The word solet means "accustomed to" or "used to" (in the sense of "usually" doing something). This same root appears in the English word "insolent," which originally had the sense of "unaccustomed, unusual," and then later came to have more and more negative connotations.
The word licet means "it is allowed" or "it is permitted," and you can see this root in English "license." You can also see the root negated in English "illicit," something that is not allowed.
To get started, here is a little slideshow (with cats) of the words you have seen before:
And here are today's proverbs:
1. Mater timidi flere non solet.
(The) mother of-a-coward isn't accustomed to-weep.
mater TI-midi flere non solet.
You know all the words in this saying. In fact, you saw a simpler version of this saying before: Mater timidi non flet.
3. Non solet esse incruenta victoria.
Victory isn't accustomed to-be bloodless.
non solet esse incru-EN-ta vic-TO-ria.
The feminine adjective incruenta means "bloodless." It is a negated word: in-cruenta, "not-bloody." The adjective is feminine because it agrees with the feminine noun victoria.
To get started, here is a little slideshow (with cats) of the words you have seen before:
1. Mater timidi flere non solet.
(The) mother of-a-coward isn't accustomed to-weep.
mater TI-midi flere non solet.
You know all the words in this saying. In fact, you saw a simpler version of this saying before: Mater timidi non flet.
The word flere is the infinitive of the verb flet.
The word timidity is the genitive of the adjective timidus, "fearful," which is being used as a noun here, "of a fearful (man)," i.e. "of a coward."
The idea is that a coward will not risk his life (for example, by going to war), so his mother will not have to bewail his death in some act of fearless bravery.
2. Heres instar vulturis esse solet.
(An) heir is-accustomed to-be like (a) vulture.
heres instar VUL-turis esse solet.
The noun heres gives us English "heir" and words like "heritage" and "inheritance."
2. Heres instar vulturis esse solet.
(An) heir is-accustomed to-be like (a) vulture.
heres instar VUL-turis esse solet.
The noun heres gives us English "heir" and words like "heritage" and "inheritance."
The word instar means "image, likeness," and it is used with a genitive, meaning "the likeness of" or simply "like."
The word vulturis is the genitive of the noun vultur, which gives us English "vulture."
Remember, the word esse is the infinitive form of the verb est.
Remember, the word esse is the infinitive form of the verb est.
The metaphor is a gruesome one: vultures feast on dead bodies, while heirs "feast" on the possessions of the dead.
3. Non solet esse incruenta victoria.
Victory isn't accustomed to-be bloodless.
non solet esse incru-EN-ta vic-TO-ria.
The feminine adjective incruenta means "bloodless." It is a negated word: in-cruenta, "not-bloody." The adjective is feminine because it agrees with the feminine noun victoria.
Notice how the double negation creates a positive: non...incruenta, "not...bloodless," i.e. it is bloody.
This Latin saying was quoted by Rabelais in his comic masterpiece Gargantua and Pantagruel.
4. Bis peccare in bello non licet.
To-make-a-mistake twice in war isn't allowed.
bis pec-CA-re in bello non licet.
There words should all be familiar too!
The word peccare is the infinitive of the verb peccat.
4. Bis peccare in bello non licet.
To-make-a-mistake twice in war isn't allowed.
bis pec-CA-re in bello non licet.
There words should all be familiar too!
The word peccare is the infinitive of the verb peccat.
The word bello is the ablative form of the noun bellum, used with the preposition in.
The idea is that normally you can learn from your mistakes, and you might even have to make the same mistake repeatedly until you learn the lesson. In war, however, you do not have that luxury: you might be able to make a mistake once and survive, but not twice.
5. Cum licet fugere, ne quaere litem.
When (it's) permitted to-get-away, don't seek (a) quarrel.
cum licet FU-gere, ne quaere litem.
You know all the words in this saying also.
5. Cum licet fugere, ne quaere litem.
When (it's) permitted to-get-away, don't seek (a) quarrel.
cum licet FU-gere, ne quaere litem.
You know all the words in this saying also.
The word fugere is the infinitive of the verb fugit.
The word quaere is the imperative of the verb quaerere. Remember that the word ne is used with imperative verbs, instead of non, which is used with indicative verbs.
The word litem is the accusative form of the noun lis, and it is the object of the imperative quaere.
Sometimes the word cum is a preposition ("with"), as you have seen in many sayings, but this is the cum the conjunction, meaning "when."
This advice both to personal quarrels and also to lawsuits; we get the English word "litigation" from the Latin lis.
Here's a recap:
Plus the LOLCats!
Here's a recap:
- Mater timidi flere non solet.
- Heres instar vulturis esse solet.
- Non solet esse incruenta victoria.
- Bis peccare in bello non licet.
- Cum licet fugere, ne quaere litem.
Plus the LOLCats!
