Latin Lesson #249: 1st conjugation -ant

The focus for today's lesson is the 3rd-person plural ending for the 1st conjugation... and it's -ant. No surprise there! The verb sunt, "they are," already featured the -nt ending, so now you have -a- the theme vowel of the 1st conjugation, which gives you that ending: ambulant, "they walk;" volant, "they fly," and so on.

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

Now you're ready for today's proverbs:

1. Fata obstant.
The-Fates stand-in-the-way.
fata obstant.

You already know all the words in this saying! The verb obstant is the plural form of obstat. The subject is fata, the plural of fatum.

This famous phrase comes from Vergil's Aeneid, an epic that is very much about fate and destiny, with the Fates getting in the way of the plans of both gods and mortals.


2. Monstrant astra viam.
The-stars show the-way.
monstrant astra viam.

The verb monstrant is the plural form of monstrat, "shows, demonstrates." The subject is astra, the plural of astrum.

The word viam is the accusative of via, object of the verb.

The stars, astra, are sometimes read as a kind of destiny or fate, and in this saying, the stars are not in the way but are instead pointing the way.


3. Carmina non dant panem.
Songs don't give bread.
CAR-mina non dant panem.

The verb dant is the plural form of dat. The carmina, the plural of carmen, "song," which also gives us English "charm."
The word panem is the accusative of panis, object of the verb.

In other words, songs (and music and dancing and poetry, etc.) are all very enjoyable, and even valuable, but you cannot live off them. A similar saying declares: Litterae non dant panem, "Letters (i.e. literature, writing) doesn't give bread."

4. Verba cutem non lacerant.
Words don't mangle the-skin.
verba cutem non LA-cerant.

The verb lacerant is the plural form of lacerat, "mangles, tears, shreds," as in English "lacerate." The subject is verba, the plural of verbum.

The word cutem is the accusative of cutis, object of the verb.

Compare the English saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."


5. Multae manus onus levant.
Many hands lighten the-load.
multae manus onus levant.

The verb levant is the plural form of levat, "mangles, tears, shreds," as in English "lever" and "relieve." The subject is multae manus, the plural of multa manus. Remember manus? It is one of those sneaky feminine 4th-declension nouns.
The word onus is the accusative form of onus; yes, it's one of those sneaky neuter 3rd-declension nouns, with the same form in the nominative and the accusative. It's the accusative of the verb.

This is literally true about a heavy load, and metaphorically it implies to cooperation in any kind of work.

Here's a recap:

• Fata obstant.
• Monstrant astra viam.
• Carmina non dant panem.
• Verba cutem non lacerant.
• Multae manus onus levant.

And here is today's audio:



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