Lapsus
linguae. —
common expression
A slip of the tongue.
Lāpsus, lāpsūs (4m): a slipping, falling; lapse. Lingua, linguae (1f): tongue.
What will be the result?
Quis /quis/quid (interrog. pron. or—but only in the masculine—adj.): who? what? Exitus, exitūs (4m): the action of going out, departure; result. Erit is the third person singular future form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be.
The bow breaks if strung too tight.
More literally: The tensed bow is broken.
(Adapted from Plutarch.) Arcus, arcūs (4m): bow. Tēnsus /tēnsa/tēnsum (1/2) is the perfect passive participle (stretched, tensed) of tendō, tendere, tetendī, tēnsum (3): to stretch, strain; aim. Rumpitur is the third person singular passive form of rumpō, rumpere, rūpī, ruptum (3): to break, shatter.
The old woman dies, the burden departs.
(Schopenhauer, the pessimistic 19th-century German philosopher, had once pushed a woman down the stairs when he felt she was making too much noise. He was required to pay damages to her for the rest of her life, which turned out to be 26 years. He resented it. When her death certificate was sent to him, he made the notation shown here.) Obit is the third person singular form of obeō, obīre, obiī/obīvī, obitum (irreg.): to go to meet; perish, die. Anus, anūs (4f): old woman. Abit is the third person singular form of abeō, abīre, abiī, abitum (irreg.): to depart, go away. Onus, oneris (3n): burden.
To each person his own his fart smells nice.
(Erasmus recorded doubt about the accuracy of this adage, but thought it was a good metaphor for people’s indifference to their own faults.) Suus /sua/suum (1/2): his (own). Cuique is the m/f/n (here m) dative singular form of quisque/quaeque/quidque (pron.): each one. Crepitus, crepitūs (4m): creaking; fart. Bene (adv.): well. Olet is the third person singular form of oleō, olēre, oluī, — (2): to smell.
The anchor of the house.
(The person who holds it together.) Ancora, ancorae (1f): anchor. Domus, domūs (2/4f): house.
But a great part of progress is to want to progress.
Sed (conj.): but. Magnus/ magna /magnum (1/2): great, large; important. Pars, partis (3f): part. Est: is. Prōfectus, prōfectūs (4m): progress. Volō, velle, voluī, — (irreg.): to want, wish. Prōficiō, prōficere, prōfēcī, prōfectum (3, –iō): to advance, progress; benefit, help.
It is not the work of chance, but the arrangement of a great divine power.
Nōn: not. Cāsus, cāsūs (4m): fall; chance; accident; event, occurrence. Opus, operis (3n): work; need. Est: it is. Magnī is the m/n genitive singular form of magnus/magna/magnum (1/2): great, large. Sed (conj.): but. Nūmen, nūminis (3n): divine power, divinity; nod of the head. Ōrdō, ōrdinis (3m): order, arrangement; class, group of people.
They call destruction on to their house.
Ruīnam is the accusative singular form of ruīna, ruīnae (1f): fall; ruin. Domuī is the dative singular form of domus, domūs (2/4f): house. Imprecantur is the third person plural form of imprecor, imprecārī, imprecātus sum (1, deponent): to call (something bad, like a curse) upon (someone or something in the dative).
These he distributed to the army.
Hās is the feminine accusative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it (hās is in the feminine plural because it agrees with pecūniās in the previous sentence; Caesar is distributing sums of money to his army). Exercituī is the dative singular form of exercitus, exercitūs (4m): army. Distribuit is the third person singular perfect form of distribuō, distribuere, distribuī, distribūtum (3): to divide, distribute.
He especially pays attention to the cavalry.
In prīmīs (idiomatic): in the first place; especially. Equitātuī is the dative singular form of equitātus, equitātūs (4m): cavalry. Studet is the third person singular form of studeō, studēre, studuī, — (2): to be eager; be diligent; pay attention to (takes the dative).
One hand washes the other.
More literally: The hand washes the hand.
(Refers to repaying a favor—people do favors to each other just as the hands do when washing each other.) Manus, manūs (4f): hand. Manum is the accusative singular form of manus, manūs (4f): hand. Lavat is the third person singular form of lavō, lavāre/lavere, lāvī, lavātum/lautum (1/3): to wash.
Indignation produces the verse.
(In other words, anger inspires poetry.) Facit is the third person singular form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. Indignātiō, indignātiōnis (3f): indignation. Versum is the accusative singular form of versus, versūs (4m): a line (esp. of verse); verse.
He gave us a taste.
Dedit is the third person singular perfect form of dō, dare, dedī, datum (1, irreg.): to give. Nōbīs is the dative form of nōs: we. Gustum is the accusative singular form of gustus, gustūs (4m): taste.
For it demands the agreement of many men.
(He’s quoting a critic’s view of glory; Seneca’s view is the opposite—that it’s glorious to be admired by even one really good man.) Cōnsēnsum is the accusative singular form of cōnsēnsus, cōnsēnsūs (4m): consensus, agreement. Enim (particle): for; indeed. Multōrum is the m/n (here m) genitive plural form of multus/multa/multum (1/2): much, many. Exigit is the third person singular form of exigō, exigere, exēgī, exāctum (3): to demand, require.
