Latin Phrase-Book

4. Public Meetings – Suffrage

convocare populi concilium and populum ad concilium– to summon an assembly of the people.

contionem advocare (Sall. Iug. 33. 3) – to summon an assembly of the people.

agere cum populo ²⁵² (Leg. 3. 4. 10) – to submit a formal proposition to the people.

concilium indicere, habere, dimittere– to fix the day for, to hold, to dismiss a meeting.

comitia habere– to hold a meeting of the people.

comitia magistratibus creandis– meetings for the election of officers.

comitiis (Abl.) convenire– to meet for elections.

comitiis consulem creari– to be chosen consul at the elections.

suffragium ferre (vid. sect. VI. 4, note Not sententiam…) – to vote (in the popular assembly).

multitudinis suffragiis rem permittere– to leave a matter to be decided by popular vote.

5. Laws – Bills

legem, rogationem ²⁵³ promulgare (Liv. 33. 46) – to bring a bill before the notice of the people.

legem ferre or simply ferre ad populum, ut…– to propose a law in the popular assembly.

legem suadere (opp. dissuadere) – to support a bill (before the people).

pro lege dicere– to support a bill (before the people).

legem rogare or rogare populum (cf. sect. XVI. 4, note Aulus Gellius…) – to formally propose a law to the people.

legem perferre (Liv. 33. 46) – to carry a law (said of the magistrate).

lex perfertur– a law is adopted.

legem antiquare ²⁵⁴ (opp. accipere, iubere) – to reject a bill.

legem sciscere (Planc. 14. 35) – to vote for a law.

legem iubere– to ratify a law (used of the people).

legem sancire– to let a bill become law (of the people and senate).

Solo lege sanxit, ut or ne– Solo ordained by law that…

Solonis legibus sanctum erat, ut or ne– the laws of Solon ordained that…

legem abrogare ²⁵⁵ (Att. 3. 23. 2) – to replace an old law by a new.

legem tollere (Leg. 2. 12. 31) – to abolish a law.

legi intercedere– to protest against a law (used of the veto, intercessio, of plebeian tribunes).

legem proponere in publicum– to bring a law before the notice of the people.

edictum proponere (Att. 2. 21. 4) – to publish, post up an edict.

legem in aes incīdere– to engrave a law upon a brazen tablet.

lex rata est (opp. irrita) – a law is valid.

legem ratam esse iubere– to declare a law valid.

a lege discedere– to transgress a law.

salvis legibus (vid. sect. X. 7, note Notice…) – without breaking the law.

lex ²⁵⁶ iubet, vetat (dilucide, planissime)– the law orders, forbids (expressly, distinctly).

in lege scriptum est, or simply est– the law says…

sententia or voluntas legis– the spirit of the law.

leges scribere, facere, condere, constituere (not dare) – to make laws (of a legislator).

legum scriptor, conditor, inventor– a legislator.

qui leges scribit (not legum lator)²⁵⁷– a legislator.

in legem iurare (Sest. 16. 37) – to swear obedience to a law.

lege teneri– to be bound by a law.

legibus solvere– to free from legal obligations.

ea lege, ut– on condition of…

aliquid contra legem est– a thing is illegal.

acta rescindere, dissolvere (Phil. 13. 3. 5) – to declare a magistrate's decisions null and void.

in album referre (De Or. 2. 12. 52) – to record in the official tablets (Annales maximi).

6. Popular Favour – Influence – Unpopularity

aura favoris popularis (Liv. 22. 26) – popular favour; popularity.

populi favor, gratia popularis– popular favour; popularity.

aura popularis (Harusp. 18. 43) – popular favour; popularity.

auram popularem captare (Liv. 3. 33) – to court popularity.

gratiam populi quaerere– to court popularity.

aurae popularis homo (Liv. 42. 30) – a popular man.

ventum popularem quendam (in aliqua re) quaerere– to strive to gain popular favour by certain means.

gratiosum esse (opp. invisum esse) – to be popular, influential.

opibus, gratia, auctoritate valere, florere– to have great influence.

opes, gratiam, potentiam consequi– to acquire influence.

gratiam inire apud aliquem, ab aliquo (cf. sect. V. 12) – to gain some one's favour.

crescere ex aliquo– to raise oneself by another's fall.

crescere ex invidia senatoria– to profit by the unpopularity of the senate to gain influence oneself.

iacēre (vid. sect. VII. 1, note iacēre…) – to be politically annihilated.

existimatio populi, hominum– public opinion.

multum communi hominum opinioni tribuere– to be always considering what people think.

invidia– unpopularity.

offensio populi, popularis– unpopularity.

offensa populi voluntas– unpopularity.

invidia dictatoria (Liv. 22. 26) – the feeling against the dictator.

ex invidia alicuius auram popularem petere (Liv. 22. 26) – to use some one's unpopularity as a means of making oneself popular.

