Latin Lesson #251: More -ent plural verbs

To pick up again after a week off, I thought I would repeat the focus from the last lesson: -ent plural verbs of the 2nd conjugation. The verbs for today are: docent, "they teach" / implent, "they fill" / latent, "they hide" / silent, "they are silent."

So, here is the slideshow (with cats) of the words you have seen before — you have seen all the words in today's sayings except for one!

And here are today's proverbs:

1. Exempla docent.
Examples teach.
ex-EM-pla docent.

The word exempla is the plural of exemplum, which you can see in English "exemplary," "example," and "sample."

The verb docent is the plural of docet.

This was one of the functions of Aesop's fables, providing memorable examples, both positive exempla of models to be imitated, along with negative exempla of mistakes to avoid.


2. Dolia plena silent.
Full jars make-no-noise.
DO-lia plena silent.

You know all the words in this saying.

The verb silent is the plural of silet. 

The subject is dolia, the plural of dolium.  This plural noun is modified by a plural adjective: plena.

This is literally true, and metaphorically it applies to talkative people, who are actually "empty," having nothing of substance to say. But they keep on making noise!

Compare the English saying, "Empty vessels make the most sound."

3. Diu non latent scelera.
Crimes do-not hide for-long.
diu non latent SCE-lera.

These words are all familiar as well!

The verb latent is the plural of latet. 

The subject is scelera, the plural of scelus. Remember that to make the plural of a 3rd-declension noun, you need to know the actual stem of the word, which you may or may not be able to see in the nominative form. So, for example, the word scelus has the genitive form sceleris, which gives you the stem, sceler-. Then, because it is a neuter noun, you add the neuter plural ending for the 3rd declension: scelera.

The word diu is an adverb, modifying the verb.

Compare the English saying, "The truth will out."


4. Latent sub melle venena.
Poisons lurk under the-honey.
latent sub melle ve-NE-na.

All words that you know, and the verb is latent once again.

The subject is venena, the plural of venenum.  

The word melle is the ablative form of mel; it's ablative because the preposition sub takes the ablative. This is another 3rd-declension noun, so you need to know the stem to make the ablative form. The genitive of mel is mellis, which gives you the stem, mell-. Then you can add the ablative ending: -e. 

The idea is that something might seem very sweet and appealing, but it can actually be dangerous or even deadly. The warning comes from the poet Ovid in his Amores. 


5. Multae guttae implent flumen.
Many drops fill the-stream.
multae guttae implent flumen.

And this saying is also made up of words you have seen before.
The verb implent is the plural of implet.

The subject is guttae, the plural of gutta.  The adjective multae is also plural, agreeing with guttae. 

The word flumen is one of those sneaky neuter nouns of the 3rd declension: it could be nominative or it could be accusative. But since the sentence already has a subject, then this is the accusative subject of the verb: guttae (subject) implent (verb) flumen (object).

Compare the English saying, "Little by little does the trick."

Here's a recap:

Exempla docent.
Dolia plena silent.
Diu non latent scelera.
Latent sub melle venena.
Multae guttae implent flumen.

And here is today's audio:



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Week 90 Catch-Up Day

NOTE: I'll be off next week... and I'm excited to say that I will be meeting face-to-face for the first time the very nice person who prompted the Vergil project, which is still going strong: A New Beginner's Latin: THE AENEID. Take a look if you are curious! Then, I'll be back with more Latin cats the week of October 5.

Meanwhile, here is the catch-up day for the past two weeks of plural verbs: sunt, plus -ant verbs in the 1st conjugation and -ent verbs in the 2nd conjugation. As usual, there is a cat-show of those sayings, plus a link to the downloadable crossword and the self-quiz.

Now here are the past two weeks of lessons here:

• #247: Sunt: "(they) are"
• #248: More Sayings with Sunt
• Imber, Desine!
• #249: 1st conjugation -ant
• #250: 2st conjugation -ent

And here's the slideshow with all the sayings. You can read out loud, first with the English to remind you of the vocabulary... and then read out loud again with the cat!

I also made a printable crossword PDF as usual, and the same prompts for the crossword are used in the quiz questions below. Enjoy!

Carmina non ______ panem.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

dant

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Ubi sunt ______, ibi est invidia.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

divitiae

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Multae manus onus ______.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

levant

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Multi sunt ______ bipedes.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

asini

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Ubi ______, ibi sunt opes.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

amici

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Antiqua sunt ______.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

optima

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Hic sunt ______.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

leones

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______ astra viam.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

monstrant

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Vestigia ______.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

terrent

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Libri muti ______ sunt.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

magistri

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Iusti ut sidera ______.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

fulgent

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Dei ______ sunt omnia.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

plena

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Amantes amentes ______.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

sunt

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______ futura.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

latent

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______ mea mecum sunt.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

omnia

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______ vestri ubi sunt?
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

patres

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Mortui non ______.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

mordent

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Scripta ______.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

manent

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Fata ______.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

obstant

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Verba cutem non ______.
fill in the blank:

reveal/hide answer

lacerant

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And here's a random cat:

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Latin Lesson #250: 2st conjugation -ent

The focus for today's lesson is the 2nd-conjugation plural ending: habet, "has" — habent, "have." The ending is -ent, just as you would expect after sunt and -ant, right?

