Today, you will look at neuter adjectives that end in -e: omne, difficile, amabile, dulce. The ending is different because these adjectives do not belong to the second declension; instead, they belong to the third declension.
So, that means you will see a mix of -um and -e endings in today's saying. Get used to hearing these endings together! There are lots of neuter nouns and adjectives in the second declension, and there are also lots of neuters in the third declension. The result is that in any given sentence you might see words from the second declension and/or words from the third declension.
So, here are today's proverbs:
1. Omne initium difficile.
Every beginning (is) difficult.
omne i-NI-tium dif-FI-cile
The adjective omne is the neuter form; you've already seen the feminine form, omnis, in this saying: Omnis est misera servitus. You've also seen an adverb, omnino based on this same root in the saying: Nullus dies omnino malus.
So, here are today's proverbs:
1. Omne initium difficile.
Every beginning (is) difficult.
omne i-NI-tium dif-FI-cile
The adjective omne is the neuter form; you've already seen the feminine form, omnis, in this saying: Omnis est misera servitus. You've also seen an adverb, omnino based on this same root in the saying: Nullus dies omnino malus.
From the Latin noun initium, "beginning," we get English words like "initial" and "initiate."
The adjective difficile is a compound in Latin: dis-facile, "not-easy," i.e. "hard." You can see the Latin word in English "difficult."
So, if you're find the beginning of Latin a bit hard, don't worry: Omne initium difficile!
2. Omne trium perfectum.
Every three (is) perfect.
omne trium per-FEC-tum
Latin trium, "three," is related to English "three" as you can see in this chart of Indo-European numbers. You can see the Latin root in English words like "trio" and "triple."
2. Omne trium perfectum.
Every three (is) perfect.
omne trium per-FEC-tum
Latin trium, "three," is related to English "three" as you can see in this chart of Indo-European numbers. You can see the Latin root in English words like "trio" and "triple."
The Latin adjective perfectum is a compound: per-factum, "completely done," i.e. "perfect."
Compare the English saying, "The third time's the charm" or "Good things come in threes." For the importance of threes in speech and art, see the Rule of Three and the Rule of Thirds at Wikipedia.
3. Omne pulchrum amabile.
Every beautiful (thing is) lovable.
omne pulchrum a-MA-bile
The adjective pulchrum is neuter, and you've seen the masculine form, pulcher, in this saying: Carcer numquam pulcher.
3. Omne pulchrum amabile.
Every beautiful (thing is) lovable.
omne pulchrum a-MA-bile
The adjective pulchrum is neuter, and you've seen the masculine form, pulcher, in this saying: Carcer numquam pulcher.
The adjective amabile is a compound: ama-abile, "love-able," just like English "lovable." The root verb is amare, "to love," a root you can see in English words like "amatory" and "amorous."
The association of beauty with what is good and admirable, even lovable, is a strong theme in classical philosophy; this particular aphorism is associated with the Neoplatonic philosopher Proclus.
4. Non omne dulce bonum.
Not every sweet (thing) is good.
non omne dulce bonum
The adjective dulce is neuter in form; you've seen dulcis before, which is both the feminine form (Quam dulcis libertas!) and the masculine form (Potus furtivus dulcis est). As you'll learn later, this is a regular pattern with third-declension adjectives: the masculine and feminine adjectives end in -is while the neuters end in -e. In this saying, dulce is being used as a noun: sweet (thing); compare the English use of "sweets" as a noun.
4. Non omne dulce bonum.
Not every sweet (thing) is good.
non omne dulce bonum
The adjective dulce is neuter in form; you've seen dulcis before, which is both the feminine form (Quam dulcis libertas!) and the masculine form (Potus furtivus dulcis est). As you'll learn later, this is a regular pattern with third-declension adjectives: the masculine and feminine adjectives end in -is while the neuters end in -e. In this saying, dulce is being used as a noun: sweet (thing); compare the English use of "sweets" as a noun.
The adjective bonum is neuter, and you've seen the masculine form, bonus, in these sayings: Bonus liber amicus optimus, and Optimus magister bonus liber.
Notice the contrast between this saying and the previous saying: every beautiful thing is lovable, but not every sweet thing is good. The pursuit of beauty was a philosophical ideal, but the pursuit of sweetness not so much. (Although I am a serious fan of sweets myself.)
5. Omne nimium non bonum.
Every excessive (thing is) not good.
omne NI-mium non bonum
The Latin adjective nimium is often used as an adverb; neuter adjectives are often used as adverbs in Latin. In this sentence, however, nimium is functioning as a noun: omne nimium, "every excess, every excessive (thing)."
5. Omne nimium non bonum.
Every excessive (thing is) not good.
omne NI-mium non bonum
The Latin adjective nimium is often used as an adverb; neuter adjectives are often used as adverbs in Latin. In this sentence, however, nimium is functioning as a noun: omne nimium, "every excess, every excessive (thing)."
This is another of those sayings that praise the "golden mean," not too much of anything, but just the right amount.
Here's a recap:
And here is today's audio:
Plus the LOLCats!
Here's a recap:
- Omne initium difficile.
- Omne trium perfectum.
- Omne pulchrum amabile.
- Non omne dulce bonum.
- Omne nimium non bonum.
Plus the LOLCats!
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