Diēs, diēī
Diēs, diēī (5m/f): day; time. The gender depends on the usage. It’s usually masculine, but often becomes feminine when referring to an appointed day—a date agreed on for a meeting, for example—and in a few other unusual situations. There’s some variation; diēs is sometimes feminine in a situation where it would usually be masculine and vice versa.
Perdiderit
nullum
vita
reversa
diem. —Martial, Epigrams 7.47.12
Translation
Life returned should not waste a day.
Details
(Addressing a man who nearly died.)
Perdiderit
is the third person singular perfect subjunctive form of perdō, perdere, perdidī, perditum (3): to destroy; waste, squander; lose (a jussive subjunctive; the perfect subjunctive is sometimes used in a way that can be translated as present). Nūllum
is the m/n accusative singular form of nūllus/nūlla/nūllum (1/2, irreg.): no, not any. Vīta, vītae (1f): life. Reversus/
reversa
/reversum (1/2) is the perfect active participle (having returned) of revertor, revertī, reversus sum (3, deponent): to return. Diem
is the accusative singular form of diēs, diēī (5m/f): day.
Eo
die
nihil
actum est. —Cicero, Against Verres 2.2.41
Translation
Nothing was decided on that day.
Details
Eō
is the m/n ablative singular form of is/ea/id (adj.): this, that. Diē
is the ablative singular form of diēs, diēī (5m/f): day. Nihil
(n, indeclinable, nom. or acc. only—here nom.): nothing. Āctum est
is the third person neuter singular perfect passive form of agō, agere, ēgī, āctum (3): to drive, put in motion; do, perform, achieve, transact, manage, conduct, deal with; settle, agree on, decide, decree; act, behave.
Zama
quinque
dierum
iter
ab
Carthagine
abest. —Livy, History of Rome 30.29.2
Translation
Zama is five days’journey away from Carthage.
Details
Zama, Zamae (1f). Quīnque
(indeclinable): five. Diērum
is the genitive plural form of diēs, diēī (5m/f): day. Iter
is the accusative singular form of iter, itineris (3n): journey; route, way (the accusative of extent of space). Ab
/ā (prep.): from (takes the ablative). Carthāgine
is the ablative singular form of Carthāgō, Carthāginis (3f): Carthage. Abest
is the third person singular form of absum, abesse, āfuī, āfutūrus (irreg.): to be away, be absent, be distant.
Dies
noctesque
bibite. —Plautus, The Ghost 22
Translation
Spend your days and nights drinking.
More literally: Drink (throughout) days and nights.
Details
Diēs
is the accusative plural form of diēs, diēī (5m/f): day. Noctēsque
is the accusative plural form of nox, noctis (3f): night (the enclitic conjunction –
que
adds
and) (diēs noctēsque
is an accusative of duration). Bibite
is the plural imperative form of bibō, bibere, bibī, bibitum (3): to drink.
Incommoda
in
dies
augebantur. —Caesar, The Civil War 1.52.2
Translation
The troubles were getting worse by the day.
More literally: The troubles were increasing with the passage of days.
Details
Incommoda
is the nominative plural form of incommodum, incommodī (2n): detriment, harm; disadvantage; inconvenience; trouble, misfortune. In
(prep.): (with abl.) in; (with acc.) into; for; against; according to; per; increasingly with the passage of (days or another unit of time). Diēs
is the accusative plural form of diēs, diēī (5m/f): day (in diēs = increasingly with the passage of days, daily). Augēbantur
is the third person plural imperfect passive form of augeō, augēre, auxī, auctum (2): to cause to grow bigger or more intense, increase, intensify (a reflexive passive).
A few ways to refer to yesterday, today, tomorrow.
Aequis
manibus
hesterno
die
diremistis
pugnam. —Livy, History of Rome 27.13.5
Translation
Yesterday you ended the battle with no advantage to either side.
Details
Aequīs
is the m/f/n ablative plural form of aequus/aequa/aequum (1/2): level, flat, even; equal; equitable, just, fair; calm, untroubled (aequīs manibus
is an idiom: with neither side having the upper hand). Manibus
is the ablative plural form of manus, manūs (4f): hand. Hesternō
is the m/n ablative singular form of hesternus/hesterna/hesternum (1/2): belonging to yesterday. Diē
is the ablative singular form of diēs, diēī (5m/f): day (hesternō diē = yesterday). Dirēmistis
is the second person plural perfect form of dirimō, dirimere, dirēmī, dirēmptum (3): to pull apart; separate; break up, dissolve; interrupt; settle (a dispute). Pugnam
is the accusative singular form of pugna, pugnae (1f): fight, battle.
Ecce
hic
dies
ultimus
est. —Seneca, Epistles 15.11
Translation
Lo, today is the last.
(Chicago:) See, this day is my last.
Details
(Or if not the very last, nearly the last—a claim that’s always true.)
Ecce
(interj.): lo! behold! see! Hic
/haec/hoc (pron. or adj.): this, this one; he, she, it. Diēs, diēī (5m/f): day. Ultimus
/ultima/ultimum (1/2): last, final; furthest. Est: is.
Hodierni
diei
res
gestas
Lupercalibus
habebis. —Cicero, Letters to Quintus 2.12.4
Translation
You’ll receive today’s events on the Lupercalia.
Details
Hodiernī
is the m/n genitive singular form of hodiernus/hodierna/hodiernum (1/2): belonging to today. Diēs, diēī
(5m/f): day. Rēs
is the accusative plural form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair; event; fact; property. Gestās
is the feminine accusative plural form of gestus/gesta/gestum (1/2), the perfect passive participle of gerō, gerere, gessī, gestum (3): to bear, carry; carry on, transact, conduct, do, achieve, accomplish (rēs gestae = deeds, exploits, achievements; events). Lupercālibus
is the ablative plural form of Lupercal, Lupercālis (3n, often pl.): the Lupercalia (or Lupercal), a festival of fertility and averting of evil, held on February 15. Habēbis
is the second person singular future form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have.
Crastino
die
scies. —Apuleius, Metamorphoses 1.24
Translation
Details
Crāstinō
is the m/n ablative singular form of crāstinus/crāstina/crāstinum (1/2): belonging to tomorrow. ; Diē
is the ablative singular form of diēs, diēī (5m/f): day. Sciēs
is the second person singular future form of sciō, scīre, scīvī/sciī, scītum (4): to know.
The ablative phrases hesternō diē, hodiernō diē and crāstinō diē used without prepositions are equivalent to the adverbs heri(yesterday, on the day before this one —also spelled here), hodiē(today, on this day) and crās(tomorrow, on the day after this one). But unlike the English words yesterday, today and tomorrow, those Latin adverbs can’t normally be used as nouns. So Apuleius could have used crās sciēs (instead of crāstinō diē sciēs) to say tomorrow you’ll know, because in that case tomorrow is an adverb. (It modifies the verb; it explains when you’ll know.) But he couldn’t have used crās to say tomorrow will be difficult, because there tomorrow isn’t modifying anything. It’s a noun. When referring to tomorrow (etc.) in that sort of way—nominally, not adverbially—Latin uses phrases like the ones we’ve noted: hesternus diēs for yesterday, hic diēs or hodiernus dies for today, and crāstinus diēs for tomorrow.
The adjectives hesternus, hodiernus and crāstinus are also sometimes used substantively on their own (without diēs) in the same senses. The substantive adjective (e. g. , hesternus simply to mean yesterday) may be masculine (if diēs is implied) but it could also be neuter (if it’s more general). We can’t tell for sure because we have no nominative examples of those uses, and the nominative is the only case where the masculine form differs from the neuter in the singular. (We don’t have any plural examples either.)