You are now officially experts in the -nt plural ending. And there will be more to come!

To get ready, here is the slideshow (with cats) of the words you have seen before:

And here are today's proverbs:

1. Latent futura.
Future-things are-hidden.
latent fu-TU-ra.

You know all the words in this saying!

The verb latent is the plural of latet, which you can translate as "hides" or "is hidden" or "escapes notice." 

The subject is futura, the plural of futurum, an adjective that means "future." The adjective is being used as a plural: futura, "future (things." This can also be translated as "the future" if you prefer!

This saying formed part of the emblem tradition; you can see an example here: Futura latent.


2. Scripta manent.
Writings remain.
scripta manent.

The adjective scripta is the plural of scriptum, "written (thing)," so it means "writings," or just "writing." This adjective is one of those verbal adjectives known as participles. So, just as "written" is from the verb "write" in English, scriptumis from the verb scribere in Latin, a verb you've seen before.

The verb manent is the plural of manet.

This is a very optimistic sentiment, although, sad to say, far more Latin literature perished than survived. But, compared to the spoken word, the written word is looking pretty good! Blog on!

Sometimes the full idea is expressed this way: Verba volant, scripta manent, "Words fly, writing remains." Find out more at Wikipedia.

 

3. Vestigia terrent.
The-traces terrify.
ves-TI-gia terrent.

The verb terrent is the plural of terret, "terrifies, scares," as in English "terrify" and "terrific."

The word vestigia is the plural of vestigium.

This phrase comes from Horace's retelling of the fable of the lion in the cave and the fox who is wise enough to not go inside, when he sees footsteps leading in but not out... because the lion gobbled up the other visitors. Here's Horace's satire.

4. Mortui non mordent.
Dead-people don't bite.
MOR-tui non mordent.

You know all the words in this saying too! 

The verb mordent is the plural of mordet.

The word mortui is the plural of mortuus, "dead," being used substantively as a noun: mortui, "dead (people)."

Compare the English saying, "Dead men tell no tales."


5. Iusti ut sidera fulgent.
People-who-are-just shine like stars.
iusti ut SI-dera fulgent.

The word iusti is the plural of the adjective iustus, "just, righteous," being used as a noun: iusti, "the just (people)." You haven't seen this word before, but you have seen the related noun: iustitia.

The verb fulgent is the plural of the fulget, "shines," as in English "refulgent." 
The word sidera is the plural of the noun sidus, "star." You can see this Latin root in English "sidereal."


Here's a recap:

• Latent futura.
• Scripta manent.
• Vestigia terrent.
• Mortui non mordent.
• Iusti ut sidera fulgent.

And here is today's audio:



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Latin Lesson #249: 1st conjugation -ant

The focus for today's lesson is the 3rd-person plural ending for the 1st conjugation... and it's -ant. No surprise there! The verb sunt, "they are," already featured the -nt ending, so now you have -a- the theme vowel of the 1st conjugation, which gives you that ending: ambulant, "they walk;" volant, "they fly," and so on.

And here is the slideshow (with cats) of the words you have seen before:

Now you're ready for today's proverbs:

1. Fata obstant.
The-Fates stand-in-the-way.
fata obstant.

You already know all the words in this saying! The verb obstant is the plural form of obstat. The subject is fata, the plural of fatum.

This famous phrase comes from Vergil's Aeneid, an epic that is very much about fate and destiny, with the Fates getting in the way of the plans of both gods and mortals.


2. Monstrant astra viam.
The-stars show the-way.
monstrant astra viam.

The verb monstrant is the plural form of monstrat, "shows, demonstrates." The subject is astra, the plural of astrum.

The word viam is the accusative of via, object of the verb.

The stars, astra, are sometimes read as a kind of destiny or fate, and in this saying, the stars are not in the way but are instead pointing the way.


3. Carmina non dant panem.
Songs don't give bread.
CAR-mina non dant panem.

The verb dant is the plural form of dat. The carmina, the plural of carmen, "song," which also gives us English "charm."
The word panem is the accusative of panis, object of the verb.

In other words, songs (and music and dancing and poetry, etc.) are all very enjoyable, and even valuable, but you cannot live off them. A similar saying declares: Litterae non dant panem, "Letters (i.e. literature, writing) doesn't give bread."

4. Verba cutem non lacerant.
Words don't mangle the-skin.
verba cutem non LA-cerant.

The verb lacerant is the plural form of lacerat, "mangles, tears, shreds," as in English "lacerate." The subject is verba, the plural of verbum.

The word cutem is the accusative of cutis, object of the verb.

Compare the English saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."


5. Multae manus onus levant.
Many hands lighten the-load.
multae manus onus levant.

The verb levant is the plural form of levat, "mangles, tears, shreds," as in English "lever" and "relieve." The subject is multae manus, the plural of multa manus. Remember manus? It is one of those sneaky feminine 4th-declension nouns.
The word onus is the accusative form of onus; yes, it's one of those sneaky neuter 3rd-declension nouns, with the same form in the nominative and the accusative. It's the accusative of the verb.

This is literally true about a heavy load, and metaphorically it implies to cooperation in any kind of work.

Here's a recap:

• Fata obstant.
• Monstrant astra viam.
• Carmina non dant panem.
• Verba cutem non lacerant.
• Multae manus onus levant.

And here is today's audio:



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Latin Nursery Rhyme: Imber, Desine

Here's another Latin cantilena to wrap up the week: it's my version of "Rain Rain Go Away," Imber, Desine. You can read about this song at Wikipedia.

Here is one English version:

Rain, rain, go away! Come again another day!

Little Arthur wants to play. Rain, rain, go away!

And here is my Latin version:

Imber, desine! Veni alio die!

Volo solem hodie. Imber, imber, desine!

Rain, stop! Come here another day!

Let the sun return today. Rain, rain, stop!

And now I have a recording of the Latin, thanks to Genesis Staple, a recent graduate of the UT Music School here in Austin. You can hear more of Genesis's Latin recordings at this work-in-progress wiki: Cantilenae.

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illustration by W. Denslow

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Plus a random cat for your viewing pleasure:

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Latin Lesson #248: More Sayings with sunt

The focus for today's lesson is more practice with "(they) are" proverbs, using the plural form of est, which sunt. 

As you'll find out next week, the -nt is the sign of the 3rd-person plural across all the conjugations. So, while the verb "to be" is irregular, by practicing with sunt, you are getting ready for all plural verbs to come.

And here is the slideshow (with cats) of the words you have seen before... which is all the words except for two today!

Then here are today's proverbs:

1. Patres vestri ubi sunt?
Where are your fathers?
patres vestri ubi sunt?

The new word here is vester, "yours, belong to you" (plural). To say "yours" (singular), it would be tuus, but vester is the word you need for speaking to a group of people. 

The word patres is the plural of pater. 

The word vestri is the plural of vester, and notice how the -e- disappears when you add the ending.

The words come from the Biblical book of the prophet Zechariah; here is the complete verse: Patres vestri, ubi sunt? et prophetae numquid in sempiternum vivent? "Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?" Zechariah's message is that the human world passes away; it is only God who is eternal. You can find out more at Wikipedia.

2. Libri muti magistri sunt.
Books are silent teachers.
libri muti ma-GIS-tri sunt.

You know all the words in this saying!

The word libri is the plural of liber.

The word magistri is the plural of magister, and notice againhow the -e- disappears when you add the ending. That often happens with 2nd-declension nouns that end in -er instead of the usual -us.

The word muti is the plural of mutus, agreeing with the word magistri.

As someone who has learned an awful lot from books, I am a fan of this saying. Books may not be able to talk, but they have plenty to say!


3. Multi sunt asini bipedes.
Many are the-donkeys with-two-legs.
multi sunt A-sini BI-pedes.

You even know all the words in this saying. Do you remember when you saw bipes before? Homo animal bipes implume. When Plato defined a human being as a "featherless biped", Diogenes brought Plato a plucked chicken and said, "Here is Plato's man." (Lesson 115)

The word multi is the plural of multus, so it means "many."

The word asini is the plural of asinus. 

The word bipedes is the plural of bipes, agreeing with the asini.

In other words, in addition to all the four-legged donkeys, there are plenty asini bipedes... i.e. homines stulti.

4. Ubi amici, ibi sunt opes.
Where (there are) friends, there are resources.
ubi a-MI-ci, ibi sunt opes.

The new word in this saying is ops, which means "power, strength, ability" in the singular, but in the plural, opes, it means "wealth, resources." You can see this root in English "opulent."

The word amici is the plural of amicus. 

You've seen lots of these ubi...ibi sayings in the past, and now you have one with plural nouns.

The idea is that where you have friends, you have resources, you have help when you are in need it.

5. Ubi sunt divitiae, ibi est invidia.
Where (there are) riches, there is envy.
ubi sunt di-VI-tiae, ibi est in-VI-dia.

You know all these words too.

The word divitiae is one of those special words in Latin that is used only in the plural.

There's an ubi...ibi... saying which has one plural part, sunt, and one singular part, est.

In other words, if you have money, be prepared for the envy that others might feel towards you. 

Here's a recap:

• Patres vestri ubi sunt?
• Libri muti magistri sunt.
• Multi sunt asini bipedes.
• Ubi amici, ibi sunt opes.
• Ubi sunt divitiae, ibi est invidia.

And here is today's audio:



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