Like the nouns which are divided into different classes based on their endings, the same is true of verbs. The different kinds of nouns are called declensions, while the different kinds of verbs are called conjugations. There are 4 conjugations, and we'll be starting this week with the 1st conjugation.
The vowel ending that is the sign of the 1st conjugation is the letter A.
In addition to a distinctive vowel in the ending, verbs also have endings that let you know the person (1st, 2nd or 3rd) and number (singular or plural). The 1st person verbs are for "I" (singular) and "we" (plural) and 2nd person verbs for "you" (singular) and "you" (plural), while the 3rd person verbs are for "she, he, it" (singular) and "they" (plural). We'll be working on the plural verbs later; for now, the focus will be the 1st, 2nd and 3rd persons, singular, starting with the 3rd person, the most common verb form.
So, these are the 3rd-person verbs you will see in today's proverbs; the A is the 1st-conjugation vowel, and the T is the 3rd-person singular ending, to the ending is -at.
- obstat: she/he/it blocks, stands in the way
- excusat: she/he/it excuses, absolves
- errat: she/he/it errs, makes a mistake
In addition to proverbs with these verbs, there are also some proverbs just with nouns. That way, you won't forget that it's possible to make statements in Latin even without using a verb.
You'll recognize some of the words in today's sayings too; here's a slideshow of the words you've seen before:
And here are today's proverbs:
1. Nihil obstat.
Nothing stands-in-the-way.
nihil obstat
The verb obstat is a compound, ob-stat, "in-the-way stand," i.e. "block." The Latin verb stat is a cousin of English stand; they both come from the Indo-European root steh₂. You can also see Latin obstat in the English word "obstacle."
The words Nihil obstat were printed inside books that were approved by the Catholic Church. In other words, nothing stood in the way of the book being printed; the church censors did not object to the book's contents. These words even have their own Wikipedia article: Nihil obstat.
2. Ignorantia non excusat.
Ignorance doesn't excuse.
igno-RAN-tia non ex-CU-sat
Latin ignorantia is the origin of English "ignorance." It is a compound word: i(n)-gnorantia, "not-knowing."
The verb excuse is the origin of English "excuse" (the verb). The word is a compound in Latin: ex-causa, "from-cause," i.e. to not be the cause of something, to be free of blame.
Compare the English saying, "Ignorance is no excuse."
3. Haud semper errat fama.
Rumor isn't always wrong.
haud semper errat fama
The word haud is a more colloquial way of saying "no" in Latin, a synonym of non. So, you could restate this as: Non semper errat fama.
3. Haud semper errat fama.
Rumor isn't always wrong.
haud semper errat fama
The word haud is a more colloquial way of saying "no" in Latin, a synonym of non. So, you could restate this as: Non semper errat fama.
The verb errat is the source of English "err." It literally means "to wander," as in the phrase "knight errant." Metaphorically it also has the meaning of "make a mistake," in the sense of wandering off the path, goign the wrong way, being in error.
The idea is that rumor is often wrong (as in the earlier saying: Mendax fama, "Rumor is a liar"), but it is not always wrong: haud semper.
4. Aut mors aut victoria.
Either death or victory.
aut mors aut vic-TO-ria
Latin victoria gives us English "victory."
4. Aut mors aut victoria.
Either death or victory.
aut mors aut vic-TO-ria
Latin victoria gives us English "victory."
Compare the aut...aut... here to a similar saying you saw last week: Aut Caesar aut nihil.
5. Amicus optima vitae possessio.
(A) friend (is) life's best possession.
a-MI-cus OP-tima vitae pos-SES-sio
Latin possessio gives us English "possession." Knowing that English word, you won't be surprised to find that the stem of the Latin word is possession- (genitive: possessionis).
5. Amicus optima vitae possessio.
(A) friend (is) life's best possession.
a-MI-cus OP-tima vitae pos-SES-sio
Latin possessio gives us English "possession." Knowing that English word, you won't be surprised to find that the stem of the Latin word is possession- (genitive: possessionis).
And don't forget about how the genitive form works: vitae is the genitive of vita, so it means "of life, life's." Notice also how the adjective-noun phrase, optima possessio, wraps around the genitive: vitae, "life's best possession." That kind of word order is impossible in English but completely natural in Latin.
Here's a recap:
- Nihil obstat.
- Ignorantia non excusat.
- Haud semper errat fama.
- Aut mors aut victoria.
- Amicus optima vitae possessio.
Plus the LOLCats!
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