To get started, here is the slideshow (with cats) of the words you have seen before:
1. Redditur terrae corpus.
(The) body is-given-back to-the-earth.
RED-ditur terrae corpus.
You know all the words in this saying already!
The verb redditur is the passive form of reddit.
The word terrae is the dative form of terra, used with the verb redditur: given back to the earth.
These words are found in the writings of the Roman philosopher Cicero; the idea that the body comes from the earth and returns to the earth is an idea shared by the ancient Romans which also resonates with the Jewish and Christian traditions.
2. Capra haud iungitur aratro.
A-goat isn't joined to-the-plow.
capra haud IUN-gitur a-RA-tro.
The verb iungitur, "is joined," is the passive form of iungit. This is where we get the English word "join" and also "junction."
2. Capra haud iungitur aratro.
A-goat isn't joined to-the-plow.
capra haud IUN-gitur a-RA-tro.
The verb iungitur, "is joined," is the passive form of iungit. This is where we get the English word "join" and also "junction."
The word aratro is the dative form of aratrum, used with the verb iungitur: joined to the plow.
There are various animals that can pull a plow; the goat is not one of them; to attempt to do so would be foolish.
3. Cineri nunc medicina datur.
Medicine now is-given to-the-ashes.
CI-neri nunc medi-CI-na datur.
You also know all the words in this saying too.
3. Cineri nunc medicina datur.
Medicine now is-given to-the-ashes.
CI-neri nunc medi-CI-na datur.
You also know all the words in this saying too.
The verb datur is the passive form of dat.
The word cineri is the dative form of cinis, which has as its stem ciner-. Remember: with 3rd-declension nouns, you cannot see the stem in the nominative form; you need to learn the stem separately. That's why Latin dictionaries give you the genitive form of the nouns, because you can see the stem in the genitive: cineris. The singular in Latin, "ash," has the same meaning as "ashes" in English; in this case, the ashes are the remains of a person who has been died and cremated.
The dative is being used with the verb datur: given to the ashes.
The idea is that once someone is dead and gone, it's too late to try medicine to cure them. Compare the English saying about "closing the stable door after the horse has bolted."
4. Male irato ferrum committitur.
(A) sword is-handed to-an-angry-(man) badly.
male i-RA-to ferrum com-MIT-titur.
4. Male irato ferrum committitur.
(A) sword is-handed to-an-angry-(man) badly.
male i-RA-to ferrum com-MIT-titur.
The verb committitur, "is handed over to, is committed," is the passive form of committit. You haven't seen this verb before, but you have seen the root verb: mittitur.
The subject of the verb is ferrum, which literally means "iron," but which also comes to mean "sword." You can see this Latin root in English scientific vocabulary like "ferrous."
The word irato is the dative form of iratus, an adjective, "angry," being used as a noun: "angry (man)." It is used with the verb committitur: handed to an angry man.
The word irato is the dative form of iratus, an adjective, "angry," being used as a noun: "angry (man)." It is used with the verb committitur: handed to an angry man.
The use of the adverb male is very natural in Latin, but a bit awkward in English. More colloquially in English you could say: "It's a bad idea to give a sword to an angry man."
5. Destinatus cruci non submergitur.
(Someone) destined for-the-cross doesn't drown.
desti-NA-tus cruci non sub-MER-gitur.
The verb submergitur "is submerged, drowns," is the passive form of submergit, which is where we get English "submerge." The English verb "drown" is one of the words that can be transitive (to drown something or something) or intransitive (something or someone drowns). That's why it can be translated either with a passive verb in English, "is drowned" or with an active (intransitive) verb: "drowns."
5. Destinatus cruci non submergitur.
(Someone) destined for-the-cross doesn't drown.
desti-NA-tus cruci non sub-MER-gitur.
The verb submergitur "is submerged, drowns," is the passive form of submergit, which is where we get English "submerge." The English verb "drown" is one of the words that can be transitive (to drown something or something) or intransitive (something or someone drowns). That's why it can be translated either with a passive verb in English, "is drowned" or with an active (intransitive) verb: "drowns."
The word cruci is the dative form of crux, which has as its stem cruc- (genitive crucis). It is being used with the adjective destinatus, "destined" — "destined for the cross." This is a secular Roman cross, not a Christian one: someone who is destinatus cruci is destined to be executed as a criminal on the cross. You can read more about Roman crucifixion at Wikipedia.
Compare the English saying which substitutes a different kind of capital punishment: "If you're born to be hanged, then you'll never be drowned."
Here's a recap:
- Redditur terrae corpus.
- Capra haud iungitur aratro.
- Cineri nunc medicina datur.
- Male irato ferrum committitur.
- Destinatus cruci non submergitur.
Plus the LOLCats!
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