Diēs nātālis means birthday.
Mi
est
natalis
dies. —Plautus, The Captives 174
Translation
It’s my birthday.
More literally: It’s the natal day for me.
Details
Mī
is a contracted form of
mihi, the dative form of ego: I (to/for me). Est: it is. Nātālis
/nātālis/nātāle (3): relating to birth, natal. Diēs, diēī (5m/f): day.
The adjective nātālis is also used substantively (in the masculine, with diēs implied) in the same sense.
Some examples of the feminine diēs referring to an appointed day.
Non
respondet
ad
certam
diem
fecunditas. —Seneca the Elder, Controversies 2.5.1
Translation
Fertility does not answer summons on a fixed day.
Details
Nōn: not. Respondet
is the third person singular form of respondeō, respondēre, respondī, respōnsum (2): to respond, reply, answer; answer a summons; conform; correspond. Ad
(prep.): to, toward; at, near; for; according to (takes the accusative). Certam
is the feminine accusative singular form of certus/certa/certum (1/2): fixed, set, settled, predetermined, definite; sure, certain. Diem
is the accusative singular form of diēs, diēī (5m/f): day. Fēcunditās, fēcunditātis (3f): fertility, fecundity.
Neroneum
agona
ante
praestitutam
diem
revocavit. —Suetonius, Life of Nero 21.1
Translation
He brought back the Neronian games before the appointed date.
Details
Nerōnēum
is the m/n accusative singular form of Nerōnēus/Nerōnēa/Nerōnēum (1/2): Neronian. Agōna
is the accusative singular form of agōn, agōnos (3m, with some unusual forms because it’s from Greek): struggle; contest. Ante
(prep.): before (takes the accusative). Praestitūtam
is the feminine accusative singular form of praestitūtus/praestitūta/praestitūtum (1/2), the perfect passive participle of praestituō, praestituere, praestituī, praestitūtum (3): to determine, fix, appoint (in advance). Diem
is the accusative singular form of diēs, diēī (5m/f): day. Revocāvit
is the third person singular perfect form of revocō, revocāre, revocāvī, revocātum (1): to call back, recall; bring back; revive, renew, repeat; cancel; restrain.
Eo
anno
plerisque
dies
dicta
ab
aedilibus. —Livy, History of Rome 10.13.14
Translation
In that year a great many were summoned to court by the aediles.
More literally: In that year a day (for trial) was declared/appointed for a great many by the aediles.
Details
Eō
is the m/n ablative singular form of is/ea/id (adj.): this, that. Annō
is the ablative singular form of annus, annī (2m): year. Plērīsque
is the m/f/n (here m) dative plural form of plērusque/plēraque/plērumque (1/2): most; very many, a great many. Diēs, diēī (5m/f): day (diem dīcere = to appoint a day; often, like here, appoint a day for someone’s trial, serve a summons (on someone = dative)). Dictus/
dicta
/dictum (1/2) is the perfect passive participle of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say, declare (est
is implied; dicta est
is the third person feminine singular perfect passive form). Ab
/ā (prep.): from; by (takes the ablative). Aedīlibus
is the ablative plural form of aedīlis, aedīlis (3m): a magistrate in charge of public order and infrastructure (the name is derived from the noun
aedēs, aedis
(3f): temple, shrine; (in pl.) house).
Sometimes diēs is translated as time —i.e., the passage of days. It evidently tended to be feminine when used in this sense; but since we have few examples of it with an adjective, it’s hard to be certain.
Longa
procubuere
die. —Ovid, Fasti 2.58
Translation
They have sunk down under the weight of days.
More literally: They have sunk down by a long time.
Details
(Talking about old temples.)
Longā
is the feminine ablative singular form of longus/longa/longum (1/2): long. Prōcubuēre
is the third person plural perfect form of prōcumbō, prōcumbere, prōcubuī, prōcubitum (3): to bend forward; prostrate oneself; fall forward, fall down, sink down, fall over. Diē
is the ablative singular form of diēs, diēī (5m/f): day; time.
Fidēs, fideī
Fidēs, fideī (5f, singular only): trust; faith; good faith, honesty, sincerity; faithfulness; loyalty; allegiance; honor (with respect to keeping one’s promises, allegiances, etc.); promise; (promise of) protection; credit; credence, belief; evidence.
Coniugis
nulla
est
fides. —Seneca, Medea 164
Translation
Your husband is faithless.
More literally: There is no faithfulness/loyalty of (your) spouse.
Details
Coniūnx, coniugis
(3m/f—also
coniux): spouse, consort, husband or wife. Nūllus/
nūlla
/nūllum (1/2, irreg.): no, not any, none; non-existent. Est: (there) is. Fidēs, fideī (5f): trust; faith; good faith, honesty, sincerity; faithfulness; loyalty; allegiance; honor (with respect to keeping one’s promises, allegiances, etc.); promise; (promise of) protection; credit; credence, belief; evidence.
Pretio
parata
vincitur
pretio
fides. —Seneca, Agamemnon 287
Translation
Loyalty that was acquired for a price can be overcome by a price.
Details
Pretiō
is the ablative singular form of pretium, pretiī (2n): reward; price; value. Parātus/
parāta
/parātum (1/2) is the perfect passive participle of parō, parāre, parāvī, parātum (1): to make available, furnish, supply; get, obtain, acquire; buy; prepare. Vincitur
is the third person singular passive form of vincō, vincere, vīcī, victum (3): to conquer, beat, defeat, vanquish, overcome; surpass; win, be victorious. Fidēs, fideī (5f): trust; faith; good faith, honesty, sincerity; faithfulness; loyalty; allegiance; honor (with respect to keeping one’s promises, allegiances, etc.); promise; (promise of) protection; credit; credence, belief; evidence.
Parumne
me
tam
longa
defendit
fides? —Seneca, Oedipus 685
Translation
Does such long-standing loyalty not suffice to defend me?
More literally: Does so long a loyalty defend me too little?
Details
Parumne
(adv.): not enough, (too) little (the enclitic interrogative particle –
ne
turns the word into part of a question). Mē
is the accusative form of ego: I (me). Tam
(adv.): so (much), to such an degree. Longus/
longa
/longum (1/2): long; long-lasting. Dēfendit
is the third person singular form of dēfendō, dēfendere, dēfendī, dēfēnsum (3): to defend. Fidēs, fideī (5f): trust; faith; good faith, honesty, sincerity; faithfulness; loyalty; allegiance; honor (with respect to keeping one’s promises, allegiances, etc.); promise; (promise of) protection; credit; credence, belief; evidence.
Cassius
fidei
magis
quam
virtuti
legionum
confidebat. —Anonymous, The Alexandrine War 61.1
Translation
Cassius trusted the loyalty of the legions more than their bravery.
Details
Cassius
/Cassia/Cassium (1/2): a family name. Fideī
is the dative singular form of fidēs, fideī (5f): trust; faith; good faith, honesty, sincerity; faithfulness; loyalty; allegiance; honor (with respect to keeping one’s promises, allegiances, etc.); promise; (promise of) protection; credit; credence, belief; evidence. Magis
(adv.): more. Quam
(rel. adv.): than; as. Virtūtī
is the dative singular form of virtūs, virtūtis (3f): virtue, good quality; bravery, valor, courage. Legiōnum
is the genitive plural form of legiō, legiōnis (3f): legion. Cōnfīdēbat
is the third person singular imperfect form of cōnfīdō, cōnfīdere, cōnfīsus sum (3, semi-deponent): to be confident; trust, rely on (takes a dative or ablative object).
