And here is a little slideshow (with cats) of the words you have seen before:
1. Durum est natare contra impetum fluminis.
(It) is hard to swim against (the) river's rushing-water.
durum est na-TA-re contra IM-petum FLU-minis.
The word natare is the infinitive of the verb natat, "swims." In English "natatorium" is a fancy way to say "swimming pool."
The neuter adjective durum agrees with the infinitive, which is a neuter verbal noun.
The word impetum is the accusative form of the noun impetus, a Latin word we also use in English: "impetus." The accusative completes the prepositional phrase: contra impetum; this is one of those prepositions that takes an accusative complement.
The word impetum is the accusative form of the noun impetus, a Latin word we also use in English: "impetus." The accusative completes the prepositional phrase: contra impetum; this is one of those prepositions that takes an accusative complement.
The word fluminis is the genitive form of the noun flumen, which you have seen before.
Compare the English proverbial saying "to swim upstream," meaning to act in a way that is contrary to what others are doing, perhaps even in a reckless or dangerous way.
2. Melius est enim minus egere quam plus habere.
Indeed, (it) is better to-need less than to-have more.
ME-lius est enim minus e-GE-re quam plus ha-BE-re.
The word enim, "indeed, really, truly," is a post-positive participle in Latin, which means it always comes in second position. Usually second position means after the first word, but here it means after the phrase melius-est. (The placement of enim is a clue here that the word est was like an enclitic, so that melius-est was pronounced as if it were one word.)
The word egere is the infinitive of the verb eget, and habere is the infinitive of habet, both of which you have seen before.
2. Melius est enim minus egere quam plus habere.
Indeed, (it) is better to-need less than to-have more.
ME-lius est enim minus e-GE-re quam plus ha-BE-re.
The word enim, "indeed, really, truly," is a post-positive participle in Latin, which means it always comes in second position. Usually second position means after the first word, but here it means after the phrase melius-est. (The placement of enim is a clue here that the word est was like an enclitic, so that melius-est was pronounced as if it were one word.)
The word egere is the infinitive of the verb eget, and habere is the infinitive of habet, both of which you have seen before.
The neuter adjective melius agrees with the infinitives: melius est ... egere ... quam habere.
The words come from St. Augustine, and it's also very good advice for our modern cult of consumerism.
3. Melius est diabolum hostem quam hospitem habere.
(It) is better to-have (the) devil (as) enemy than host.
ME-lius est di-A-bolum hostem quam HOS-pitem ha-BE-re.
Here is the infinitive habere again (habet is the most commonly used 2nd-conjugation verb).
The word diabolum is the accusative form of diabolus. It is accusative because it is the object of the infinitive: habere diabolum.
The word hostem is the accusative form of hostis, "enemy," as in English "hostile." The accusative form agrees with diabolum in this phrase: habere diabolum hostem, "to have the devil (as) an enemy."
The word hospitem is the accusative form of hospes, "host," as in English "hospitality." It also agrees with diabolum to create this phrase: habere diabolum hospitem, "to have the devil (as) host."
The words hostis and hospes are an odd pair in Latin; you might enjoy looking at the dictionary entries for each one: hostis - hospes. They both come from the same Indo-European root, and from that root we get English "guest."
4. Errare humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicum.
To-err is human, but to-persist (is) diabolical.
er-RA-re hu-MA-num est, perseve-RA-re autem dia-BO-licum.
The word perseverare is the infinitive of the verb perseverat, "persist," which also gives us English "persevere." Meanwhile, the infinitive errare is from errat, which you have seen before.
The word autem, "but, however," is another one of those postpositives which goes in second position in its clause.
Both humanum and diabolicum are neuter adjectives, agreeing with the infinitives. You haven't seen diabolicum before, but it is just the adjectival form of diabolus and gives us English "diabolical."
As I mentioned, there are many variations on this popular saying which you first met earlier this week: Humanum est errare, divinum condonare.
5. Expedit iubam leonis tenere magis quam caudam vulpis.
It-is-expedient to grab the lion's mane rather than the fox's tail.
EX-pedit iubam le-O-nis te-NE-re magis quam caudam vulpis.
The verb expedit means "removes impediments, expedites," as in English "expedient." The verb is a compound: ex-ped-it, "out-feet = gets the feet out (of shackles), unfetters."
The word tenere is the infinitive of the verb tenet, which you have seen before, and it is the subject of the verb expedit.
The word iubam is the accusative of iuba, "mane," and leonis is the genitive singular of leo. The accusative iuba is the object of tenere.
The word caudam is the accusative of cauda which you have seen before; vulpis is the genitive of vulpes, "fox," as in English "vulpine." This is also the object of the infinitive: tenere caudam vulpis.
This is one of many Latin sayings which are based on the opposition between the bold, brave lion and the sneakier, cowardly fox.
Here's a recap:
Plus the LOLCats!
Here's a recap:
- Durum est natare contra impetum fluminis.
- Melius est enim minus egere quam plus habere.
- Melius est diabolum hostem quam hospitem habere.
- Errare humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicum.
- Expedit iubam leonis tenere magis quam caudam vulpis.
Plus the LOLCats!
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