7. Party-Spirit – Neutrality – Politics – Aristocracy – Democracy

partes (usually of plebeians) – a party; faction.

factio (of aristocrats) – a party; faction.

partium studium, also simply studia– party-spirit.

partium studiosum esse– to be a strong partisan.

certamen partium– party-strife.

contentio partium (Phil. 5. 12. 32) – party-strife.

partium studiis divisum esse– to be torn by faction.

consiliorum in re publica socius– a political ally.

alicuius partes (causam) or simply aliquem sequi– to embrace the cause of… be a partisan of…

alicuius partibus studere– to embrace the cause of… be a partisan of…

ab (cum) aliquo stare (Brut. 79. 273) – to be on a person's side (not ab alicuius partibus).

alicuius studiosum esse– to be a follower of some one.

cum aliquo facere (Sull. 13. 36) – to take some one's side.

nullius or neutrius (of two) partis esse– to be neutral.

in neutris partibus esse– to be neutral.

neutram partem sequi– to be neutral.

medium esse– to be neutral.

medium se gerere– to be neutral.

a partibus rei publicae animus liber (Sall. Cat. 4. 2) – an independent spirit.

idem de re publica sentire– to have the same political opinions.

ab aliquo in re publica dissentire– to hold different views in politics.

ex rei publicae dissensione– owing to political dissension.

in duas partes discedere (Sall. Iug. 13. 1) – to divide into two factions.

studio ad rem publicam ferri– to throw oneself heart and soul into politics.

se civilibus fluctibus committere– to enter the whirlpool of political strife.

imperium singulare, unius dominatus, regium imperium– monarchy.

optimatium dominatus– aristocracy (as a form of government).

civitas, quae optimatium arbitrio regitur– aristocracy (as a form of government).

boni cives, optimi, optimates, also simply boni (opp. improbi); illi, qui optimatium causam agunt– the aristocracy (as a party in politics).

principes or primores– the aristocracy (as a leading class in government).

nobiles; nobilitas; qui nobilitate generis excellunt– the aristocracy (as a social class).

paucorum dominatio or potentia– oligarchy.

multitudinis dominatus or imperium– government by the mob.

spiritus patricii (Liv. 4. 42) – patrician arrogance; pride of caste.

homines graves (opp. leves) – men of sound opinions.

homo popularis– a democrat.

homo vere popularis (Catil. 4. 5. 9) – a man who genuinely wishes the people's good.

homo florens in populari ratione– a democratic leader.

imperium populi or populare, civitas or res publica popularis– democracy.

causam popularem suscipere or defendere– to take up the cause of the people, democratic principles.

populi causam agere– to be a leading spirit of the popular cause.

patriae amantem (amantissimum) esse (Att. 9. 22) – to be (very) patriotic.

mundanus, mundi civis et incola (Tusc. 5. 37) – a citizen of the world; cosmopolitan.

8. Demagogy – Revolution – Rebellion – Anarchy

plebis dux, vulgi turbator, civis turbulentus, civis rerum novarum cupidus– a demagogue, agitator.

iactatio, concitatio popularis– popular agitation.

artes populares– tricks of a demagogue.

populariter agere– to play the demagogue.

conversio rei publicae (Div. 2. 2. 6) – revolution.

homines seditiosi, turbulenti or novarum rerum cupidi– revolutionists.

novis rebus studere– to hold revolutionary opinions.

novarum rerum cupidum esse– to hold revolutionary opinions.

novas res moliri (Verr. 2. 125) – to plot a revolution.

contra rem publicam sentire– to foster revolutionary projects.

contra rem publicam facere– to be guilty of high treason.

a re publica deficere– to betray the interests of the state.

plebem concitare, sollicitare– to stir up the lower classes.

seditionem facere, concitare– to cause a rebellion.

seditio erumpit ²⁵⁸– a rebellion breaks out.

coniurare (inter se) de c. Gerund. or ut…– to form a conspiracy.

coniurationem facere (Catil. 2. 4. 6) – to form a conspiracy.

conspirare cum aliquo (contra aliquem)– to conspire with some one.

rem publicam labefactare– to shake the stability of the state.

rem publicam perturbare– to throw the state into confusion.

statum rei publicae convellere– to endanger the existence of the state.

rem publicam vexare– to damage the state.

rem publicam funditus evertere– to completely overthrow the government, the state.