Quid
meam
fidem
imploras? —Cicero, In Defense of Plancius 101
Translation
Why do you implore my honor?
Details
Quid
(interrog. adv.): what for? why? Meam
is the feminine accusative singular form of meus/mea/meum (1/2): my, mine. Fidem
is the accusative singular form of fidēs, fideī (5f): trust; faith; good faith, honesty, sincerity; faithfulness; loyalty; allegiance; honor (with respect to keeping one’s promises, allegiances, etc.); promise; (promise of) protection; credit; credence, belief; evidence. Implōrās
is the second person singular form of implōrō, implōrāre, implōrāvī, implōrātum (1): to entreat, beg (for); call on for help, appeal to, invoke, implore (fidem implōrāre
and similar expressions—i.e., with other verbs of begging, imploring, etc. , or the ideas of such verbs implied—are fairly common to ways to say
imploring (or begging for) X’s protection or assistance, but they’re hard to translate literally because there’s no exact English equivalent for the word
fidēs; those expressions generally mean appealing to a person’s sense of loyalty, honor, duty, what is right, or to the trust that’s supposed to exist between the imploring and the implored).
Dic
bona
fide: —Plautus, The Pot of Gold 772
Translation
Tell me in good faith:
Alt. : Tell me honestly:
Details
Dīc
is the singular imperative form of dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum (3): to say, tell. Bonā
is the feminine ablative singular form of bonus/bona/bonum (1/2): good. Fidē
is the ablative singular form of fidēs, fideī (5f): trust; faith; good faith, honesty, sincerity; faithfulness; loyalty.
Fidem
da. —Plautus, The Casket 236
Translation
Details
Fidem
is the accusative singular form of fidēs, fideī (5f): trust; faith; good faith, honesty, sincerity; faithfulness; loyalty; allegiance; honor (with respect to keeping one’s promises, allegiances, etc.); promise; (promise of) protection; credit; credence, belief; evidence. Dā
is the singular imperative form of dō, dare, dedī, datum (1, irreg.): to give.
Eos
in
fidem
recipit. —Caesar, The Gallic War 4.22.3
Translation
He received them into his protection.
Details
(In exchange for their allegiance, as is usually the case with the expression
in fidem recipere.)
Eōs
is
the masculine accusative plural form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that (these, those, them). In
(prep.): (with abl.) in; (with acc.) into. Fidem
is the accusative singular form of fidēs, fideī (5f): trust; faith; good faith, honesty, sincerity; faithfulness; loyalty; allegiance; honor (with respect to keeping one’s promises, allegiances, etc.); promise; (promise of) protection; credit; credence, belief; evidence. Recipit
is the third person singular form of recipiō, recipere, recēpī, receptum (3, –iō): to get back, recover; receive, take in; accept, admit, allow (it’s in the historical present).
Numquam
fides
latendi
fit
etiam
latentibus. —Seneca, Epistles 97.16
Translation
They never trust that they are undetected even when they are.
More literally: Trust of being hidden never happens even for the being-hidden.
Details
(Talking about wrongdoers.)
Numquam
(adv.): never. Fidēs, fideī (5f): trust; faith; good faith, honesty, sincerity; faithfulness; loyalty; allegiance; honor (with respect to keeping one’s promises, allegiances, etc.); promise; (promise of) protection; credit; credence, belief; evidence. Latendī
is the genitive gerund of lateō, latēre, latuī, — (2): to be hidden, hide. Fit
is the third person singular form of fīō, fierī, —, — (irreg.): to be done; be made; happen, occur; come into being; become. Etiam
(particle): still; even; also. Latentibus
is the m/f/n (here m) dative plural form of latēns, latentis (3), the present active participle of lateō, latēre, latuī, — (2): to be hidden, hide.
Res
fidem
excedit. —Seneca, Epistles 97.3
Translation
The matter beggars belief.
More literally: The matter goes beyond belief.
Details
Rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair; event; fact; property. Fidem
is the accusative singular form of fidēs, fideī (5f): trust; faith; good faith, honesty, sincerity; faithfulness; loyalty; allegiance; honor (with respect to keeping one’s promises, allegiances, etc.); promise; (promise of) protection; credit; credence, belief; evidence. Excēdit
is the third person singular form of excēdō, excēdere, excessī, excessum (3): to go away, depart, withdraw; go beyond; exceed.
Fides
ei
habita
non
est. —Hyginus, Fabulae 108.2
Translation
She was not believed.
More literally: Belief was not had to her.
Details
Fidēs, fideī (5f): trust; faith; good faith, honesty, sincerity; faithfulness; loyalty; allegiance; honor (with respect to keeping one’s promises, allegiances, etc.); promise; (promise of) protection; credit; credence, belief; evidence. Eī
is the m/f/n dative singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this, that. Habita
(est) is the third person feminine singular perfect passive form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have. Nōn: not. Est: see
habita. #(see
habita)%
Fidemque
res
habuit. —Ovid, Metamorphoses 9.706-7
Translation
The lie was believed.
More literally: And the thing had belief.
Details
Fidemque
is the accusative singular form of fidēs, fideī (5f): trust; faith; good faith, honesty, sincerity; faithfulness; loyalty; allegiance; honor (with respect to keeping one’s promises, allegiances, etc.); promise; (promise of) protection; credit; credence, belief; evidence (the enclitic conjunction –
que
adds
and). Rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair; event; fact; property. Habuit
is the third person singular form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have.
Lacrimae
fecere
fidem. —Ovid, Metamorphoses 6.566
Translation
His tears lent credence to his story.
More literally: Tears made credence.
Details
Lacrimae
is the nominative plural form of lacrima, lacrimae (1f): tear. Fēcēre
is the third person plural perfect form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. Fidem
is the accusative singular form of fidēs, fideī (5f): trust; faith; good faith, honesty, sincerity; faithfulness; loyalty; allegiance; honor (with respect to keeping one’s promises, allegiances, etc.); promise; (promise of) protection; credit; credence, belief; evidence.
Volt
sceleris
superesse
fidem. —Lucan, The Civil War 8.688
Translation
He wanted there to be lasting evidence of the crime.
More literally: He wants evidence of the crime to remain.
Details
Volt
(also spelled
vult) is the third person singular form of volō, velle, voluī, — (irreg.): to want, wish (a use of the historical present). Scelus, sceleris
(3n): crime. Supersum, superesse, superfuī, superfutūrus (irreg.): to remain, be left over. Fidem
is the accusative singular form of fidēs, fideī (5f): trust; faith; good faith, honesty, sincerity; faithfulness; loyalty; allegiance; honor (with respect to keeping one’s promises, allegiances, etc.); promise; (promise of) protection; credit; credence, belief; evidence.
Fides
tua
te
salvam
fecit. —Luke 7:50
Translation
Thy faith hath made thee safe.
Details
Fidēs, fideī (5f): trust; faith; good faith, honesty, sincerity; faithfulness; loyalty; allegiance; honor (with respect to keeping one’s promises, allegiances, etc.); promise; (promise of) protection; credit; credence, belief; evidence. Tuus/
tua
/tuum (1/2): your, yours (in archaic English thy, thine). Tē
is the accusative form of tū: you (in archaic English thou, thee). Salvam
is the feminine accusative singular form of salvus/salva/salvum (1/2): safe; saved; well, in good health. Fēcit
is the third person singular perfect form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make.
Rēs, reī
Rēs, reī (5f): thing, with many other, more specific translations also possible depending on context, for example: matter, affair, business; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; fact; property, possession; interest (what concerns a person and their well-being). Rēs is a very general word, at least as versatile as the English word thing. But although there’s considerable overlap, rēs and thing aren’t always used in the exact same way, as we will see in some illustrations below.
Non
est
delicata
res
vivere. —Seneca, Epistles 107.2
Translation
Life is not a dainty business.
More literally: To live is not. . .
Details
Nōn: not. Est: is. Dēlicātus/
dēlicāta
/dēlicātum (1/2): delicate, soft; dainty; luxurious, voluptuous; squeamish; effeminate; addicted to pleasure or excessively concerned about one’s comfort. Rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Vīvō, vīvere, vīxī, vīctum (3): to live.
Huius
rei
conscius
mihi
sum. —Seneca, Epistles 71.36
Translation
(Chicago:) This I recognize in myself.
More literally: I am conscious of this thing for myself.
Details
Huius
is the m/f/n genitive singular form of hic/haec/hoc (adj.): this. Rēs, reī
(5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Cōnscius
/cōnscia/cōnscium (1/2): sharing knowledge, privy; complicit; conscious, aware (often idiomatically combined with a reflexive pronoun/personal pronoun used reflexively). Mihi
is the dative form of ego: I (to/for me; used reflexively: to/for myself). Sum: I am.
Omnes
huic
rei
tollimur. —Seneca, Consolation to Polybius 11.3
Translation
It is for this thing that we are all reared.
Details
(Death.)
Omnēs
is the m/f nominative plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): all; every. Huic
is the dative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (adj.): this. Reī
is the dative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Tollimur
is the first person plural passive form of tollō, tollere, sustulī, sublātum (3): to pick up, lift, raise; pick up a child to acknowledge and raise it; rear; take away, remove, do away with.
Magnam
rem! —Seneca, On Anger 3.19.2
Translation
A great matter, truly!
(Chicago:) Big deal!
Details
(He’s being ironic.)
Magnam
is the feminine accusative singular form of magnus/magna/magnum (1/2): big, large, great; important. Rem
is the accusative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. (This phrase is an example of the
exclamatory accusative.)
Non
possum
in
hac
re
esse
neglegens. —Seneca, On the Happy Life 24.1
Translation
(Chicago:) I cannot be negligent in this matter.
Details
Nōn: not. Possum, posse, potuī, — (irreg.): to be able, can. In
(prep.): (with abl.) in; (with acc.) into. Hāc
is the feminine ablative singular form of hic/haec/hoc (adj.): this. Rē
is the ablative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Esse: (to) be. Neglegēns, neglegentis (3, adj.): negligent—originally the present active participle (neglecting) of neglegō, neglegere, neglēxī, neglēctum (3): to neglect.
Initium
rerum
est. —Seneca, Epistles 58.12
Translation
(Chicago:) It is the beginning of things.
Details
(He’s talking about “that which is,” the genus that includes all else and has nothing above it.)
Initium, initiī (2n): beginning, starting point; first principle. Rērum
is the genitive plural form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Est: it is.
Ea
res
omnium
iudicio
reprehendebatur. —Caesar, The Civil War 1.14.5
Translation
Everyone disapproved of that action.
More literally: That action was reprehended by the judgment of all.
Details
Is/
ea
/id (adj.): this, that. Rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Omnium
is the m/f/n (here m) genitive plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): all; every: (m. pl. used substantively) all (people), everyone. Iūdiciō
is the ablative singular form of iūdicium, iūdiciī (2n): trial; judgment, opinion. Reprehendēbātur
is the third person singular imperfect passive form of reprehendō, reprehendere, reprehendī, reprehēnsum (3—also
reprēndō): to seize and hold back; find fault with, censure, criticize, reprehend.
Praetermissa
eius
rei
occasio
est. —Livy, History of Rome 33.18.20
Translation
They let the occasion slip.
More literally: The occasion of (i.e., for) that thing was missed.
Details
Praetermissa
(. . . est) is the third person feminine singular perfect passive form of praetermittō, praetermittere, praetermīsī, praetermissum (3): to omit, pass over, neglect, disregard, miss, let slip. Eius
is the m/f/n genitive singular form of is/ea/id (adj.): this, that. Rēs, reī
(5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Occāsiō, occāsiōnis (3f): opportunity, occasion. Est: see
praetermissa.
Consilia
enim
rebus
aptantur. —Seneca, Epistles 71.1
Translation
For advice must be adapted to circumstances.
More literally: For counsels are adapted to circumstances.
Details
Cōnsilia
is the nominative plural form of cōnsilium, cōnsiliī (2n): counsel, deliberation, consultation; counsel, advice (or piece of advice); plan, intention, purpose; discernment. Enim
(particle): for, indeed. Rēbus
is the dative plural form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Aptantur
is the third person plural form of aptō, aptāre, aptāvī, aptātum (1): to fix, fasten; apply; prepare; adapt.
Durate, et
vosmet
rebus
servate
secundis. —Virgil, Aeneid 1.207
Translation
Endure, and preserve yourselves for favorable circumstances.
Details
Dūrātē
is the plural imperative form of dūrō, dūrāre, dūrāvī, dūrātum (1): to harden; endure. Et
(conj.): and. Vōsmet
is the accusative form of vōs: you (pl.), yourselves (the enclitic particle –
met
adds emphasis to a pronoun). Rēbus
is the dative plural form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Servāte
is the plural imperative form of servō, servāre, servāvī, servātum (1): to observe; keep; save, preserve. Secundīs
is the m/f/n dative plural form of secundus/secunda/secundum (1/2): moving along with one, moving in the same direction, (esp. of winds) blowing in the same direction (and thus favorable); (in all kinds of other contexts) favorable, propitious; proceeding favorably, successful; second.
Sometimes rēs means fact, reality, or action as opposed to mere appearances or words.
Non
re
ductus es
sed
opinione. —Cicero, In Defense of Murena 62
Translation
You were not led by fact but by opinion.
Details
Nōn: not. Rē
is the ablative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Ductus es
is the second person masculine singular perfect passive form of dūcō, dūcere, dūxī, ductum (3): to lead. Sed
(conj.): but. Opīniōne
is the ablative singular form of opīniō, opīniōnis (3f): opinion, belief; expectation; people’s opinion about someone or something, reputation.
Non
in
verbis
sed
in
rebus
est. —Seneca, Epistles 16.3
Translation
It is a matter not of words but of facts.
(Chicago:) It consists not in words but in actions.
Details
(He’s talking about philosophy.)
Nōn: not. In
(prep.): (with abl.) in; (with acc.) into. Verbīs
is the ablative plural form of verbum, verbī (2n): word. Sed
(conj.): but. Rēbus
is the ablative plural form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Est: it is.
Thus the ablative singular form rē can mean in fact, in reality (as opposed to in appearance etc.). Rēx est nōn rē sed nōmine = He is king not in fact but in name (only). The phrases rē vērā and rē ipsā are also used in a similar way. See the entry on the adjective vērus for an illustration of the former.
Now let’s see a couple of examples where rēs means property, wealth, possession.
Rem
perdidi
apud
vos. —Plautus, Truculentus 139
Translation
I’ve lost (my) wealth among you.
Details
Rem
is the accusative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Perdō, perdere, perdidī, perditum (3): to destroy; waste, squander; lose. Apud
(prep.): with, among; at, by, near; at the house of; in the writings of; in the eyes of (takes the accusative). Vōs
is the accusative form of vōs: you (pl.).
Me
res
familiaris
movet. —Cicero, Letters to Atticus 16.15.5
Translation
I am worried about my personal finances.
