Latin Lesson #227: You want - vis.

The focus for today's lesson is another irregular verb: vult. Just as you would expect, the 2nd-person singular form ends in -s, but you might be surprised by the vowel (that's the irregular part): vis, "you want, you will."

As a reminder, this verb can take a direction object in the accusative when you want something, but it can also take an infinitive complement when you want to do something. You'll see examples of both types of constructions in today's sayings.

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

And here are today's proverbs:

1. Si vis scire, doce.
If you-want to-know, teach.
si vis scire, doce.

You know all the words in this saying! 
The verb vis is taking an infinitive complement here: vis scire, "you want to know."

The word doce is the imperative form of the verb docet. 

2. Si vis regnare, divide.
If you-want to-rule, divide.
si vis reg-NA-re, DI-vide.

You know all the words in this saying too!

The verb vis is taking an infinitive complement here also: vis regnare, "you want to rule."

The word divide is the imperative form of the verb dividet. 

Compare the English saying, "Divide and conquer."


3. Si vis pacem, para bellum.
If you-want peace, prepare war.
si vis pacem, para bellum.

The word para, "prepare!" is the imperative form of the verb parat. You can see this root in English "prepare." Aside from that word, you've seen all the rest of the words in this saying before.

The word pacem is the accusative form of pax, and it is the object of vis.

The word bellum, meanwhile, is the accusative form of bellum (those neuter nouns always look the same in the nominative and accusative), the object of the verb para.

This famous saying has its own Wikipedia article.


4. Si vis pacem, cole iustitiam.
If you-want peace, cultivate justice.
si vis pacem, cole ius-TI-tiam.

The only new word in this saying is cole, "cultivate!" is the imperative form of the verb colit. This Latin verb is actually the root of the English words "culture,' "cultivate," etc. 

The word iustitiam is the accusative form of iustitia, and it is the object of cole.

This is the original motto of the International Labor Organization, or ILO.


5. Ebibe vas totum, si vis cognoscere potum.
Drink the-whole container, if you-want to-know (the) drink.
E-bibe vas totum, si vis cog-NOS-cere potum.

The word ebibe, "drink! drink up!" is the imperative form of the verb ebibit. You haven't seen this verb before, but you have seen the unprefixed form: bibit.
The word totum is a neuter adjective agreeing with the neuter noun vas, the object of the verb ebibe. You haven't seen the neuter form of this adjective before, but you have seen the masculine form: totus.

Those are the two new words in this saying; you've seen all the rest of these words before.

The word potum is the accusative form of the noun potus; it is the object of the infinitive cognoscere which goes with the verb vis: "you want to know the drink," vis cognoscere potum.

Notice the rhyme, totum-potum, which lets you know that this is a medieval saying.


Here's a recap:

• Si vis scire, doce.
• Si vis regnare, divide.
• Si vis pacem, para bellum.
• Si vis pacem, cole iustitiam.
• Ebibe vas totum, si vis cognoscere potum.

And here is today's audio:



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