omnes leges confundere– to upset the whole constitution.

omnia turbare ac miscere– to cause universal disorder.

perturbatio omnium rerum (Flacc. 37) – general confusion; anarchy.

omnia divina humanaque iura permiscentur (B. C. 1. 6. 8) – anarchy reigns supreme.

leges nullae– lawlessness; anarchy.

iudicia nulla– lawlessness; anarchy.

res fluit ad interregnum– things seem tending towards an interregnum.

non nullus odor est dictaturae (Att. 4. 18) – there are whispers of the appointment of a dictator.

tumultum sedare (B. C. 3. 18. 3) – to quell an outbreak.

concitatam multitudinem reprimere– to allay the excitement of the mob.

plebem continere– to hold the people in one's power, in check.

9. Proscription – Confiscation – Banishment – Amnesty

proscribere aliquem or alicuius possessiones– to proscribe a person, declare him an outlaw.

aqua et igni interdicere alicui– to proscribe a person, declare him an outlaw.

in proscriptorum numerum referre aliquem (Rosc. Am. 11. 32) – to place a person's name on the list of the proscribed.

e proscriptorum numero eximere aliquem– to erase a person's name from the list of the proscribed.

bona alicuius publicare (B. G. 5. 54) – to confiscate a person's property.

bona alicui restituere– to restore to a person his confiscated property.

in exsilium eicere or expellere aliquem– to banish a person, send him into exile.

ex urbe (civitate) expellere, pellere aliquem– to banish a person, send him into exile.

de, e civitate aliquem eicere– to banish a person, send him into exile.

exterminare (ex) urbe, de civitate aliquem (Mil. 37. 101) – to expel a person from the city, country.

e patria exire iubere aliquem– to banish a man from his native land.

patria carere– to be in exile.

interdicere alicui Italiā– to banish a person from Italy.

aliquem exsilio afficere, multare– to punish by banishment.

in exsilium ire, pergere, proficisci– to go into exile.

exsulatum ire or abire– to go into exile.

solum vertere, mutare (Caecin. 34. 100) – to leave one's country (only used of exiles).

exsulare (Div. 2. 24. 52) – to live in exile.

in exsilio esse, exsulem esse– to live in exile.

aliquem (in patriam) restituere– to recall from exile.

in patriam redire– to return from exile.

ante actarum (praeteritarum) rerum oblivio or simply oblivio– amnesty (ἀμνηρτία).

omnem memoriam discordiarum oblivione sempiterna delere (Phil. 1. 1. 1) – to proclaim a general amnesty.

postliminium (De Or. 1. 40. 181) – a returning from exile to one's former privileges.

10. Power – Monarchy – Royalty

imperium, rerum summam deferre alicui ²⁵⁹– to confer supreme power on a person.

rem publicam alicui permittere– to give some one unlimited power in state affairs.

imperium tenere (in aliquem)– to have power over some one.

imperium obtinere– to maintain power, authority.

principatu deici (B. G. 7. 63) – to be deposed from one's leading position.

cum imperio esse (cf. XVI. 3) – to have unlimited power; to be invested with imperium.

in imperio esse– to hold a high office (such as conferred imperium, i.e. consulatus, dictatura, praetura).

imperium in annum prorogare– to prolong the command for a year.

imperium deponere (Rep. 2. 12. 23) – to lay down one's power.

imperium singulare ²⁶⁰– absolute power; autocracy.

dominari in aliquem– to have unlimited power over a person.

imperium, regnum, tyrannidem ²⁶¹ occupare– to take upon oneself absolute power.

rerum potiri– (1) to usurp supreme power, (2) to be in a position of power.

dominatio impotens– despotic, tyrannous rule.

potestas immoderata, infinita– despotic, tyrannous rule.

tyrannidem concupiscere– to aspire to a despotism.

tyrannidem sibi parere aliqua re– to establish oneself as despot, tyrant by some means.

regnum appetere (B. G. 7. 4) – to aspire to the sovereignty.

regnum adipisci– to obtain the sovereignty, kingly office.

alicui regnum deferre, tradere– to invest some one with royal power.

aliquem regem, tyrannum constituere– to establish some one as king, tyrant.

regem restituere– to restore a king to his throne (not in solium).

aliquem in regnum restituere– to restore a king to his throne (not in solium).

aliquem regno spoliare or expellere (Div. 1. 22. 74) – to depose a king.

regios spiritus sibi sumere– to assume a despotic tone.