More literally: The household property/personal wealth worries me.
Details
Mē
is the accusative form of ego: I (me). Rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Familiāris/
familiāris
/familiāre (3): belonging to one’s household; private, personal; intimate; familiar. Movet
is the third person singular form of moveō, movēre, mōvī, mōtum (2): to move; trouble, disturb, concern, worry.
And a couple where plural forms mean pieces of property, possessions, one’s “things”:
Innoxiae
multitudini
redditae
res. —Livy, History of Rome 6.10.5
Translation
The innocent multitude were given back their property.
More literally: To the innocent multitude, the things were given back.
Details
Innoxiae
is the feminine dative singular form of innoxius/innoxia/innoxium (1/2): innocent; harmless; unharmed. Multitūdinī
is the dative singular form of multitūdō, multitūdinis (3f): multitude. Redditae
is the feminine nominative plural form of redditus/reddita/redditum (1/2), the perfect passive participle of reddō, reddere, reddidī, redditum (3): to give back, return (sunt
is implied: redditae sunt
is the third person feminine plural perfect passive form). Rēs
is the nominative plural form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest.
Res
tuas
ocius
tolle. —Petronius, Satyricon 79.11
Translation
Pick up your things quickly.
Details
Rēs
is the accusative plural form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Tuās
is the feminine accusative plural form of tuus/tua/tuum (1/2): your, yours. Ocius
(adv.): more quickly; sooner; quickly, promptly. Tolle
is the singular imperative form of tollō, tollere, sustulī, sublātum (3): to pick up, lift, raise; take away, remove, do away with.
Also note the phrase rēs tuās tibi habē/habētō (and variants), meaning have your things to yourself: a formula for declaring divorce.
Now an example where rēs can be translated as interest (or advantage, one’s good, etc.):
In
rem
hoc
tuam
est. —Plautus, The Pot of Gold 154
Translation
This is in your interest.
Details
In
(prep.): (with abl.) in; (with acc.) into; for; in accordance with (in
+ accusative can sometimes still be translated idiomatically as
in, but some sort of motion—literal or figurative—is always implied). Rem
is the accusative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Hic/haec/
hoc
(pron.): this, this one; he, she, it. Tuam
is the feminine accusative singular form of tuus/tua/tuum (1/2): your, yours. Est: is.
For rēs pūblica meaning the common interest, commonwealth, state affairs, the state or the republic, see pūblicus/pūblica/pūblicum. For ex/ē rē meaning in one’s interest (and ex/ē rē pūblicā meaning in the interest of the state or in the public interest) see ex/ē.
Rēs together with an adjective or a genitive noun can also mean, more broadly, that which concerns someone or something, with various translations possible depending on context.
Plane
nesciebam
te
tam
peritum
esse
rei
militaris. —Cicero, Letters to Friends 9.25.1
Translation
I had no idea that you were so versed in military matters.
More literally: I absolutely did not know you to be so practiced of (i.e., in) the military thing.
Details
Plānē
(adv.): plainly, clearly, distinctly; absolutely, utterly. Nesciēbam
is the first person singular imperfect form of nesciō, nescīre, nescīvī/nesciī, nescītum (4): not to know. Tē
is the accusative form of tū: you. Tam
(adv.): so (much), to such a degree. Perītum
is the m/n accusative singular form of perītus/perīta/perītum (1/2): experienced, practiced, expert (often with genitive of the field of expertise). Esse: to be. Rēs, reī
(5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Mīlitāris
is the m/f/n genitive singular form of mīlitāris/mīlitāris/mīlitāre (3): military.
Angusta
re
frumentaria
utebatur. —Caesar, The Civil War 3.43.3
Translation
He was experiencing a shortage of grain.
Alt. : He had short supply of grain.
More literally: He was experiencing a scarce grain-related thing/possession.
Details
Angustā
is the feminine ablative singular form of angustus/angusta/angustum (1/2): narrow; scarce; restricted. Rē
is the ablative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Frūmentāriā
is the feminine ablative singular form of frūmentārius/frūmentāria/frūmentārium (1/2): relating to grain. Ūtēbātur
is the third person singular imperfect form of ūtor, ūtī, ūsus sum (3, deponent): to use; treat; experience; sometimes loosely
have.
Ad rem pertinēre (sometimes also ad rem esse) is a common expression meaning to matter or be relevant.
Nihil
enim
ad
rem
pertinent
anni. —Seneca, Consolation to Marcia 17.7
Translation
Age is irrelevant.
More literally: Years indeed pertain nothing to the matter.
Details
Nihil
(n, indeclinable, nom. or acc. only—here acc.): nothing; acc. used adverbially: in no respect, to no extent, in no way, not at all. Enim
(particle): for, indeed. Ad
(prep.): to (takes the accusative). Rem
is the accusative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Pertinent
is the third person plural form of pertineō, pertinēre, pertinuī, — (2): to extend (to a certain point in space); pertain, apply, refer, belong, be relevant (to), matter (to), aim (at). Annī
is the nominative plural form of annus, annī (2m): year.
Quid
ad
rem
pertinet
quos
illa
mores
habeat? —Seneca, Epistles 104.8
Translation
What does it matter what habits it has?
More literally: What does it pertain to the matter. . .
Details
(Referring to a city—cīvitās, cīvitātis (3f). He’s saying that a city’s habits or morals makes don’t matter to the traveler who brings along his own.)
Quid
is the neuter accusative singular form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? neut. acc. sg. used adverbially: in what respect? to what extent? how? what for? why? Ad
(prep.): to (takes the accusative). Rem
is the accusative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Pertinet
is the third person singular form of pertineō, pertinēre, pertinuī, — (2): to extend (to a certain point in space); pertain, apply, refer, belong, be relevant (to), matter (to), aim (at). Quōs
is the masculine accusative plural form of quī/quae/quod (interrog. adj.): which. . . ? what. . . ? Ille/
illa
/illud (pron.): that, that one; he, she, it. Mōrēs
is the accusative plural form of mōs, mōris (3m): custom, habit, (habitual) manner; (in the plural) manners, ways, (habitual) behavior, morals, character. Habeat
is the third person singular subjunctive form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question).
The verb pertinēre (or esse) is sometimes left implied.
Nihil
ad
rem! —Cicero, On the Ends of Good and Evil 4.73
Translation
That’s irrelevant!
More literally: Nothing to the matter!
Details
Nihil
(n, indeclinable, nom. or acc. only): nothing; acc. used adverbially: in no respect, to no extent, in no way, not at all. Ad
(prep.): to (takes the accusative). Rem
is the accusative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. (Nihil
could be accusative or nominative depending on which verb is implied. The verb could be
pertinet
—
pertains, is relevant to
—or
est. Nihil ad rem est
is less common than
nihil ad rem pertinet.)
Quid
ad
rem? —Seneca, On Benefits 2.28.2
Translation
And so what?
More literally: What (does it pertain) to the matter?
Details
Quid
is the neuter accusative singular form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? neut. acc. sg. used adverbially: in what respect? to what extent? how? what for? why? Ad
(prep.): to (takes the accusative). Rem
is the accusative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. (The verb
pertinet
—
pertains, is relevant to
—is most likely implied.)
The phrases quam ob rem and quā rē (also written as one word, quamobrem and quārē) can both mean why or because of which (thing), wherefore, therefore, so.
Quam
ob
rem
id
tute
non
facis? —Terence, The Woman of Andros 727
Translation
Why don’t you do it yourself?
More literally: Because of what thing don’t you do it yourself?
