Latin Phrase-Book

3. Belief – Unbelief – Superstition

opinio dei– belief in god.

deum esse credimus– we believe in the existence of a God.

deos esse negare– to deny the existence of the gods.

insitas (innatas) dei cognitiones habere (N. D. 1. 17. 44) – to have innate ideas of the Godhead; to believe in the Deity by intuition.

omnibus innatum est et in animo quasi insculptum esse deum– belief in God is part of every one's nature.

natura in omnium animis notionem dei impressit (N. D. 1. 16. 43) – Nature has implanted in all men the idea of a God.

impietas– unbelief.

qui deum esse negat– an atheist.

superstitio mentes occupavit (Verr. 4. 51. 113) – superstition has taken possession of their souls.

superstitione imbutum esse– to be tinged with superstition.

superstitione teneri, constrictum esse, obligatum esse– to be the slave of superstition.

superstitionem funditus tollere– to absolutely annihilate superstition.

superstitionem radicitus or penitus evellere– to destroy superstition root and branch.

formidines– superstitious fears; phantoms.

4. Prayers – Wishes – Vows

precari aliquid a deo– to pray to God.

precari deum, deos– to pray to God.

supplicare deo (Sall. Iug. 63. 1) – to pray to God.

adhibere deo preces– to pray to God.

praeire verba (carmen) (Liv. 31. 17) – to read prayers for the congregation to repeat.

(supinas) manus ²⁰⁷ ad caelum tendere– to raise the hands to heaven (attitude of prayer).

favete ore, linguis = εὐφημειτε – maintain a devout silence (properly, utter no ill-omened word).

preces facere– to pray.

grates, laudes agere dis immortalibus– to thank, glorify the immortal gods.

testari deos (Sull. 31. 86) – to call the gods to witness.

contestari deos hominesque– to call gods and men to witness.

dis bene iuvantibus (Fam. 7. 20. 2) – with the help of the gods.

quod deus bene vertat! ²⁰⁸– and may God grant success!

quod di immortales omen avertant! (Phil. 44. 11) – and may heaven avert the omen! heaven preserve us from this!

quod abominor! (procul absit!)– God forbid!

di prohibeant, di meliora!– heaven forfend!

quod bonum, faustum, felix, fortunatumque sit! ²⁰⁹ (Div. 1. 45. 102) – may heaven's blessing rest on it.

precari alicui bene (male) or omnia bona (mala), salutem– to bless (curse) a person.

vota facere, nuncupare, suscipere, concipere– to make a vow.

vota solvere, persolvere, reddere– to accomplish, pay a vow.

voti damnari, compotem fieri– to have to pay a vow; to obtain one's wish.

5. Sacrifice – Festival

sacra, sacrificium facere (ἱερὰ ῥέζειν), sacrificare– to sacrifice.

rem divinam facere (dis)– to sacrifice.

ture et odoribus incensis– with incense and perfumes.

rebus divinis (rite) perpetratis– after having performed the sacrifice (with due ritual).

sacrificium statum (solemne) (Tusc. 1. 47. 113) – a periodically recurring (annual) sacrifice.

sacra polluere et violare– to profane sacred rites.

victimas (oxen), hostias (smaller animals, especially sheep) immolare, securi ferire, caedere, mactare– to slaughter victims.

deos placare (B. G. 6. 15) – to appease the anger of the gods.

manes expiare (Pis. 7. 16) – to appease the manes, make sacrifice for departed souls.

pro victimis homines immolare– to sacrifice human victims.

parentare (Leg. 2. 21. 54) – to make a sacrifice on the tomb of one's ancestors.

libare– to offer libations.

diem festum agere (of an individual) – to keep, celebrate a festival.

diem festum celebrare (of a larger number) – to keep, celebrate a festival.

supplicationem indicere ad omnia pulvinaria (Liv. 27. 4) – to proclaim a public thanksgiving at all the street-shrines of the gods.

supplicationem quindecim dierum decernere (Phil. 14. 14. 37) – to decree a public thanksgiving for fifteen days.

supplicationem habere (Liv. 22. 1. 15) – to celebrate a festival of thanksgiving.

lectisternium facere, habere (Liv. 22. 1. 18) – to hold a lectisternium.

