You've actually see some 4th-declension nouns already because in the nominative case and in the accusative case, they look the same as 2nd-declension nouns. But the 4th declension is different in the genitive, ablative, and dative cases. Here's a comparison of a 2nd-declension noun, amicus, "friend," with a 4th-declension noun, morsus, "bite."
2nd - case - 4th
amīc-us - nom. - mors-us
amīc-um - acc. - mors-um
amīc-ī - gen. - mors-ūs
amīc-ō - abl. - mor-sū
amīc-ō - dat. - mor-suī
This word morsus is a verbal noun from a verb you have seen before: mordet, "bites." In English, "bite" can be both a noun and a verb, but in Latin, the different parts of speech have their own forms: mordet is the verb, and morsus is the noun. The English word "morsel," is from Latin morsellus, "a little bite," a diminutive form of morsus.
Not all 4th-declension nouns are verbal nouns, but many of them are, as you'll see 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. Morsus morsum ducit.
(One) bite leads (another) bite.
morsus morsum ducit.
1. Morsus morsum ducit.
(One) bite leads (another) bite.
morsus morsum ducit.
The word morsus, "bite," is a 4th-declension noun from the verb mordet. The word morsum is the accusative form.
The idea is that after you take one bite, you're going to want another!
2. Calumniae morsui nullum remedium.
(There is) no remedy for-the-bite of-slander.
ca-LUM-niae MOR-sui nullum re-ME-dium.
The word morsui is the dative form of the word morsus, "for-the-bite."
The word calumniae is the dative form of the noun calumnia, "slander," which is the origin of the English word "calumny." That is the only new word in this saying; you already know the words nullum remedium.
2. Calumniae morsui nullum remedium.
(There is) no remedy for-the-bite of-slander.
ca-LUM-niae MOR-sui nullum re-ME-dium.
The word morsui is the dative form of the word morsus, "for-the-bite."
The word calumniae is the dative form of the noun calumnia, "slander," which is the origin of the English word "calumny." That is the only new word in this saying; you already know the words nullum remedium.
In other words: there is no way to undo the harm inflicted by slander because words cannot be unsaid.
3. Avis a cantu dignoscitur.
(A) bird is-known by (its) song.
avis a cantu dig-NOS-citur.
The word cantus, "song, singing," is a 4th-declension noun from the verb canit. The ablative form is cantu, used here with the preposition a, "by its song," a cantu.
3. Avis a cantu dignoscitur.
(A) bird is-known by (its) song.
avis a cantu dig-NOS-citur.
The word cantus, "song, singing," is a 4th-declension noun from the verb canit. The ablative form is cantu, used here with the preposition a, "by its song," a cantu.
The word dignoscitur is the passive form, dignoscit, "recognize, discern." You haven't seen this verb before, but you have seen the root word: noscit.
This is literally true because birds do have distinctive songs, and metaphorically, it means you can recognize a person's character based on the words that they say.
4. Non uno ictu cadit quercus.
(The) oak doesn't fall (at) one blow.
non uno ictu cadit quercus.
The word ictus, "blow, hit," is a 4th-declension word, and it is also used in English, "ictus," referring to the stress on the accented syllable of a word. The ablative form is ictu, "by means of a blow, at a blow."
4. Non uno ictu cadit quercus.
(The) oak doesn't fall (at) one blow.
non uno ictu cadit quercus.
The word ictus, "blow, hit," is a 4th-declension word, and it is also used in English, "ictus," referring to the stress on the accented syllable of a word. The ablative form is ictu, "by means of a blow, at a blow."
The adjective uno is masculine ablative singular, agreeing with the noun ictu: "by means of one blow," uno ictu.
The word quercus, "oak tree," is also a 4th-declension noun! Even more interesting: it is a feminine noun. Almost all the nouns in the 4th declension are masculine, but a few are feminine. And here's another fun fact: tree names in Latin, no matter what declension, are feminine, and so is the word arbor, "tree."
Literally, this is true: a tree does not fall at the first blow of the axe, and metaphorically, it refers to any big project that will take time and effort to complete.
5. Vita hominis cursus est ad mortem.
(A) person's life is a-running towards death.
vita HO-minis cursus est ad mortem.
You know all the words in this saying!
5. Vita hominis cursus est ad mortem.
(A) person's life is a-running towards death.
vita HO-minis cursus est ad mortem.
You know all the words in this saying!
The word cursus, which you have seen before, is a 4th-declension noun from the verb currit. This is the nominative form, the predicate of the verb: est cursus, "it is a race, a running."
The word hominis is the genitive form of homo, so the phrase vita hominis means "a person's life."
The word mortem is the accusative form of mors, used here with the preposition ad.
Notice how the words vita and mortem frame the saying: it begins with life, and it ends with death.
Here's a recap:
Plus the LOLCats!
Here's a recap:
- Morsus morsum ducit.
- Calumniae morsui nullum remedium.
- Avis a cantu dignoscitur.
- Non uno ictu cadit quercus.
- Vita hominis cursus est ad mortem.
Plus the LOLCats!
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