Details
Quam
is the feminine accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (interrog. adj.): which. . . ? what. . . ? Ob
(prep.): towards; against, in front of, in the way of (so as to block); because of, for (a reason) (takes the accusative). Rem
is the accusative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Id
is the neuter accusative singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this (one), that (one). Tūte: you yourself (a strengthened
tū). Nōn: not. Facis
is the second person singular form of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make.
Quam
ob
rem
multa
praetermittam. —Cicero, Against Verres 2.4.105
Translation
Therefore I will pass over many things.
More literally: Because of which thing, I will pass over many things.
Details
Quam
is the feminine accusative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. adj.): which, what. Ob
(prep.): towards; against, in front of, in the way of (so as to block); because of, for (a reason) (takes the accusative). Rem
is the accusative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Multa
is the neuter accusative plural form of multus/multa/multum (1/2): much, many. Praetermittam
is the first person singular future form of praetermittō, praetermittere, praetermīsī, praetermissum (3): to omit, pass over, neglect, disregard, miss, let slip.
Quaere
qua
re
sit absolutus! —Cicero, In Defense of Quintus Roscius the Comedian 26
Translation
Ask why he was acquitted!
More literally: Ask because of what thing he was acquitted!
Details
Quaere
is the singular imperative form of quaerō, quaerere, quaesīvī/quaesiī, quaesītum (3): to seek; ask, seek to know. Quā
is the feminine ablative singular form of quī/quae/quod (interrog. adj.): which. . . ? what. . . ? Rē
is the ablative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Sit absolūtus
is the third person masculine singular perfect passive subjunctive form of absolvō, absolvere, absolvī, absolūtum (3): to release; acquit (subjunctive because it’s in an indirect question).
Qua
re
perge
ut
coepisti. —Cicero, Letters to Friends 7.18.1
Translation
Therefore continue as you have started.
More literally: Because of which thing, continue as you have started.
Details
Quā
is the feminine ablative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. adj.): which, what. Rē
is the ablative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Perge
is the singular imperative form of pergō, pergere, perrēxī, perrēctum (3): to go on, proceed, continue. Ut
(rel. adv.): as. Coepistī
is the second person singular perfect form of coepī, coepisse, coeptum (defective; usually occurs only in the perfect, pluperfect and future perfect tenses; the principal parts given here show the perfect forms): to begin.
Quid
ergo
adfers
qua
re
id
factum
putemus? —Cicero, In Defense of Sextus Roscius Amerinus 54
Translation
What, then, can you bring forward to cause us to believe that this occurred?
More literally: What, then, do you bring because of which thing we should think it having been done?
Details
Quid
is the neuter accusative singular form of quis/quis/quid (interrog. pron.): who? what? Ergō
(particle): therefore, so, then. Adfers
is the second person singular form of adferō, adferre, adtulī, adlātum (3, irreg. —also
afferō): to bring. Quā
is the feminine ablative singular form of quī/quae/quod (rel. adj.): which, what. Rē
is the ablative singular form of rēs, reī (5f): thing; matter, affair, business; fact; event; situation, circumstance; deed, act, action; property, wealth, possession; interest. Id
is the neuter accusative singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this (one), that (one). Factum
is the m/n accusative singular form of factus/facta/factum (1/2), the perfect passive participle of faciō, facere, fēcī, factum (3, –iō): to do; make. Putēmus
is the first person plural subjunctive form of putō, putāre, putāvī, putātum (1): to think, believe, suppose (subjunctive because it’s in a relative clause of characteristic).
Note: Neuter words meaning something, anything, nothing, this, that, what, etc. (e. g. , aliquid, quicquam, nihil, hoc, illud, quid. . .) all occur mostly (and, in the case of nihil, exclusively) in the nominative and accusative cases. Those meanings in the other cases are usually expressed with forms of rēs accompanied by an adjective. The neuter genitive, dative and ablative forms of aliquid etc. are identical to the corresponding masculine forms (except nihil, which has no masculine and lacks those forms altogether), and they’re more usually used in their masculine capacity. So for example alicuius can be either masculine (meaning of someone) or neuter (meaning of something)—but it will more usually mean of someone). Another example: of this will be huius reī more often than just huius; for huius on its own will usually be masculine and mean of this man or of him or his. And without anything will be sine ūllā rē more often than sine quōquam (which will usually be masculine and mean without anyone). To what will be cui reī more often than just cui (which will usually be masculine and mean to whom). And so on.
Similarly, while neuter adjectives are often used substantively to mean things of the type stated by the adjective (e. g. , pulchra = beautiful things), this too happens less often in the genitive, dative and ablative than in the nominative and accusative. E. g. , pulchrōrum can be masculine or neuter, but when used substantively it’s more likely to be masculine (meaning of beautiful men/boys/people) than neuter (meaning of beautiful things). Here, too, the genitive, dative and ablative meanings more often tend to be expressed with forms of rēs + the adjective (e. g. , rērum pulchrārum).
But the two paragraphs above are stating a tendency rather than a rule. You’ll sometimes see words like alicuius meaning of something rather than of someone, and neuter substantive adjectives in the genitive, dative and ablative referring to things rather than people. The exceptions are more common with some words than with others (for example, you’re more likely to see a neuter substantive adjective meaning things in the genitive, dative or ablative if the substantive use is so established that dictionaries classify it as a noun, such as bonum or malum). But ultimately it’s a matter of detail and context.
Confusion warning. The genitive/dative singular form of rēs has lookalikes in the genitive singular and nominative plural forms of reus, reī (2m): defendant, accused.
Favorabiliores
rei
potius
quam
actores
habentur. —Justinian, Digest 50.17.125. pr
Translation
It is held that favor should incline to the defendants rather than to the plaintiffs.
More literally: Defendants are held as more entitled to favor rather than plaintiffs.
Details
Favōrābiliōrēs
is the m/f nominative plural form of favōrābilior/favōrābilior/favōrābilius (3): regarded with more favor; more likely to win favor; entitled to more favorable treatment—the comparative form of favōrābilis/favōrābilis/favōrābile (3): regarded with favor; likely to win favor; entitled to favorable treatment. Reī
is the nominative plural form of reus, reī (2m): defendant, accused. Potius
(adv.): rather. Quam
(rel. adv.): than; as. Actōrēs
is the nominative plural form of āctor, āctōris (3m): drover; doer, performer, agent; pleader, advocate; prosecutor; plaintiff; actor. Habentur
is the third person plural passive form of habeō, habēre, habuī, habitum (2): to have; hold, regard as; treat.
Speciēs, speciēī
Speciēs, speciēī (5f): sight (something that is seen), spectacle; appearance, look; guise; show, display; veneer; pretext; vision, apparition; mental picture; form, sort, species, subdivision of a class. The genitive/dative singular form (speciēī) isn’t in regular use. The genitive and dative/ablative plural forms (speciērum and speciēbus) are rare and disapproved of by Cicero at Topics 30.
Speciēs essentially denotes that which is seen. That idea can be divided into two broad meanings: 1) a sight or spectacle; 2) the way a thing or person looks, appearance, look (or looks, but it would be singular in Latin). Several other translations can be applied in specific contexts. Sometimes the point is that an appearance is false, superficial, or aimed at ostentation; possible translations then include guise; veneer; pretext; show, display. Sometimes too speciēs can refer to a sight of something supernatural (e. g. , a ghost), or to something seen in a dream, in which case it might be ranslated as apparition or vision. Or it can refer to something seen in one’s mind, a mental picture.
Ad
eam
speciem
exiluit
gaudio
caelumque
adoravit. —Suetonius, Life of Nero 41.2
Translation
At that sight he jumped for joy and worshipped heaven.