6. Oracle – Prodigies – Auspices – Presage

oraculum consulere– to consult an oracle.

oraculum petere (ab aliquo)– to ask for an oracular response.

mittere Delphos consultum– to send and consult the oracle at Delphi.

oraculum dare, edere– to give an oracular response.

responsum dare (vid. sect. VIII. 5, note Note to answer…), respondere– to give an oracular response.

oraculum Pythium (Pythicum)– an oracle given by the Delphian Apollo (Apollo Pythius).

vox Pythia (Pythica) (Liv. 1. 56) – an oracle given by the Delphian Apollo (Apollo Pythius).

prodigia procurare ²¹⁰ (Liv. 22. 1) – to avert by expiatory sacrifices the effect of ominous portents.

libros Sibyllinos adire, consulere, inspicere– to consult the Sibylline books.

augurium agere, ²¹¹ auspicari (N. D. 2. 4. 11) – to take the auspices, observe the flight of birds.

de caelo servare (Att. 4. 3. 3) – to observe the sky (i. e. the flight of birds, lightning, thunder, etc.)

aves (alites, oscines) ²¹² addīcunt alicui (opp. abdicunt aliquid) – the omens are favourable to some one.

augures obnuntiant (consuli) (Phil. 2. 33. 83) – the augurs announce an unfavourable sign.

auspicato (rem gerere, urbem condere)– after having duly taken the auspices.

omen accipere (opp. improbare) – to accept as a happy omen.

accipere, vertere aliquid in omen– to interpret something as an omen.

faustis ominibus– with favourable omens.

omen infaustum, triste– an evil omen; presage of ill.

XII. Domestic Life

1. The House and its different Parts

domus necessariis rebus instructa– a comfortably-furnished house.

domus ruina ²¹³ impendet– the house threatens to fall in (vid. sect. X. 5, note "Threaten"…).

domus collapsura, corruitura (esse) videtur– the house threatens to fall in (vid. sect. X. 5, note "Threaten"…).

domus subita ruina collapsa est– the house suddenly fell in ruins.

domum demoliri (Top. 4. 22) – to demolish, raze a house.

domus non omnes capit ²¹⁴ (χωρειν) – the house is not large enough for all.

domum frequentare (Sall. Cat. 14. 7) – to be a regular visitor at a house.

domus rimas agit– the house walls are beginning to crack.

apud eum sic fui tamquam domi meae (Fam. 13. 69) – I felt quite at home in his house.

apud aliquem esse– to be at some one's house.

tectum subire– to enter the house.

tecto, (in) domum suam aliquem recipere (opp. prohibere aliquem tecto, domo) – to welcome to one's house (opp. to shut one's door against some one).

domo pedem non efferre– to never set foot out of doors.

pedem limine efferre– to cross the threshold.

foras exire (Plaut. Amph. 1. 2. 35) – to go out of the house.

foras mittere aliquem– to turn some one out of the house.

in publico– in the streets.

in publicum prodire (Verr. 2. 1. 31) – to show oneself in the streets, in public.

publico carere, se abstinere– to never appear in public.

domi se tenere– to never appear in public.

deducere ²¹⁵ aliquem de domo– to escort a person from his house.

pro aris ²¹⁶ et focis pugnare, certare, dimicare– to fight for hearth and home.

domi (opp. foris) – at home; in one's native country.

ostium, fores pulsare– to knock at the door.

ostium, fores aperire, claudere– to open, shut the door.

fores obserare– to bolt the door.

ianuam effringere, revellere– to burst open the door.

valvas (portam) obstruere– to barricade a door (a city-gate).

2. Domestic Matters – Property

rem domesticam, familiarem administrare, regere, curare– to keep house.

rem or opes habere, bona possidere, in bonis esse– to possess means, to be well off.

opibus, divitiis, bonis, facultatibus abundare– to be very rich.

rem bene (male) gerere ²¹⁷ (vid. sect. XVI. 10a) – to manage one's affairs, household, property well or ill.

rem familiarem tueri– to manage one's affairs, household, property well or ill.

rem familiarem neglegere– to neglect, mismanage one's household matters.

diligentem, frugi esse– to be economical.

diligens paterfamilias– a careful master of the house.

frugi ²¹⁸ (opp. nequam) servus– a good, useful slave.

severum imperium in suis exercere, tenere (De Sen. 11. 37) – to be a strict disciplinarian in one's household.

in possessionem alicuius rei venire– to come into the possession of something.

in possessionem alicuius rei invadere– to take forcible possession of a thing.

expellere aliquem domo, possessionibus pellere– to turn a person out of his house, his property.

demovere, deicere aliquem de possessione– to dispossess a person.

exturbare aliquem omnibus fortunis, e possessionibus– to drive a person out of house and home.

evertere aliquem bonis, fortunis patriis– to drive a person out of house and home.

possessione alicuius rei cedere alicui (Mil. 27. 75) – to give up a thing to some one else.

res, quae moveri possunt; res moventes ²¹⁹ (Liv. 5. 25. 6) – movable, personal property.

fundi– property in land; real property.