To make by hand.
(A general expression for taking matters in hand rather than letting them just happen. Notice the relationship between manu facere and manufacture.) Manū is the ablative singular form of manus, manūs (4f): hand. Faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make.
To run aground in the harbor.
Alt. : To collide in the harbor.
(That is, to fail or be thwarted immediately in starting something.) In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Portū is the ablative singular form of portus, portūs (4m): port, harbor. Impingō, impingere, impēgī, impāctum (3): to dash (against), collide (with).
No man is good by chance.
Nēmō, nēminis (3m): no one. Est: is. Cāsū is the ablative singular form of cāsus, cāsūs (4m): fall; accident; chance; event; misfortune. Bonus /bona/bonum (1/2): good.
Without sensation they are nonexistent.
(He’s talking about torments that people try to inflict on the dead.) Sunt: they are. Nūlla is the neuter nominative plural form of nūllus/nūlla/nūllum (1/2, irreg.): no, not any, none, nonexistent. Sine (prep.): without (takes the ablative). Sēnsū is the ablative singular form of sēnsus, sēnsūs (4m): faculty of feeling or perception; feeling, disposition; sense; view.
The armies get their pay.
Exercitūs is the nominative plural form of exercitus, exercitūs (4m): army. Stīpendium is the accusative singular form of stīpendium, stīpendiī (2n): pay (esp. a soldier’s pay). Accipiunt is the third person plural form of accipiō, accipere, accēpī, acceptum (3, –iō): to receive, accept, take.
The tortures were repeated.
Repetītī sunt is the third person masculine plural perfect passive form of repetō, repetere, repetīvī/repetiī, repetītum (3): to return to; go for again; get back; demand back; repeat. Cruciātūs is the nominative plural form of cruciātus, cruciātūs (4m): torture.
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My hands stretched out the heavens.
Manūs is the nominative plural form of manus, manūs (4f): hand. Meae is the feminine nominative plural form of meus/mea/meum (1/2): my, mine. Tetendērunt is the third person plural perfect form of tendō, tendere, tetendī, tentum/tēnsum (3): to stretch out, extend; strive, exert oneself. Caelōs is the accusative plural form of caelum, caelī (2n, but m in the plural): sky, heaven.
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Receive the works of his hands.
Alt. : Receive the works of the hands of that man.
Opera is the accusative plural form of opus, operis (3n): work; need. Manuum is the genitive plural form of manus, manūs (4f): hand. Illīus is the m/f/n genitive singular form of ille/illa/illud (pron.): that; he, she, it. Suscipe is the singular imperative form of suscipiō, suscipere, suscēpī, susceptum (3, –iō): to take up; undertake; receive; acknowledge (a child).
Let us now consider assemblies for the election of magistrates.
Videamus is the first person plural subjunctive form of videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see; consider (a hortatory subjunctive). Nunc (adv.): now. Comitia is the accusative plural form of comitium, comitiī (2n): (in singular) place of assembly for legislative and judicial purposes; (in plural only) assembly for elections, election. Magistrātuum is the genitive plural form of magistrātus, magistrātūs (4m): magistracy; magistrate (government official).
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These things saith the Lord of hosts:
Haec is the neuter accusative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): he, she, it; this. Dīcit is the third person singular form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say. Dominus, dominī (2m): lord, master. Exercituum is the genitive plural form of exercitus, exercitūs (4m): army; host.
They are vulnerable to accidents.
(Nero describing the material gifts he is leaving to Seneca.) Cāsibus is the dative plural form of cāsus, cāsūs (4m): fall; accident; chance; event; misfortune. Obnoxia is the neuter nominative plural form of obnoxius/obnoxia/obnoxium (1/2): accountable, liable; exposed to, vulnerable to (takes the dative). Sunt: they are.
The house is fit for my uses.
(The verb is implied.) Vīlla, vīllae (1f): country house. Ūsibus is the dative plural form of ūsus, ūsūs (4m): use; need; practice; experience. Capāx, capācis (3, adj.): capable of holding (a certain amount etc.); capacious, spacious; capable, fit for.
What do we promise our armies?
Nōs (pron.): we. Nostrīs is the m/f/n dative plural form of noster/nostra/nostrum (1/2): our, ours. Exercitibus is the dative plural form of exercitus, exercitūs (4m): army. Quid is the neuter accusative singular form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Pollicēmur is the first person plural form of polliceor, pollicērī, pollicitus sum (2, deponent): to promise.
The heaviest anvil does not fear noises.
(A large-spirited person is not disconcerted by threats or adversity.) Incūs, incūdis (3f): anvil. Maximus/ maxima /maximum (1/2): greatest, largest; very great, very large—the superlative form of magnus/magna/magnum (1/2): great, large. Nōn: not. Metuit is the third person singular form of metuō, metuere, metuī, metūtum (3): to fear. Strepitūs is the accusative plural form of strepitus, strepitūs (4m): noise.