Details
Ad
(prep.): to, toward; at (takes the accusative). Eam
is the feminine accusative singular form of is/ea/id (adj.): this, that. Speciem
is the accusative singular form of speciēs, speciēī (5f): sight, spectacle; appearance, look; guise; show, display; veneer; pretext; vision, apparition; mental picture; form, sort, species, subdivision of a class. Exiluit
is the third person singular perfect form of exiliō, exilīre, exiluī, — (4—also
exiliō): to leap, jump (out/up). Gaudiō
is the ablative singular form of gaudium, gaudiī (2n): joy. Caelum
is the accusative singular form of caelum, caelī (2n): sky, heaven (the enclitic conjunction –
que
adds
and). Adōrāvit
is the third person singular perfect form of adōrō, adōrāre, adōrāvī, adōrātum (1): to plead with; entreat; pray to; worship.
Specie
enim
vincuntur
qui
patientiae
restitissent. —Seneca, Epistles 14.6
Translation
Indeed, some people are overcome by the sight when they would have withstood the suffering.
More literally: For they are overcome by the sight who would have withstood the suffering.
Details
(The sight of torture instruments.)
Speciē
is the ablative singular form of speciēs, speciēī (5f): sight, spectacle; appearance, look; guise; show, display; veneer; pretext; vision, apparition; mental picture; form, sort, species, subdivision of a class. Enim
(particle): for, indeed. Vincuntur
is the third person plural passive form of vincō, vincere, vīcī, victum (3): to conquer, beat, defeat, overcome; win, be victorious. Quī
is the masculine nominative plural form of quī/quae/quod (rel. pron.): who, which, that, what. Patientiae
is the dative singular form of patientia, patientiae (1f): the fact of suffering or undergoing; endurance; patience. Restitissent
is the third person plural pluperfect subjunctive form of resistō, resistere, restitī, — (3): to halt, stop; make a stand; resist, withstand (takes a dative object) (pluperfect subjunctive because it’s past contrary to fact).
Oris
non
est
nimium
mutanda
species. —Cicero, On the Orator 3.222
Translation
The look of the face should not vary too much.
More literally: The look of the face is not to be changed too much.
Details
(While giving a speech.) Ōs, ōris
(3n): mouth; face. Nōn: not. Est: is. Nimium
(adv.): too much, excessively. Mūtandus/
mūtanda
/mūtandum (1/2) is the gerundive of mūtō, mūtāre, mūtāvī, mūtātum (1): to change, transform, alter, modify (est mūtanda
is the passive periphrastic: must (not) be changed). Speciēs, speciēī (5f): sight, spectacle; appearance, look; guise; show, display; veneer; pretext; vision, apparition; mental picture; form, sort, species, subdivision of a class.
Meam
laudat
speciem. —Plautus, The Braggart Soldier 1000
Translation
Details
Meam
is the feminine accusative singular form of meus/mea/meum (1/2): my, mine. Laudat
is the third person singular form of laudō, laudāre, laudāvī, laudātum (1): to praise. Speciem
is the accusative singular form of speciēs, speciēī (5f): sight, spectacle; appearance, look; guise; show.
Nihil
autem
aliud
est
insolentia
quam
species
magnitudinis
falsa. —Seneca, Epistles 87.32
Translation
And arrogance is nothing else than a false show of greatness.
Details
Nihil
(n, indeclinable, nom. or acc. only—here nom.): nothing. Autem
(particle.): on the other hand, but, however; and, moreover; for my, your, his, etc. Alius/alia/
aliud
(1/2, irreg.): other, another. Est: is. Īnsolentia, īnsolentiae (1f): arrogance, insolence, pride; unfamiliarity; unusualness, strangeness, novelty. Quam
(rel. adv.): than; as. Speciēs, speciēī (5f): sight, spectacle; appearance, look; guise; show, display; veneer; pretext; vision, apparition; mental picture; form, sort, species, subdivision of a class. Magnitūdō, magnitūdinis
(3f): greatness, magnitude, extent. Falsus/
falsa
/falsum (1/2): false.
Non
enim
nocet
sed
medetur
specie
nocendi. —Seneca, On Anger 1.6.1
Translation
For it does not harm but cures under the guise of harming.
Details
(He’s talking about inflicting punishment—
castīgātiō
—without anger.)
Nōn: not. Enim
(particle): for, indeed. Nocet
is the third person singular form of noceō, nocēre, nocuī, nocitum (2): to harm, hurt, be harmful. Sed
(conj.): but. Medētur
is the third person singular form of medeor, medērī, —, — (2, deponent): to heal, cure, remedy. Speciē
is the ablative singular form of speciēs, speciēī (5f): sight, spectacle; appearance, look; guise; show, display; veneer; pretext; vision, apparition; mental picture; form, sort, species, subdivision of a class. Nocendī
is the genitive gerund of noceō, nocēre, nocuī, nocitum (2): to harm, hurt, be harmful.
Peditatu
dumtaxat
procul
ad
speciem
utitur. —Caesar, The Civil War 2.41.2
Translation
He used the infantry only at the back, for show.
More literally: . . . only in the distance (i.e., away from the front line). . .
Details
Peditātū
is the ablative singular form of peditātus, peditātūs (4m): infantry. Dumtaxat
(adv.): just, only. Procul
(adv.): far (away); in the distance; from afar; at or from a distance. Ad
(prep.): to, toward; for (takes the accusative). Speciem
is the accusative singular form of speciēs, speciēī (5f): sight, spectacle; appearance, look; guise; show, display; veneer; pretext; vision, apparition; mental picture; form, sort, species, subdivision of a class. Ūtitur
is the third person singular form of ūtor, utī, ūsus sum (3, deponent): to use (takes an ablative object) (it’s in the historical present).
Semper
aliquam
fraudi
speciem
iuris
imponitis. —Livy, History of Rome 9.11.7
Translation
You always coat your fraud with some veneer of legitimacy.
More literally: You always put some appearance of right on fraud.
Details
Semper
(adv.): always. Aliquam
is the feminine accusative singular form of aliquī/aliqua/aliquod (adj.): some, a certain, a(n). Fraudī
is the dative singular form of fraus, fraudis (3f): harm; liability to punishment; crime; deceit, fraud, trick, stratagem. Speciem
is the accusative singular form of speciēs, speciēī (5f): sight, spectacle; appearance, look; guise; show, display; veneer; pretext; vision, apparition; mental picture; form, sort, species, subdivision of a class. Iūs, iūris
(3n): law; right. Impōnitis
is the second person plural form of impōnō, impōnere, imposuī, impositum (3): to put (acc.) on (dat.).
Legati
ad
eum
per
speciem
pacis
petendae
speculatum
venerunt. —Livy, History of Rome 40.25.2
Translation
Envoys came to him under the pretext of seeking peace, but really in order to spy.
More literally: Envoys came to him through the appearance of seeking peace (of peace to be sought), for the purpose of spying.
Details
Lēgātī
is the nominative plural form of lēgātus, lēgātī (2m): envoy, ambassador, legate. Ad
(prep.): to, toward (takes the accusative). Eum
is the masculine accusative singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this (one), that (one). Per
(prep.): through (takes the accusative). Speciem
is the accusative singular form of speciēs, speciēī (5f): sight, spectacle; appearance, look; guise; show, display; veneer; pretext; vision, apparition; mental picture; form, sort, species, subdivision of a class. Pāx, pācis
(3f): peace. Petendae
is the feminine genitive singular form of petendus/petenda/petendum (1/2), the gerundive of petō, petere, petīvī/petiī, petītum (3): to direct one’s course to, make for; seek; ask for; aim at; aspire at; attack. Speculātum
is the accusative supine of speculor, speculārī, speculātus sum (1, deponent): to observe; reconnoiter; spy. Vēnērunt
is the third person plural perfect form of veniō, venīre, vēnī, ventum (4): to come.
