Proverbs/Grammar ~ Grammar/Proverbs: Latin Lesson #123: Preposition review week

The focus for today's lesson is reviewing the prepositions which you've been learning about for the past few weeks, now with nouns and adjectives from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd declensions all mixed together because, of course, they come higgledy-piggledy all mixed together in actual Latin.

As you read through the sayings, look for the preposition in each saying, and then identify the declension if you can. You can then check in the notes to see if you were correct.

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

And now here are today's proverbs:

1. Asinus in cathedra.
(A) donkey on (a) throne.
A-sinus in ca-THE-dra.

The preposition is in, and the word cathedra is the ablative form (cathedrā) of the noun cathedra, which you've seen before.

This saying is mocking someone who occupies a position or has acquired some kind of status that they do not deserve. Compare a saying you saw before about the incongruous donkey-king: Illiteratus rex est asinus coronatus.

2. In medio stat virtus.
Virtue stands in (the) middle.
in ME-dio stat virtus.

The preposition again is in, and the word medio is the ablative form of the adjective medium, which is being used as a noun here: in medio, "in the middle (thing)."
The verb stat, "stands," is new to you, but you've seen a noun that derives from this root: statua.

This is another one of the sayings in praise of moderation. Real virtue is not about extremes; instead, it's about finding the "happy medium."

3. Nulla sine sole umbra.
No shadow without sun.
nulla sine sole umbra.

The preposition is sine, and the word sole is the ablative form of the noun sol, which you have seen before. In fact, you've seen all the words in this saying before.

It's literally true, and as such is sometimes found as a sundial inscription. Metaphorically, the idea is that if there is a shadow (something difficult, sad, etc.), you should remember that there is never a shadow without a sun... somewhere. In that sense, it's something like clouds with their silver linings in English.

4. Bibe cum gaudio vinum tuum.
Drink your wine with joy.
bibe cum GAU-dio vinum tuum.

The preposition is cum, and the word gaudio is the ablative form of the noun gaudium, "joy." You haven't seen this noun before, but you have seen the related verb: gaudet, "rejoices, enjoys."

The word bibe is the imperative form of the verb bibet, "drinks." You haven't seen this word before, but you have seen the participle (verbal adjective) formed from this verb: bibens.

The word vinum is the accusative form of the noun vinum (remember: neuter nouns have the same form in the nominative and the accusative). The neuter adjective tuum agrees with vinum. You haven't seen the neuter form of this adjective before, but you've seen the feminine form: tua.

These words come from the book of Ecclesiastes in the Bible; here is the whole verse: Vade ergo, et comede in laetitia panem tuum, et bibe cum gaudio vinum tuum, quia Deo placent opera tua, "Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works."

5. Ex domo felis discedit mus impransus.
The mouse departs unfed from (the) cat's house.
ex domo felis dis-CE-dit mus im-PRAN-sus.

The preposition is ex, and the word domo is the ablative form of the noun domus, which you have seen before.

The word felis is the genitive form of the noun feles, which you have seen before.

The adjective impransus is a compound, im-pransus, "not-lunched, without eating lunch, unfed." You can see this Latin root in the English word "postprandial."

It's hard being a mouse in the house of the cat!

Here's a recap: