Proverbs/Grammar ~ Grammar/Proverbs: Latin Lesson #147: Noli + infinitive

The focus for today's lesson is an imperative verb, noli, that you can use to create negative imperatives by combining noli with an imperative:

Noli ambulare. Don't walk!
Noli currere. Don't run!

The word noli is actually a contraction of the word non plus the verb vol- meaning "to want, will" (like in English "volition" and "voluntary"). So, that's why noli takes an infinitive complement; noli ambulare literally means, "don't-want to-walk!" and noli currere means "don't-want to-run!"

You'll see noli in each of the sayings in today's lesson!

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

So, here are today's proverbs:

1. Noli trepidare!
Don't be-afraid!
noli trepi-DA-re!

You know all the words in this saying! The word trepidare is the infinitive form of the verb trepidat.

You know another verb meaning fears, "timet," so you could use that verb to express the same idea: Noli timere, "Don't fear!"

2. Noli tristis esse.
Don't be sad.
noli tristis esse.

The word esse is the infinitive form of the verb est.

The adjective tristis, "sad," is new to you, but you know a related noun, tristitia. The adjective is being used as the predicate of the infinitive: tristis esse, "to be sad."

3. Miserum noli ridere.
Don't mock (a) wretched (person).
MI-serum noli ri-DE-re.

The word ridere is the infinitive form of the verb ridet.

The word miserum is the accusative form of the masculine adjective miser, "wretched," and it is the object of the infinitive: miserum ridere, "to mock a wretched person."

You have not seen masculine miser before, but you have seen the feminine form, misera, and also the noun: miseria.

This is one of the "one-liners" (monostichs) of Cato; you can see them all here.

4. Iratum noli stimulare.
Don't provoke (an) angry (person).
i-RA-tum noli stimu-LA-re.

The word stimulare is the infinitive form of the verb stimulat, "provokes." You have not seen this verb before, but you have seen the related noun: stimulus.

The word iratum is the accusative form of the masculine adjective, iratus, "angry, enraged," and it is the object of the infinitive: iratum stimulate, "to provoke an angry person."

You haven't seen iratum before, but you have seen the root noun: ira.

5. Noli nimis alte volare.
Don't fly too high.
noli nimis alte vo-LA-re.

The word volare is the infinitive form of the verb volat,
The word alte is an adverb meaning "up high, on high, high," and it goes with the infinitive: alte volare, "to fly high."

The word nimis is an adverb meaning "too much, too," and it modifies alte to create an adverbial phrase: nimis alte, "too high."
You haven't seen nimis before, but you have seen another form of this same adverb: nimium.

This saying alludes to the story of Icarus who flew too high... and his wax wings melted. Daedalus had warned him: O fili care, noli nimis alte volare, "O dear son, do not fly too high."

Here's a recap: