So, you now have 4 case endings for this declension:
- amicus. nominative (subject of verb)
- amicum. accusative (object of verb)
- amici. genitive (possession / "of")
- amico. ablative
As you've already learned, the ablative is used with many prepositions, and that is what you will see in today's sayings. (Later on, you'll learn some other uses for the ablative, in addition to using it with prepositions.)
And here is a little slideshow (with cats) of the words you have seen before:
So, here are today's proverbs:
1. In vino veritas.
In wine (there is) truth.
in vino VE-ritas.
The word vino is the ablative form of the neuter noun, vinum, which you have seen before.
And here is a little slideshow (with cats) of the words you have seen before:
1. In vino veritas.
In wine (there is) truth.
in vino VE-ritas.
The word vino is the ablative form of the neuter noun, vinum, which you have seen before.
The idea is that after someone has drunk some wine, they might talk more freely, and they might even say things they will later regret having said. Compare a similar saying that you've already seen: Vinum os facundum facit.
2. Ex humo homo.
(A) human (comes) from (the) ground.
ex humo homo.
The word humo is the ablative form of the feminine noun humus (yes, there are a few feminine nouns in the 2nd declension), which means "ground, soil, earth." We use this word in English as "humus" (not to be confused with the Arabic word hummus), and you can see the root in the verbs "inhume" and "exhume."
This is a fascinating proverb because it reflects an actual linguistic connection: the words homo and humus are related, signaling a close association between human beings and the earth-as-mother. You can find out more about the etymology of homo and humus at Wiktionary.2. Ex humo homo.
(A) human (comes) from (the) ground.
ex humo homo.
The word humo is the ablative form of the feminine noun humus (yes, there are a few feminine nouns in the 2nd declension), which means "ground, soil, earth." We use this word in English as "humus" (not to be confused with the Arabic word hummus), and you can see the root in the verbs "inhume" and "exhume."
Also, the idea that human beings were originally made from some kind of earth or clay or rocks is found in Greek, Roman and also Christian mythology, so this saying resonates with Latin along all those different dimensions.
Compare a saying you say earlier: Homo humus, fama fumus, finis cinis.
3. Ab ovo Ledae incipit.
(It) starts from the egg of-Leda.
ab ovo Ledae IN-cipit.
The word ovo is the ablative form of the neuter noun ovum, which you have seen before, and it's with the preposition ab, which means "from, beginning from, away from."
3. Ab ovo Ledae incipit.
(It) starts from the egg of-Leda.
ab ovo Ledae IN-cipit.
The word ovo is the ablative form of the neuter noun ovum, which you have seen before, and it's with the preposition ab, which means "from, beginning from, away from."
The name Ledae is the genitive form of Leda, an important character from mythology; see Wikipedia: Leda.
The verb incipit, "begins, starts," and we actually use this word in English, "incipit," to refer to the first word(s) of a manuscript. You can see the same root in "inception."
This is another mythology proverb! Do you recognize the allusion? Leda was the woman whom Zeus seduced in the shape of a swan, so when she gave birth to Zeus's children, they were hatched from eggs. And who was one of those children who came out from one of Leda's eggs? Helen of Troy came from Leda's egg, and so did Clytemnestra. Thus: the beginning of the Trojan War and all its tragic aftermath. It's all in this Wikipedia article: Ab ovo.
4. Vox clamantis in deserto.
(The) voice of-(someone)-shouting in (the) desert.
vox cla-MAN-tis in de-SER-to.
The word deserto is the ablative form of the masculine noun desertus, which gives us English "desert."
The word clamantis is the genitive form of the masculine adjective (participle), clamans, "crying, shouting." You can see this same root in English "exclamation."
4. Vox clamantis in deserto.
(The) voice of-(someone)-shouting in (the) desert.
vox cla-MAN-tis in de-SER-to.
The word deserto is the ablative form of the masculine noun desertus, which gives us English "desert."
The word clamantis is the genitive form of the masculine adjective (participle), clamans, "crying, shouting." You can see this same root in English "exclamation."
These famous words come from the Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke, referring to John the Baptist, and echoing the Book of Isaiah.
5. Ex pravo pullus bonus ovo non venit ullus.
A good chick never comes from (a) bad egg.
ex pravo pullus bonus ovo non venit ullus.
The word pravo is the ablative form of the neuter adjective pravum, which you have seen before.
5. Ex pravo pullus bonus ovo non venit ullus.
A good chick never comes from (a) bad egg.
ex pravo pullus bonus ovo non venit ullus.
The word pravo is the ablative form of the neuter adjective pravum, which you have seen before.
This is a rhyming proverb, pullus-ullus, and this leads to an entwined word order. Literally, it says: "From bad chick good egg does not come any." In English, that is very confusing, but the Latin word endings make it work: ex pravo ovo is the prepositional phrase, "from a bad egg," and pullus bonus is the noun phrase that is the subject of the sentence.
The word ullus, "any," is a masculine adjective, agreeing with the pullus bonus, also masculine.
You've seen two Proverbs which are similar to this one: Malum ovum, malus pullus and Mala gallina, malum ovum.
Here's a recap:
Plus the LOLCats!
Here's a recap:
- In vino veritas.
- Ex humo homo.
- Ab ovo Ledae incipit.
- Vox clamantis in deserto.
- Ex pravo pullus bonus ovo non venit ullus.
Plus the LOLCats!
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