11. Slavery – Freedom

servitute premi (Phil. 4. 1. 3) – to languish in slavery.

liberum populum servitute afficere– to enslave a free people.

aliquem in servitutem redigere– to reduce to slavery.

alicui servitutem iniungere, imponere– to lay the yoke of slavery on some one.

civitatem servitute oppressam tenere (Dom. 51. 131) – to keep the citizens in servile subjection.

libertatem populo eripere– to rob a people of its freedom.

populum liberum esse, libertate uti, sui iuris esse pati– to grant a people its independence.

aliquem in servitutem abducere, abstrahere– to carry off into slavery.

aliquem sub corona vendere (B. G. 3. 16) – to sell a prisoner of war as a slave.

iugum servitutis accipere– to submit to the yoke of slavery.

libertas, libertatis studium– independent spirit.

imperium oppugnare, percellere– to attack, overthrow a tyranny.

ad libertatem conclamare– to summon to liberty.

ad arma conclamare (Liv. 3. 50) – to call to arms.

vincula rumpere– to burst one's chains.

iugum servitutis excutere– to shake off the yoke of slavery.

iugum servile a cervicibus deicere (Phil. 1. 2. 6) – to shake off the yoke of slavery.

servitutem exuere (Liv. 34. 7) – to shake off the yoke of slavery.

iugum servile alicui demere– to deliver some one from slavery.

ab aliquo servitutem or servitutis iugum depellere– to deliver some one from slavery.

dominationem or dominatum refringere– to destroy a despotism, tyranny.

regios spiritus reprimere (Nep. Dion. 5. 5) – to destroy a despotism, tyranny.

libertatem recuperare– to recover liberty.

rem publicam in libertatem vindicare a or ex dominatione– to deliver the state from a tyranny.

12. Revenue – Colonies – Provinces

vectigalia redimere, conducere– to farm the revenues.

vectigalia exercere (vid. sect. V. 7, note The first…) – to collect the taxes.

vectigalia exigere (acerbe)– to exact the taxes (with severity).

pecuniam cogere a civitatibus– to extort money from the communities.

vectigalia, tributa ²⁶² pendere– to pay taxes.

immunis (tributorum) (Verr. 5. 21. 51) – exempt from taxation.

immunitatem omnium rerum habere– to enjoy absolute immunity.

vectigalia, tributa alicui imponere– to impose tribute on some one.

tributorum multitudine premi– to be crushed by numerous imposts.

ager publicus– public land; state domain.

agros assignare (Leg. Agr. 1. 6. 17) – to allot land.

pecunia publica, quae ex metallis redit– the public income from the mines.

avertere pecuniam (Verr. 2. 1. 4) – to embezzle money.

peculatum facere (Rab. Perd. 3. 8) – to embezzle money.

rem publicam quaestui habere– to enrich oneself at the expense of the state.

coloniam deducere in aliquem locum (vid. sect. XII. 1, note Notice too…) – to found a colony somewhere.

colōnos mittere (Div. 1. 1. 3) – to send out colonists.

coloniam constituere (Leg. Agr. 1. 5. 16) – to found a colony.

provinciam ²⁶³ alicui decernere, mandare– to entrust some one with an official duty, a province.

provincias sortiri (Liv. 38. 35) – to draw lots for the provinces.

alicui Syria (sorte) obvēnit, obtigit– the province of Syria has fallen to some one's lot.

provincias inter se comparant– (the magistrates) arrange among themselves the administration of the provinces, the offical spheres of duty.

in provinciam proficisci (Liv. 38. 35) – to set out for one's province.

provincias permutare– to exchange provinces.

provinciam administrare, obtinere– to manage, govern a province.

provinciam obire– to visit, traverse a province.

(de or ex) provincia decedere or simply decedere (vid. sect. II. 4, note Cf. especially…) – to leave a province (at the termination of one's term of office).

13. Magistracies

(a) Candidature – Election

petere magistratum, honores– to seek office.

ambire ²⁶⁴ aliquem (always with Acc. of person) – to solicit the vote or favour of some one.

nomen profiteri or simply profiteri– to become a candidate.

manus prensare ²⁶⁵ (De Or. 1. 24. 112) – to shake hands with voters in canvassing.

nomina appellat (nomenclator)– the agent (nomenclator) mentions the names of constituents to the canvasser.

competītor (Brut. 30. 113) – a rival candidate.

multa (pauca) puncta in centuria (tribu) aliqua ferre ²⁶⁶– to obtain many (few) votes in a century or tribe.

centuriam, tribum ferre (Planc. 49) – to gain the vote of a century or tribe.

omnes centurias ferre or omnium suffragiis, cunctis centuriis creari– to be elected unanimously repulsam ferre consulatus (a populo) (Tusc. 5. 19. 54) – to fail in one's candidature for the consulship.