3. Habitation – Clothing

habitare ²²⁰ in domo alicuius, apud aliquem (Acad. 2. 36. 115) – to live in some one's house.

domicilium (sedem ac domicilium) habere in aliquo loco– to dwell in a certain place.

sedem collocare alicubi (Rep. 2. 19. 34) – to take up one's abode in a place, settle down somewhere.

sedem ac domicilium (fortunas suas) constituere alicubi– to take up one's abode in a place, settle down somewhere.

considere alicubi (Att. 5. 14. 1) – to take up one's abode in a place, settle down somewhere.

multitudinem in agris collocare– to settle a large number of people in a country.

domo emigrare (B. G. 1. 31) – to emigrate.

domo profugus (Liv. 1. 1) – homeless.

induere vestem (without sibi) – to dress oneself.

vestem mutare (opp. ad vestitum suum redire) (Planc. 12. 29) – to go into mourning.

vestimenta (et calceos) mutare– to change one's clothes (and shoes).

vestitus obsoletus, tritus– cast-off clothing.

vestis stragula or simply vestis– drapery.

togatus, ²²¹ palliatus– with a toga, cloak on.

pannis obsitus– in rags paludatus, sagatus– in a military cloak (paludamentum, of a general; sagum, of soldiers).

togam virilem (puram) sumere– to assume the toga virilis.

vestem ponere ²²² (exuere)– to undress.

4. Food – Drink

cibum sumere, capere– to take food.

cibum concoquere, conficere– to digest food.

multi cibi esse, edacem esse– to be a great eater.

cibum apponere, ponere alicui– to set food before a person.

corpus curare (cibo, vino, somno)– to refresh oneself, minister to one's bodily wants.

ventri deditum esse– to be the slave of one's appetite.

cibo se abstinere– to abstain from all nourishment.

ieiunium servare– to fast.

tantum cibi et potionis adhibere quantum satis est– to take only enough food to support life.

cibus delicatus– delicacies.

panis cibarius– ordinary bread.

vino deditum esse, indulgere– to be given to drink.

potare– to drink to excess; to be a drunkard.

alicui bibere dare ²²³– to give some one to drink.

alicui bibere ministrare– to serve some one with drink.

propīno tibi hoc (poculum, salutem)– I drink your health.

bene tibi or te!– your health!

inter pocula– whilst drinking; at table.

exhaurire poculum– to empty a cup at a draught.

5. Subsistence in General

victus cotidianus– daily bread.

victus tenuis (Fin. 2. 28. 90) – meagre diet.

res ad vitam necessariae– the necessaries of life.

quae ad victum pertinent– the necessaries of life.

res ad victum cultumque necessariae– things indispensable to a life of comfort.

vitae commoditas iucunditasque– comfort omnes ad vitam copias suppeditare alicui– to provide some one with a livelihood.

quae suppeditant ad victum (Off. 1. 4. 12) – a livelihood.

copiae cotidianis sumptibus suppetunt (vid. sect. IV. 2, note suppeditare…) – his means suffice to defray daily expenses.

victum aliqua re quaerere– to earn a livelihood by something.

vivere carne, piscibus, rapto (Liv. 7. 25) – to live on meat, fish, by plunder.

de suo (opp. alieno) vivere– to live on one's means.

vitam (inopem) tolerare (B. G. 7. 77) – to endure a life of privation.

non habeo, qui (unde) vivam– I have no means, no livelihood.

laute vivere ²²⁴ (Nep. Chab. 3. 2) – to live well.

6. Expenditure – Luxury – Prodigality

sumptum facere, insumere in aliquid– to spend money on an object.

sumptus effusi (vid. sect. IX. 2, note Cf. effusa fuga…) or profusi– prodigal expenditure.

sumptui parcere (Fam. 16. 4) – to incur few expenses.

sumptibus modum statuere– to limit one's expenditure.

sumptum minuere– to retrench.

sumptus perpetui (Off. 2. 12. 42) – current expenses.

sumptus liberales (Off. 2. 12. 42) – munificence.

delicate ac molliter vivere– to live a luxurious and effeminate life.

luxuria diffluere (Off. 1. 30. 106) – to be abandoned to a life of excess.

omnium rerum copia diffluere– to be abandoned to a life of excess.

in luxuriam effundi– to plunge into excesses, a career of excess.

effundere, profundere pecuniam, patrimonium– to squander one's money, one's patrimony.

dissipare rem familiarem (suam)– to squander all one's property.

lacerare bona sua (Verr. 3. 70. 164) – to squander all one's property.

7. Hospitality

convivium instruere, apparare, ornare (magnifice, splendide)– to prepare, give a feast, dinner.

mensas exquisitissimis epulis instruere (Tusc. 5. 21. 62) – to load the tables with the most exquisite viands.

mensae exstructae– a table bountifully spread.

caput cenae (Fin. 2. 8. 25) – the main dish.

secunda mensa (Att. 14. 6. 2) – the dessert.

ab ovo usque ad mala (proverb.)²²⁵– from beginning to end.

aliquem vocare, invitare ad cenam– to invite some one to dinner.

promittere (ad cenam) (Off. 3. 14. 58) – to accept an invitiation to dinner.

inter cenam, inter epulas– during dinner; at table.

promittere ad aliquem– to promise to dine with a person.

condicere alicui (ad cenam)– to invite oneself to some one's house for dinner.

adhibere aliquem cenae or ad cenam, convivio or in convivium– to welcome some one to one's table.

cenam alicui apponere– to set a repast before a person.

convivia tempestiva (Arch. 6. 13) – a repast which begins in good time.

accipere aliquem (bene, copiose, laute, eleganter, regio apparatu, apparatis epulis)– to entertain, regale a person.

deverti ad aliquem (ad \[in\villam)– to go to a man's house as his guest.

deversari apud aliquem (Att. 6. 1. 25) – to stop with a person, be his guest for a short time when travelling.

mihi cum illo hospitium est, intercedit– my relations with him are most hospitable.

hospitio alicuius uti– to enjoy a person's hospitality.

hospitium cum aliquo facere, (con-)iungere– to become a friend and guest of a person.

hospitio aliquem accipere or excipere (domum ad se)– to welcome a man as a guest in one's house.

hospitium renuntiare (Liv. 25. 18) – to sever (previous) hospitable relations.

domus patet, aperta est mihi– I am always welcome at his house.

invitare aliquem tecto ac domo or domum suam (Liv. 3. 14. 5) – to invite some one to one's house.

8. Sociability – Intercourse – Isolation

vitae societas ²²⁶– social life.

facilitas, faciles mores (De Am. 3. 11) – a sociable, affable disposition.

societatem inire, facere cum aliquo– to associate with some one.

dissipatos homines in (ad) societatem vitae convocare (Tusc. 1. 25. 62) – to unite isolated individuals into a society.

socium se adiungere alicui– to attach oneself to a person's society.

aliquem socium admittere– to admit a person into one's society.

assiduum esse cum aliquo– to be always in some one's company.

uti aliquo (familiariter)– to be on intimate terms with some one.

alicuius familiaritate uti– to be on intimate terms with some one.

usu, familiaritate, consuetudine coniunctum esse cum aliquo– to be on friendly terms with a person.

est mihi consuetudo, or usus cum aliquo– to be on friendly terms with a person.

vivere cum aliquo– to be on friendly terms with a person.

vetus usus inter nos intercedit– we have known each other well for several years.

devincire aliquem consuetudine– to attach a person to oneself.

se dare in consuetudinem alicuius– to devote oneself to a person's society.

se insinuare in consuetudinem alicuius (Fam. 4. 13. 6) – to insinuate oneself into a person's society.

summa necessitudine aliquem contingere– to stand in very intimate relations to some one.

in simultate cum aliquo sum– relations are strained between us.

hominum coetus, congressus fugere– to shun society.

in solitudine vivere (Fin. 3. 20. 65) – to live in solitude.

secum vivere– to live to oneself.

vitam solitariam agere– to live a lonely life.