Silet
illa
diu
repetitque
quietis
ipsa
suae
speciem. —Ovid, Metamorphoses 9.472-3
Translation
She stayed silent for a long while, recalling the vision of her sleep.
More literally: She is silent for a long while and recalls herself the vision of her sleep.
Details
Silet
is the third person singular form of sileō, silēre, siluī, — (2): to be silent. Ille/
illa
/illud (pron.): that, that one; he, she, it. Diū
(adv.): long, for a long time. Repetitque
is the third person singular form of repetō, repetere, repetīvī/repetiī, repetītum (3): to return to, make for again; attack again; demand back; recover, get back; repeat; recall, recollect (the enclitic conjunction –
que
adds
and). Quiēs, quiētis
(3f): rest; sleep. Ipse/
ipsa
/ipsum (adj.): himself/herself/itself/etc. ; in person; the very. Suae: (of) her (own)—the feminine genitive singular form of suus/sua/suum (1/2). Speciem
is the accusative singular form of speciēs, speciēī (5f): sight, spectacle; appearance, look; guise; show, display; veneer; pretext; vision, apparition; mental picture; form, sort, species, subdivision of a class. (The verbs are in the historical present.)
Haec
me
species
cogitatioque
perturbat. —Cicero, Letters to Atticus 14.22.2
Translation
This prospect and this thought perturb me.
More literally: This (mental) sight/picture. . .
Details
(Unlike the English word
prospect, the Latin
speciēs
doesn’t have the idea of futurity attached to it; but
prospect
works as a free translation in this context because what perturbs Cicero is the thought that war might break out soon.) Hic/
haec
/hoc (adj.): this. Mē
is the accusative form of ego: I (me). Speciēs, speciēī (5f): sight, spectacle; appearance, look; guise; show, display; veneer; pretext; vision, apparition; mental picture; form, sort, species, subdivision of a class. Cōgitātiōque, cōgitātiōnis (3f): thought, reflection; intention herself (the enclitic conjunction –
que
adds
and). Perturbat
is the third person singular form of perturbō, perturbāre, perturbāvī, perturbātum (1): to throw into confusion; disturb, perturb, upset.
Speciēs can also mean a form of something, a sort or type, species, etc. , especially as a subdivision of a larger class. The larger class would be a genus (genitive generis, (3n)). Genus is more general, speciēs is more specific.
Eius
duae
sunt
species: —Quintilian, The Orator’s Education 8.3.83
Translation
There are two forms of it:
Details
Eius
is the m/f/n genitive singular form of is/ea/id (pron.): he, she, it; this (one), that (one). Duo/
duae
/duo (irreg.): two. Sunt: there are. Speciēs
is the nominative plural form of speciēs, speciēī (5f): sight, spectacle; appearance, look; guise; show, display; veneer; pretext; vision, apparition; mental picture; form, sort, species, subdivision of a class.
Specie
diversa
sed
genere
eadem
et
haec
sunt: —Quintilian, The Orator’s Education 9.3.21
Translation
Different in species but also identical in genus are the following:
Details
Speciē
is the ablative singular form of speciēs, speciēī (5f): sight, spectacle; appearance, look; guise; show, display; veneer; pretext; vision, apparition; mental picture; form, sort, species, subdivision of a class. Dīversa
is the neuter nominative plural form of dīversus/dīversa/dīversum (1/2): turned, facing, going, etc. , in a different direction or different directions; situated apart or on opposite sides/on the opposite side; separate; divergent; different; various; opposite; at odds, in conflict, unfriendly. Sed
(conj.): but. Genere
is the ablative singular form of genus, generis (3n): kind, sort, class, genus; race; birth, descent. Eadem
is the neuter nominative plural form of īdem/eadem/idem (adj.): the same, identical. Et
(adv.): also, too, as well. Haec
is the neuter nominative plural form of hic/haec/hoc (pron.): this, this one; he, she, it. Sunt: (they) are.
Spēs, speī
Spēs, speī (5f): hope; expectation. The most common meaning of spēs is hope or the expectation of something good. But it sometimes also means expectation in a more neutral sense. The genitive plural (spērum) and dative/ablative plural (spēbus) forms aren’t in regular use.
Sed
iam
spes
est
nulla
salutis. —Anonymous, Octavia 906
Translation
But there is no hope of safety left anymore.
Details
Sed
(conj.): but. Iam
(adv.): already; now; soon; combined with a negative word (such as
nōn
or
nūllus) it can mean
anymore. Spēs, speī (5f): hope; expectation. Est: there is. Nūllus/
nūlla
/nūllum (1/2, irreg.): no, not any. Salūs, salūtis
(3f): health; well-being; safety; salvation.
Spem
metus
sequitur. —Seneca, Epistles 5.7
Translation
Hope is followed by fear.
More literally: Fear follows hope.
Details
(The less literal translation preserves the original order of ideas, with
hope
coming first.)
Spem
is the accusative singular form of spēs, speī (5f): hope; expectation. Metus, metūs (4m): fear. Sequitur
is the third person singular form of sequor, sequī, secūtus sum (3, deponent): to follow.
Nemo
non
procul
spes
intendit. —Seneca, On the Shortness of Life 20.6
Translation
Everyone projects their hopes far into the future.
More literally: No one does not stretch out hopes into the distance.
Details
Nēmō, nēminis (3m): no man, no one, nobody. Nōn: not. Procul
(adv.): far (away); in the distance; into the distance; from afar. Spēs
is the accusative plural form of spēs, speī (5f): hope; expectation. Intendit
is the third person singular form of intendō, intendere, intendī, intentum/intēnsum (3): to stretch out; direct; apply oneself; pay attention to.
Ut
praeter
spem
evenit! —Terence, The Self-Tormentor 664
Translation
Things have turned out far better than I could have hoped.
More literally: How contrary to my expectation the matter has turned out!
Details
Ut
(interrog. adv.): how? Praeter
(prep.): past, across; beyond; contrary to; besides; except (takes the accusative). Spem
is the accusative singular form of spēs, speī (5f): hope; expectation. Ēvēnit
is the third person singular perfect form of ēveniō, ēvenīre, ēvēnī, ēventum (4): to turn out, result; happen.
Omnium
spe
celerius
Saguntum
oppugnari
allatum est. —Livy, History of Rome 21.6.5
Translation
News of an attack against Saguntum came more quickly than anyone had expected.
More literally: Saguntum to be attacked (i.e., that Saguntum was being attacked) was reported more quickly than the expectation of all.
Details
Omnium
is the m/f/n (here m) genitive plural form of omnis/omnis/omne (3): all; every; (m. pl. used substantively) all (people), everyone. Spē
is the ablative singular form of spēs, speī (5f): hope; expectation (an ablative of comparison). Celerius
(adv.): more quickly—the comparative form of celeriter (adv.): quickly. Saguntum
is the accusative singular form of Saguntum, Saguntī (2n): a town in Spain, modern-day Sagunto. Oppugnārī
is the passive infinitive form of oppugnō, oppugnāre, oppugnāvī, oppugnātum (1): to attack, assault. Allātum est
is the third person neuter singular perfect passive form of afferō, afferre, attulī, allātum (3, irreg.): to bring; report.
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