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But a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Malus/ mala /malum (1/2): bad; evil. Autem (particle): on the other hand, but, however; and, moreover. Arbor, arboris (3f): tree. Malōs is the masculine accusative plural form of malus/mala/malum (1/2): bad; evil. Frūctūs is the accusative plural form of frūctus, frūctūs (4m): fruit; product; profit; enjoyment. Facit is the third person singular form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make.
Either the man is mad or he’s making verses.
Aut (conj.): or (aut. . . aut: either. . . or). Īnsānit is the third person singular form of īnsāniō, īnsānīre, īnsānīvī/īnsāniī, īnsānītum (4): to be insane. Homō, hominis (3m): man, human. Aut (conj.): or. Versūs is the accusative plural form of versus, versūs (4m): line (esp. of verse or writing); verse. Facit is the third person singular form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make.
Nature brings up her own offspring and does not cast them away.
Prōdūcit is the third person singular form of prōdūcō, prōdūcere, prōdūxī, prōductum (3): to lead, bring forward; beget, produce; rear, bring up. Fētūs is the accusative plural form of fētus fētūs (4m): offspring; birth. Suōs is the masculine accusative plural form of suus/sua/suum (1/2): her (own). Nātūra, nātūrae (1f): nature. Nōn: not. Abicit is the third person singular form of abiciō, abicere, abiēcī, abiectum (3, –iō): to throw away, cast away; abandon; waste; degrade.
They had departed from the harbor.
Portibus is the ablative plural form of portus, portūs (4m): port, harbor. (Literally from the harbors, but it refers to a single harbor. Poets sometimes use the plural for the singular—the poetic plural.) Exierant is the third person plural pluperfect form of exeō, exīre, exīvī/exiī, exitum (irreg.): to go out, depart.
You fortify Macedonia with armies.
Macedoniam is the accusative singular form of Macedonia, Macedoniae (1f): Macedonia. Mūnītis is the second person plural form of mūniō, mūnīre, mūnīvī/mūniī, mūnītum (4): to fortify. Exercitibus is the ablative plural form of exercitus, exercitūs (4m): army.
I judge this from my own feelings.
Ex /ē (prep.): out of, from (takes the ablative). Meīs is the m/f/n ablative plural form of meus, mea, meum (1/2): my, mine. Hoc is the neuter accusative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Adfectibus is the ablative plural form of adfectus, adfectūs (4m—also affectus): emotion, feeling. Aestumō, aestumāre, aestumāvī, aestumātum (1—also aestimō): to estimate, rate, value, assess, judge.
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His horn shall be exalted in glory.
Cornū, cornūs (4n): horn. Eius is the m/f/n genitive singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Exaltābitur is the third person singular future passive form of exaltō, exaltāre, exaltāvī, exaltātum (1): to exalt, raise, elevate. In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Glōriā is the ablative singular form of glōria, glōriae (1f): glory.
The “horned star” has the shape of a horn.
Cerātiās, cerātiae (1m—with an unusual nominative form because it’s from Greek): a comet shaped like a horn (the name is based on the Greek word for horn). Cornū, cornūs (4n): horn. Speciem is the accusative singular form of speciēs, speciēī (5f): view; external appearance. Habet is the third person singular form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have.
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For he had driven each knee into the ground.
Utrumque is the m/n accusative singular form of uterque/utraque/utrumque (1/2, irreg.): each of two, either; often translated as both. Enim (particle): for, indeed. Genū is the accusative singular form of genū, genūs (4n): knee. In (prep.): into, onto (with accusative in this sense). Terram is the accusative singular form of terra, terrae (1f): land. Fīxerat is the third person singular pluperfect form of fīgō, fīgere, fīxī, fīxum (3): to drive in, plant; fasten.
He has hay on his horn.
(So watch out for him. The Romans had a custom of tying hay to the horns of dangerous cattle.) Foenum is the accusative singular form of foenum, foenī (2n): hay. Habet is the third person singular form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have. In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Cornū is the ablative singular form of cornū, cornūs (4n): horn.
Her horns disappear.
(Describing Io’s transformation from a cow back into a nymph.) Cornua is the nominative plural form of cornū, cornūs (4n): horn. Dēcrēscunt is the third person plural form of dēcrēscō, dēcrēscere, dēcrēvī, dēcrētum (3): to grow smaller, shrink, dwindle.
They fell at Marcellus’knees.
Ad (prep.): to; at (takes the accusative). Genua is the accusative plural form of genū, genūs (4n): knee. Mārcellus, Mārcellī (2m): Marcellus. Prōcubuērunt is the third person plural perfect form of prōcumbō, prōcumbere, prōcubuī, prōcubitum (3): to fall down.
His heart and knees tremble.
More literally: In both heart and knees he trembles.
Et (conj.): and (et. . . et = both. . . and). Corde is the ablative singular form of cor, cordis (3n): heart. Et (conj.): and. Genibus is the ablative plural form of genū, genūs (4n): knee. Tremit is the third person singular form of tremō, tremere, tremuī, — (3): to tremble, shake.