telling a famous friend that it’s too late for him to retire into obscurity.) Tenebrās is the accusative form of tenebrae, tenebrārum (1f, plural only): darkness. Habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have. Nōn: not. Potes is the second person singular form of possum, posse, potuī, — (irreg.): to be able, can.

(Refers to the practice of putting criminals into an arena with lions and other wild animals for the amusement of spectators.) Damnātiō, damnātiōnis (3f): condemnation. Ad (prep.): to, toward (takes the accusative). Bēstiās is the accusative plural form of bēstia, bēstiae (1f): beast.

(Refers to a case in which everyone is making fun of you.) Asinus, asinī (2m): ass, donkey; fool. Inter (prep.): between; among (takes the accusative). Sīmiās is the accusative plural form of sīmia, sīmiae (1f): ape; monkey.

Nātūra, nātūrae (1f): nature. Iūra is the nominative plural form of iūs, iūris (3n): law, right. Sacra is the neuter nominative plural form of sacer/sacra/sacrum (1/2): sacred. Sunt: (they) are. Etiam (particle): even. Apud (prep.): at, near; with, among; in front of, in the presence of; at the house of (takes the accusative). Pīrātās is the accusative plural form of pīrāta, pīrātae (1m): pirate.

Palpor, palpārī, palpātus sum (1, deponent): to caress; feel one’s way. In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Tenebrīs is the ablative form of tenebrae, tenebrārum (1f, plural only): darkness.

(He’s counseling a friend who wants to leave his job, but only after making sure he has saved enough money for a life of leisure. Seneca says that such a moment will never come; to escape a bad life, you have to be willing to leave some material comfort behind.) Nēmō, nēminis (3m): no one, nobody. Cum (prep.): with (takes the ablative). Sarcinīs is the ablative plural form of sarcina, sarcinae (1f): pack, baggage. Ēnatat is the third person singular form of ēnatō, ēnatāre, ēnatāvī, ēnatātum (1): to swim away.

Sine (prep.): without (takes the ablative). Parabolīs is the ablative plural form of parabola, parabolae (1f): parable. Nōn: not. Loquēbātur is the third person singular imperfect form of loquor, loquī, locūtus sum (3, deponent): to speak. Eīs is the m/f/n dative plural form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that.

(An expression that came to mean humor me by holding your tongues —i.e., keep silent.) Favēte is the plural imperative form of faveō, favēre, fāvī, fautum (2): to favor, indulge. Linguīs is the ablative plural form of lingua, linguae (1f): tongue; language.

(Describes someone who goes forward on the basis of probabilities derived from large principles, rather than by detailed or certain knowledge.) Stēllīs is the ablative plural form of stēlla, stēllae (1f): star. Signō, signāre, signāvī, signātum (1): to designate, point out, mark.

(i.e., to try to please both sides while really committing to neither; this was also the basis of an expression about falling down by trying to sit on two chairs at once.) Duābus is the feminine ablative form of duo/duae/duo (irreg.): two. Sedeō, sedēre, sēdī, sessum (2): to sit. Sellīs is the ablative plural form of sella, sellae (1f): seat, chair.