You will also see an example of the present participle form of sequitur, which is sequens, "following." This Latin word gives us English "sequence." While the verb sequitur is passive in form, the participle sequens looks just like the present participle form of an active verb, with the same -ns ending: amans, "loving," etc.
Meanwhile, to get started, here is the slideshow (with cats) of the words you have seen before:
And here are today's proverbs:
1. Gamma Betam persequitur.
G follows-after B.
Gamma Betam per-SE-quitur.
The nouns beta and gamma are the names of letters in the Greek alphabet, which begins: alpha, beta, gamma, and then delta and so on; you can see the complete Greek alphabet here.
3. Testudinem equus insequitur.
(The) horse is-chasing (the) turtle.
tes-TU-dinem equus in-SE-quitur.
The verb insequor means "follows up on, comes after, chases," which is the idea here: the horse, equus, is chasing the turtle, testudinem, the accusative form of testudo.
Meanwhile, to get started, here is the slideshow (with cats) of the words you have seen before:
1. Gamma Betam persequitur.
G follows-after B.
Gamma Betam per-SE-quitur.
The nouns beta and gamma are the names of letters in the Greek alphabet, which begins: alpha, beta, gamma, and then delta and so on; you can see the complete Greek alphabet here.
The word betam is the accusative form of beta, and it is the object of the verb.
The verb persequitur means "follows continually, keeps following, always follows," and this it gives us the English "persecute."
In this saying, the letter gamma is not persecuting the letter beta; instead, the idea is that gamma always follows beta, no matter what. Compare the English saying "2 + 4 = 4," which also expresses the same sense of what is obvious and inevitable.
2. Mors et fugacem persequitur virum.
Death pursues even (the) fleeing man.
mors et fu-GA-cem per-SE-quitur virum.
You know all the words in this saying!
In this saying, the letter gamma is not persecuting the letter beta; instead, the idea is that gamma always follows beta, no matter what. Compare the English saying "2 + 4 = 4," which also expresses the same sense of what is obvious and inevitable.
2. Mors et fugacem persequitur virum.
Death pursues even (the) fleeing man.
mors et fu-GA-cem per-SE-quitur virum.
You know all the words in this saying!
The word virum is the accusative form of vir, and the adjective fugacem is the accusative form of fugax, agreeing with the noun virum. Notice how the noun phrase wraps around the verb: fugacem...virum.
The word et here is being used as an adverb, "even, also," rather than as a conjunction.
The idea is that even if someone runs away from death, death will follow him too; no one escapes death.
3. Testudinem equus insequitur.
(The) horse is-chasing (the) turtle.
tes-TU-dinem equus in-SE-quitur.
The verb insequor means "follows up on, comes after, chases," which is the idea here: the horse, equus, is chasing the turtle, testudinem, the accusative form of testudo.
This is one of those paradoxical proverbs about a topsy-turvy world: the turtle has outrun the horse, so the horse is chasing the turtle from behind. So, when you see something completely and totally unexpected happening, you could say that the horse is chasing the turtle.
4. Tandem sua poena nocentem insequitur.
His punishment finally overtakes (the) wrongdoer.
tandem sua poena no-CEN-tem in-SE-quitur.
The word nocentem is the accusative form of nocens, "someone who does harm, a harm-doer, wrong-doer." You haven't seen this participle before, but you have seen the verb: nocet.
4. Tandem sua poena nocentem insequitur.
His punishment finally overtakes (the) wrongdoer.
tandem sua poena no-CEN-tem in-SE-quitur.
The word nocentem is the accusative form of nocens, "someone who does harm, a harm-doer, wrong-doer." You haven't seen this participle before, but you have seen the verb: nocet.
The subject of the verb, poena, means "punishment," and you can see this Latin word in the English word "penal."
The word tandem is an adverb: "finally, at last, at length." And yes, this is the same word used in English, "tandem," to refer to two things together in a line, like a long tandem bicycle with one seat behind the other.
The word tandem is an adverb: "finally, at last, at length." And yes, this is the same word used in English, "tandem," to refer to two things together in a line, like a long tandem bicycle with one seat behind the other.
So the idea is that, sooner or later (perhaps much later), punishment will catch up to the criminal.
5. Honor fugientem sequitur, sequentem fugit.
Renown pursues (whoever) flees (it, and) flees (whoever) pursues (it).
honor fugi-EN-tem SE-quitur, se-QUEN-tem fugit.
This is the proverb mentioned above which has the participle sequens, "following." The word sequentem is the accusative form of the participle, the object of the verb fugit.
5. Honor fugientem sequitur, sequentem fugit.
Renown pursues (whoever) flees (it, and) flees (whoever) pursues (it).
honor fugi-EN-tem SE-quitur, se-QUEN-tem fugit.
This is the proverb mentioned above which has the participle sequens, "following." The word sequentem is the accusative form of the participle, the object of the verb fugit.
The word fugientem is the accusative form of the participle fugiens, "fleeing," and it is the object of the verb sequitur.
So, the idea is that if someone chases after honor, glory, renown, etc., then his goal will flee from him and he will never reach it: honor sequentem fugit. But if someone does not want honor, does not want glory, then it will follow him even while he tries to escape: honor fugientem sequitur.
Here's a recap:
And here is today's audio:
Plus the LOLCats!
Here's a recap:
- Gamma Betam persequitur.
- Mors et fugacem persequitur virum.
- Testudinem equus insequitur.
- Tandem sua poena nocentem insequitur.
- Honor fugientem sequitur, sequentem fugit.
And here is today's audio:
Plus the LOLCats!
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