magistratus vitio creati– magistrates elected irregularly (i. e. either when the auspices have been unfavourable or when some formality has been neglected).

sufficere aliquem in alicuius locum or alicui– to elect a man to fill the place of another who has died whilst in office.

alicui or in alicuius locum succedere– to succeed a person in an office.

alicui imperatori succedere– to succeed some one as general.

suo (legitimo) anno creari (opp. ante annum) – to be elected at the age required by law (lex Villia annalis).

continuare magistratum (Sall. Iug. 37. 2) – to continue one's office for another year.

continuare alicui magistratum– to prolong some one's office for another year.

prorogare alicui imperium (in annum)– to prolong a person's command.

magistratus et imperia (Sall. Iug. 3. 1) – civil and military offices.

inire magistratum– to enter into office.

munus administrare, gerere– to perform official duties.

munere fungi, muneri praeesse– to perform official duties.

honores alicui mandare, deferre– to invest a person with a position of dignity.

muneri aliquem praeficere, praeponere– to appoint some one to an office.

munus explere, sustinere– to fulfil the duties of one's position.

abdicare se magistratu (Div. 2. 35) – to resign one's post (before the expiry of the term of office).

deponere ²⁶⁷ magistratum– to give up, lay down office (usually at the end of one's term of office).

abire magistratu– to give up, lay down office (usually at the end of one's term of office).

de potestate decedere– to give up, lay down office (usually at the end of one's term of office).

res ad interregnum venit or adducitur– an interregnum ensues.

abrogare alicui munus (Verr. 2. 57) – to remove a person from his office.

abrogare alicui imperium– to deprive a person of his position as commandant.

viri clari et honorati (De Sen. 7. 22) – men of rank and dignity.

honoribus ac reipublicae muneribus perfunctus (De Or. 1. 45) – a man who has held many offices.

amplis honoribus usus (Sall. Iug. 25. 4) – a man who has held many offices.

(b) Particular Magistracies

consulem creare ²⁶⁸– to elect a consul.

aliquem consulem declarare (Leg. Agr. 2. 2. 4) – to declare a person consul-elect.

aliquem consulem renuntiare (De Or. 2. 64. 260) – to offically proclaim (by the praeco, herald) a man elected consul; to return a man consul.

bis consul– twice consul.

iterum, tertium consul– consul for the second, third time.

sextum (Pis. 9. 20), septimum consul– consul for the sixth, seventh time.

videant or dent operam consules, ne quid res publica detrimenti capiat²⁶⁹ (Catil. 1. 2. 4) – let the consuls take measures for the protection of the state.

in hoc praeclaro consulatu– during this brilliant consulship.

aetas consularis– the consular age (43 years).

pro consule in Ciliciam proficisci– to go to Cilicia as pro-consul.

superiore consulatu– in his former consulship.

dictatorem dicere (creare)– to name a person dictator.

dictaturam gerere– to be dictator.

dictator dicit (legit) magistrum equitum– a dictator appoints a magister equitum.

potestatem habet in aliquem vitae necisque (B. G. 1. 16. 5) – he has power over life and death.

lictores summovent turbam (Liv. 4. 50) – the lictors clear the way.

fasces praeferre, summittere– to walk before with the fasces; to lower the fasces.

censores censent populum– the censors hold a census of the people.

censum habere, agere (Liv. 3. 22) – to hold the census.

censuram agere, gerere– to perform the censors' duties.

locare aedes, vias faciendas (Phil. 9. 7. 16) – to receive tenders for the construction of temples, highroads.

locare opera publica– to let out public works to contract.

redimere, conducere porticum aedificandam (Div. 2. 21. 47) – to undertake a contract for building a portico.

nota, animadversio censoria– the reprimand of a censor.

notare aliquem ignominia (Cluent. 43. 119) – to brand a person with infamy.

censu prohibere, excludere– to strike off the burgess-roll.

tribu movere aliquem– to expel some one from his tribe.

e senatu eicere– to expel from the senate.

senatu movere– to expel from the senate.

lustrum condere (Liv. 1. 44. 2) – to complete the censorship (by certain formal purificatory ceremonies = lustro faciendo).

tribuni plebis sacrosancti (Liv. 3. 19. 10) – the plebeian tribunes, whose persons are inviolable.

appellare ²⁷⁰ tribunos plebis (in aliqua re a praetore) (Liv. 2. 55) – to appeal to the plebeian tribunes against a praetor's decision.

provocare ²⁷¹ ad populum (Liv. 2. 55) – to appeal to the people.

intercessio tribunicia (cf. sect. XIV. 5) – the tribunicial veto.