9. Conversation – Audience – Conference

sermonem conferre,²²⁷ instituere, ordiri cum aliquo– to enter into conversation with some one.

se dare in sermonem cum aliquo– to enter into conversation with some one.

sermonem inferre de aliqua re– to turn the conversation on to a certain subject.

in eum sermonem ²²⁸ incidere, qui tum fere multis erat in ore– to talk of a subject which was then the common topic of conversation.

sermo incidit de aliqua re– the conversation turned on…

in sermonem ingredi– to begin a conversation.

sermo ortus est ab aliqua re– the conversation began with…

sermonem alio transferre– to turn the conversation to another topic.

medium sermonem abrumpere (Verg. Aen. 4. 388) – to break off in the middle of the conversation.

sermonem producere in multam noctem (Rep. 6. 10. 10) – to prolong a conversation far into the night.

sermonem habere cum aliquo de aliqua re (De Am. 1. 3) – to converse, talk with a person on a subject.

hinc sermo ductus est– the conversation began in this way.

sermo inductus a tali exordio– the conversation began in this way.

multus sermo– a long conversation.

narratio, fabula– a narrative, tale, story.

narratiuncula, fabella (Fin. 5. 15) – an anecdote.

haec fabula docet– this fable teaches us (without nos).

convenire aliquem– to meet a person (accidentally or intentionally) and talk with him.

congredi cum aliquo– to meet a person by arrangement, interview him.

sui potestatem facere, praebere alicui– to give audience to some one.

colloquendi copiam facere, dare– to give audience to some one.

conveniendi aditum ²²⁹ dare alicui– to give audience to some one.

aditum conveniendi or colloquium²³⁰ petere– to ask a hearing, audience, interview.

(ad colloquium) admitti (B. C. 3. 57) – to obtain an audience of some one.

in congressum alicuius venire– to obtain an audience of some one.

velle aliquem (Plaut. Capt. 5. 2. 24) – to wish to speak to some one.

paucis te volo– a word with you.

tribus verbis te volo– a word with you.

sermo cotidianus, or simply sermo– conversational language.

coram loqui (cum aliquo)– to speak personally to…

commercium loquendi et audiendi– interchange of ideas; conversation.

capita conferre (Liv. 2. 45) – to put our heads together.

remotis arbitris or secreto– in private; tête-à-tête.

intra parietes (Brut. 8. 32) – within four walls.

10. Greeting – Farewell

salutem alicui dicere, impertire, nuntiare– to greet a person.

aliquem salvere iubere (Att. 4. 14) – to greet a person.

quid agis? ²³¹– how are you?

quid agitur? quid fit?– what is going on? how are you getting on?

Cicero Attico ²³² S.D.P. (salutem dicit plurimam)– Cicero sends cordial greetings to Atticus.

tibi plurimam salutem– my best wishes for your welfare.

nuntia fratri tuo salutem verbis meis (Fam. 7. 14) – remember me to your brother.

adscribere alicui salutem (Att. 5. 20. 9) – to add to one's letter good wishes to some one.

salute data (accepta) redditaque– after mutual greeting.

inter se consalutare (De Or. 2. 3. 13) – to exchange greetings.

dextram alicui porrigere, dare– to give one's right hand to some one.

dextram iungere cum aliquo, dextras inter se iungere– to shake hands with a person.

te valere ²³³ iubeo– I bid you good-bye, take my leave.

vale or cura ut valeas– good-bye; farewell.

bene ambula et redambula– a safe journey to you.

gratulari alicui aliquid or de aliqua re– to congratulate a person on something.

11. Betrothal – Marriage – Divorce

filiam alicui despondere– to betroth one's daughter to some one.

sibi (aliquam) despondere (of the man) – to betroth oneself, get engaged.

nuptias conciliare (Nep. Att. 5. 3) – to arrange a marriage.

nuptias parare– to make preparations for a marriage.

condicio (uxoria) (Phil. 2. 38. 99) – a match.

ducere uxorem– to marry (of the man).

ducere aliquam in matrimonium– to marry (of the man).

nubere alicui– to marry (of the woman).

nuptam esse cum aliquo or alicui– to be married to some one.

uxorem habere (Verr. 3. 33. 76) – to be a married man.

dotem filiae dare– to give a dowry to one's daughter.

filiam alicui in matrimonio or in matrimonium collocare or simply filiam alicui collocare– to give one's daughter in marriage to some-one.

filiam alicui in matrimonium dare– to give one's daughter in marriage to some-one.

filiam alicui nuptum dare– to give one's daughter in marriage to some-one.

nuntium remittere alicui (De Or. 1. 40) – to separate, be divorced (used of man or woman).

repudium dicere or scribere alicui– to separate, be divorced (used of man or woman).

divortium facere cum uxore– to separate from, divorce (of the man).

aliquam suas res sibi habere ²³⁴ iubere (Phil. 2. 28. 69) – to separate from, divorce (of the man).

repudium ²³⁵ remittere viro (Dig. 24. 3) – to separate (of the woman).