Chapter 38. The Present Active Participle

(Of those who pretend not to hear what they have.) Audiēns, audientis is the present active participle (hearing) of audiō, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear; listen to. Nōn: not. Audit is the third person singular form of of audiō, audīre, audīvī/audiī, audītum (4): to hear; listen to.

(The Appendix Vergiliana is a collection of poems that used to be attributed to Virgil but aren’t his.) Mors, mortis (3f): death. Aurem is the accusative singular form of auris, auris (3f): ear. Vellēns, vellentis is the present active participle (plucking, pulling) of vellō, vellere, vulsī, vulsum (3): to pluck, pull; pull down. Vīvite is the plural imperative form of vīvō, vīvere, vīxī, vīctum (3): to live. Ait is the third person singular form of aiō (3, defective): to say. Veniō, venīre, vēni, ventum (4): to come.

(Answer: knowing that wrongs are so widespread that there’s no point being angry about them.) Quis/quis/ quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Tollit is the third person singular form of tollō, tollere, sustulī, sublātum (3): to lift up, raise; take away, remove. Īram is the accusative singular form of īra, īrae (1f): anger. Sapiēns, sapientis is the present active participle of sapiō, sapere, sapīvī/sapuī, — (3, –iō): to have good sense; be wise—used as a noun: wise man, sage.

Somnia is the accusative plural form of somnium, somniī (2n): dream. Cēnset is the third person singular form of cēnseō, cēnsēre, cēnsuī, cēnsum (2): to express as one’s opinion; judge; recommend. Haec is the neuter accusative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Esse: to be. Dēmocritus, Dēmocritī (2m): Democritus (pre-Socratic Greek philosopher). Nōn: not. Docēns, docentis is the present active participle (teaching) of doceō, docēre, docuī, doctum (2): to teach. Sed (conj.): but. Optāns, optantis is the present active participle (wishing) of optō, optāre, optāvī, optātum (1): to wish for, desire; choose.

(Often abbreviated verb. sap. ) Verbum, verbī (2n): word. Sapientī is the m/f/n (here m) dative singular form of sapiēns, sapientis, the present active participle of sapiō, sapere, sapīvī/sapuī, — (3): to have good sense; be wise—used as a noun: wise man, sage. Sat: enough (another form of satis (indeclinable neuter noun)). Est: is.

(The maxim expresses the idea known as assumption of risk: you can’t complain about harm that you willingly risked. It’s an adaptation of a line from the Roman jurist Ulpian (c. 200): Nulla iniuria est, quae in volentem fiat. (Digest 47.10.1.5) It’s usually translated in a similar way: That is no injury which is done to a willing party. ) Volentī is the m/f/n (here m) dative singular form of volēns, volentis, the present active participle (willing) of volō, velle, voluī, — (irreg.): to want; be willing. Nōn: not. Fit is the third person singular form of fīō, fierī, —, — (irreg.): to become; be made; be done; happen. Iniūria, iniūriae (1f): injury, wrong, injustice.

Favēbit is the third person singular future form of faveō, favēre, fāvī, fautum (2): to favor, support, promote (takes a dative object). Pugnantī is the m/f/n (here m) dative singular form of pugnāns, pugnantis, the present active participle of pugnō, pugnāre, pugnāvī, pugnātum (1): to fight. Mihi the dative form of ego. Populus, populī (2m): people, public.

(An ambiguity in a document is interpreted against the party who wrote it.) Contrā (prep.): against (takes the accusative). Prōferentem is the m/f accusative singular form of prōferēns, prōferentis, the present active participle (offering) of prōferō, prōferre, prōtulī, prōlātum (3, irreg.): to bring; produce, put forward.

Exeuntem is the m/f accusative singular form of exiēns, exeuntis, the present active participle (going out, exiting) of exeō, exīre, exīvī/exiī, exitum (irreg.): to go out, exit. (Note the unusual u before the – ntis ending. The verb is irregular, and its present active participle is formed irregularly.) Fīlium is the accusative singular form of fīlius, fīliī (2m): son. Videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsum (2): to see. Meum is the m/n accusative singular form of meus/mea/meum (1/2): my, mine.

(She’s talking to someone whose words are bringing her a bit of comfort.) Guttulā is the ablative singular form of guttula, guttulae (1f): little drop. Pectus is the accusative singular form of pectus, pectoris (3n): breast, chest. Ārdēns is the neuter accusative singular form of ārdēns, ārdentis, the present active participle (burning) of ārdeō, ārdēre, ārsī, ārsum (2): to burn. Mī (contraction of mihi) the dative form of ego: I (a dative of reference; see Chapter 27). Aspersistī is the second person singular perfect form of aspergō, aspergere, aspersī, aspersum (3): to sprinkle; scatter; bespatter.

