And here is the slideshow (with cats) of the words you have seen before:
1. Alit lectio ingenium.
Reading nourishes genius.
alit LEC-tio in-GEN-ium.
The word lectio, "reading," is new to you, but you have seen the verb that it comes from: legit. You can see Latin lectio in the English word "lectionary."
The word ingenium is the accusative form of ingenium (remember: neuter nouns have identical nominative and accusative forms), and it is the object of the verb, alit.
The saying comes from a letter by the Roman philosopher Seneca.
2. Disce parvo esse contentus.
Learn to be satisfied with-little.
disce parvo esse con-TEN-tus.
The adjective contentus gives us "content," and it takes an ablative complement. The word parvo is the ablative form of parvum, so parvo contentus means "content with a little."
The word disce is an imperative, and it takes an infinitive complement: esse, which is the infinitive of the verb est.
These words come from Seneca also!
3. Diluculo surgere saluberrimum est.
It's healthiest to-get-up at-dawn.
di-LU-culo SUR-gere salu-BER-rimum est.
The word diluculo is the ablative form of the word diluculum, "dawn, daybreak." This is a new word, but you know the root noun: lux.
3. Diluculo surgere saluberrimum est.
It's healthiest to-get-up at-dawn.
di-LU-culo SUR-gere salu-BER-rimum est.
The word diluculo is the ablative form of the word diluculum, "dawn, daybreak." This is a new word, but you know the root noun: lux.
The word saluberrimum means "the most healthy," and it can also be translated "very healthy, extremely healthy." You haven't seen this word before, but you have seen the root noun: salus.
The word surgere is the infinitive of the verb surgit. That's why there is a neuter adjective here; infinitives are like neuter nouns, so the neuter adjective saluberrimum agrees with the infinitive, surgere.
An abbreviated version of this saying is quoted by Sir Toby in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.
4. Mens alitur discendo et cogitando.
(The) mind is-nourished by-learning and by-thinking.
mens A-litur dis-CEN-do et cogi-TAN-do.
The word alitur is the passive form of the verb alit.
4. Mens alitur discendo et cogitando.
(The) mind is-nourished by-learning and by-thinking.
mens A-litur dis-CEN-do et cogi-TAN-do.
The word alitur is the passive form of the verb alit.
The word discendo is the ablative form of discendum, and the word cogitando is the ablative form of cogitandum, "thinking." You haven't seen this word before, but you have seen the root verb: cogitat.
These words come from the Roman statesman and philosopher, Cicero, and the meaning is very similar to the alit saying above: Alit lectio ingenium.
5. Nil melius laetam quam semper ducere vitam.
Nothing (is) better than always to-lead (a) happy life.
nil ME-lius laetam quam semper DU-cere vitam.
The word vitam is the accusative form of vita, and it is the object of the infinitive ducere. The word laetam is the accusative form of the feminine adjective laeta, "happy," agreeing with the feminine noun vitam. You haven't seen this adjective before, but you have seen a related noun: laetitia.
The word melius is a neuter adjective, agreeing with the neuter noun nil. It is a comparative adjective, and quam explains the comparison: nil est melius quam, "nothing is better than..."
This is a medieval saying, as you can see from the near-rhyme: laetam... vitam...
Here's a recap:
Plus the LOLCats!
Here's a recap:
- Alit lectio ingenium.
- Disce parvo esse contentus.
- Diluculo surgere saluberrimum est.
- Mens alitur discendo et cogitando.
- Nil melius laetam quam semper ducere vitam.
Plus the LOLCats!
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