(In other words, caught red-handed.) In (prep.): (with abl.) in, on; (with acc.) into. Flagrante is the m/f/n ablative singular form of flagrāns, flagrantis, the present active participle (burning, blazing) of flagrō, flagrāre, flagrāvī, flagrātum (1): to burn, blaze. Dēlictō is the ablative singular form of dēlictum, dēlictī (2n): crime, offense.

(As when someone pretends to go along with something but hates it.) Volēns, volentis is the present active participle (willing) of volō, velle, voluī, — (irreg.): to wish, want; be willing, consent. Nōlente is the m/f/n ablative singular form of nōlēns, nōlentis, the present active participle (refusing, not wanting) of nōlō, nōlle, nōluī, — (irreg.): to not want, be unwilling, refuse. Animō is the ablative singular form of animus, animī (2m): mind, soul; will, intention.

Dīligentī is the m/f/n ablative singular form of dīligēns, dīligentis, the present active participle of dīligō, dīligere, dīlēxī, dīlēctum (3): to esteem, love—used as an adjective: careful, diligent (notice the – ī ablative singular ending, characteristic of third-declension adjectives: if the participle had not been used as an adjective, the ending would have been – e). Observātiōne is the ablative singular form of observātiō, observātiōnis (3f): observation, attention. Rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair. Indiget is the third person singular form of indigeō, indigēre, indiguī, — (2): to require, need; lack (it takes an ablative or genitive object).

Less literally: And they are not criticizing as they write these things.

Neque /nec: (as conj.) and not, nor; (as adv.) neither, not either, not even. Haec is the neuter accusative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this; he, she, it. Scrībunt is the third person plural form of scrībō, scrībere, scrīpsī, scrīptum (3): to write. Vituperantēs is the m/f (here m) nominative plural form of vituperāns, vituperantis, the present active participle (criticizing) of vituperō, vituperāre, vituperāvī, vituperātum (1): to criticize, blame, find fault.

Rōmānī is the masculine nominative plural form of Rōmānus/Rōmāna/Rōmānum (1/2): Roman. Ovantēs is the m/f nominative plural form of ovāns, ovantis, the present active participle (rejoicing) of ovō, ovāre, ovāvī, ovātum (1): to celebrate an ovation; rejoice. Atque/ ac (conj.): and. Grātulantēs is the m/f nominative plural form of grātulāns, grātulantis, the present active participle (congratulating) of grātulor, grātulārī, grātulātus sum (1, deponent): to congratulate. Horātium is the m/n (here m) accusative singular form of the family name Horātius/Horātia/Horātium (1/2). Accipiunt is the third person plural form of accipiō, accipere, accēpī, acceptum (3, –iō): to receive, accept, take.

Suādentque: suādent is the third person plural form of suādeō, suādēre, suāsī, suāsum (2): to recommend, advise; urge; persuade (the enclitic conjunction – que adds and). Cadentia is the neuter nominative plural form of cadēns, cadentis, the present active participle (falling, setting) of cadō, cadere, cecidī, cāsum (3): to fall; die; (of heavenly bodies) set. Sīdera is the nominative plural form of sīdus, sīderis (3n): heavenly body—star; planet; constellation. Somnōs is the accusative plural form of somnus, somnī (2m): sleep.

(He’s talking about goods that people lust for but that bring them no satisfaction.) Nunc (adv.): now; as it is. Haurientium is the m/f/n (here m) genitive plural form of hauriēns, haurientis, the present active participle (drinking) of hauriō, haurīre, hausī, haustum (4): to draw (a liquid); drain, drink. Sitim is the accusative singular form of sitis, sitis (3f): thirst—this is one of the few i-stem nouns that end – im instead of – em in the accusative singular. Concitant is the third person plural form of concitō, concitāre, concitāvī, concitātum (1): to rouse, agitate.

(He’s ridiculing fancy dishes made by combining exotic foods.) Nōn: not. Esset is the third person singular imperfect subjunctive form of sum, esse, fuī, futūrus (irreg.): to be (imperfect subjunctive because it’s present contrary to fact). Cōnfūsior /cōnfūsior/cōnfūsius (3): more mixed, more confused—the comparative form of cōnfūsus/cōnfūsa/cōnfūsum (1/2): mixed, confused (originally the perfect passive participle of cōnfundō, cōnfundere, cōnfūdī, cōnfūsum (3): to mix, confuse). Vomentium is the m/f/n (here m) genitive plural form of vomēns, vomentis, the present active participle (vomiting) of vomō, vomere, vomuī, vomitum (3): to vomit. Cibus, cibī (2m): food.

Nōn: not. Īrāscētur is the third person singular future form of īrāscor, īrāscī, īrātus sum (3, deponent): to become or be angry; it takes a dative object (the person at whom one is angry). Sapiēns, sapientis is the present active participle of sapiō, sapere, sapīvī/sapuī, — (3, –iō): to have good sense; be wise—used as a noun: wise man, sage. Peccantibus is the m/f/n (here m) dative plural form of peccāns, peccantis, the present active participle (sinning) of peccō, peccāre, peccāvī, peccātum (3): to sin, do wrong.

Quī /quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Parcit is the third person singular form of parcō, parcere, pepercī/parsī, parsum (3): to forbear, refrain; be lenient, spare; it takes a dative object. Nocentibus is the m/f/n (here m) dative plural form of nocēns, nocentis, the present active participle of noceō, nocēre, nocuī, nocitum (2): to be harmful, injure, harm—as an adjective: harmful; guilty; as a noun: a guilty person. Innocentēs is the m/f (here m) accusative plural form of innocēns, innocentis (3): harmless; innocent—an adjective formed from the privative prefix in – + the adjective participle nocēns (see above). Pūnit is the third person singular form of pūniō, pūnīre, pūnīvī/pūniī, pūnītum (4): to punish.

Īmus is the first person plural form of eō, īre, iī/īvī, itum (irreg.): to go, advance, proceed. Per (prep.): through; by means of; during (takes the accusative). Obstantia is the neuter accusative plural form of obstāns, obstantis, the present active participle (hindering) of obstō, obstāre, obstitī, obstātum (1): to stand in the way, obstruct, hinder.

(The unheeded warning of the Trojan priest Laocoön about the wooden horse the Greeks had left outside the gates of Troy.) Timeō, timēre, timuī, — (2): to fear, be afraid. Danaōs is the masculine accusative plural form of Danaus/Danaa/Danaum (1/2): Greek. Et (adv.): also, too; even. Dōna is the accusative plural form of dōnum, dōnī (2n): gift. Ferent ī s is the m/f accusative plural form of ferēns, ferentis, the present active participle (bearing) of ferō, ferre, tulī, lātum (3, irreg.): to bear, carry; endure.

Horror, horrōris (3m): shaking; terror, horror. Ingēns, ingentis (3, adj.): huge, great. Spectantēs is the m/f (here m) accusative plural form of spectāns, spectantis, the present active participle (watching) of spectō, spectāre, spectāvī, spectātum (1): to watch, look at. Perstringit is the third person singular form of perstringō, perstringere, perstrīnxī, perstrictum (3): to brush, graze; make contact all over, (figuratively) run through; wound (with words).

Īnstat is the third person singular form of īnstō, īnstāre, īnstitī, īnstātūrus (1): to stand on; press upon, harass, pursue (with dative). Atrōx, atrōcis (3, adj.): horrible; savage, fierce. Terga is the accusative plural form of tergum, tergī (2n): back (the poetic plural). Increpitāns, increpitantis is the present active participle (chiding) of increpitō, increpitāre, increpitāvī, increpitātum (1): to make a noise; call out; reproach, harass, chide, mock. Fugientia is the neuter accusative plural form of fugiēns, fugientis, the present active participle (fleeing) of fugiō, fugere, fūgī, fugitūrus (3, –iō): to flee, escape. Victor, victōris (3m): conqueror, vanquisher.

(As when someone conforms their conduct to that of questionable others.) Īnsāniō, īnsānīre, īnsānīvī/īnsāniī, īnsānītum (4): to be out of one’s mind, be insane, act crazily, rave. Cum (prep.): with (takes the ablative). Īnsānientibus is the m/f/n (here m) ablative plural form of īnsāniēns, īnsānientis, the present active participle of īnsāniō, īnsānīre, īnsānīvī/īnsāniī, īnsānītum (4): to be out of one’s mind, be insane, act crazily, rave.

Nēmō, nēminis (3m): no one. Tantum (adv.): only. Praesentibus is the m/f/n (here n) ablative plural form of praesēns, praesentis, the present active participle of praesum, praeesse, praefuī, praefutūrus (irreg.): to be at the head (of), be in charge (of); be present—as an adjective: present (the adjective is used substantively in the neuter plural to mean present things/circumstances, the present). Miser /misera/miserum (1/2): wretched. Est: is.

Quid is the neuter accusative form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Fraudō, fraudāre, fraudāvī, fraudātum (1): to defraud, cheat; steal; deprive of (when a verb has a meaning like deprive, the thing of which one is deprived typically goes in the ablative case). Iuvat is the third person singular form of iuvō, iuvāre, iūvī, iūtum (1): to help, benefit, avail. Vītem is the accusative singular form of vītis, vītis (3f): vine. Crēscentibus is the m/f/n ablative plural form of crēscēns, crēscentis, the present active participle (growing) of crēscō, crēscere, crēvī, crētum (3): to grow. Ūvīs is the ablative plural form of ūva, ūvae (1f): grape.