Read the book: «Latin Phrase-Book», page 15

6. The Army on the March

agmen medium (Liv. 10. 41) – the centre of the marching column.

agmen primum– the vanguard.

agmen novissimum (extremum)– the rearguard.

agmen claudere, cogere– to bring up the rear.

signa ²⁹² ferre, tollere– to begin the march, break up the camp.

castra movere– to begin the march, break up the camp.

agmen agere– to set the army in motion.

procedere cum exercitu– to advance with the army.

magnis itineribus (Sall. Iug. 37) – by forced marches.

quam maximis itineribus (potest)– by the longest possible forced marches.

citatum agmen rapere– to lead the army with forced marches.

raptim agmen ducere– to lead the army with forced marches.

citato gradu incedere (cf. sect. II. 5) – to advance rapidly.

loca, regiones, loci naturam explorare– to reconnoitre the ground.

iter facere– to march.

iter conficere (B. C. 1. 70) – to traverse a route.

iter maturare, accelerare– to quicken the pace of marching.

iter continuare (B. C. 3. 11) – to march without interruption.

iter non intermittere– not to interrupt the march.

iter flectere, convertere, avertere– to deviate, change the direction.

signa convertere (B. G. 1. 25) – to deviate, change the direction.

averso itinere contendere in…– to change one's route and march towards…

iter tentare per vim (cf. sect. II. 3) – to force a way, a passage.

agmen, exercitum demittere in…– to march down on to…

exercitum admovere, adducere ad…– to advance on…

signa sequi (opp. a signis discedere, signa relinquere) – to follow the standards.

ordines servare (B. G. 4. 26) – to keep the ranks.

confertis, solutis ordinibus– with close ranks; with ranks in disorder.

raris ordinibus– in open order.

ordines turbare, perrumpere– to break the ranks.

agmine quadrato incedere, ire– to march with closed ranks, in order of battle.

agmine duplici, triplici– in two, three columns.

novissimos premere– to press the rearguard.

novissimos turbare– to throw the rearguard into confusion.

novissimos carpere– to harass the rear.

novissimis praesidio esse– to protect the troops in the rear.

opprimere hostes (imprudentes, incautos, inopinantes)– to surprise and defeat the enemy.

subsistere, consistere– to halt.

gradum sistere– to halt.

capere, occupare locum– to occupy a position (with troops).

occupare loca superiora– to occupy the high ground.

praeoccupare locum (Liv. 35. 27) – to occupy a place beforehand.

tenere montem (B. G. 1. 22) – to hold a mountain.

consistere in monte– to take up one's position on a mountain.

considere sub monte (sub montis radicibus)– to occupy the foot of a hill.

praesidiis firmare urbem– to garrison a town.

praesidium collocare in urbe– to garrison a town.

praesidia, custodias disponere– to station posts, pickets, at intervals.

vigilias crebras ponere (Sall. Iug. 45. 2) – to place a close line of sentry-posts.

7. The Camp

castra stativa (Sall. Iug. 44) – a permanent camp.

castra hiberna, aestiva– winter-quarters, summer-quarters.

castra ponere, locare– to encamp.

idoneo, aequo, suo (opp. iniquo) loco– in a favourable position.

castra metari (B. C. 3. 13) – to mark out a camp.

milites in hibernis collocare, in hiberna deducere– to take the troops to their winter-quarters.

castra munire– to make a fortified, entrenched camp.

castra munire vallo (aggere)– to fortify the camp with a rampart.

fossam ducere– to make a ditch, a fosse.

vallum iacere, exstruere, facere– to raise a rampart, earthwork.

castra praesidiis firmare– to strengthen the camp by outposts.

praesidio castris milites relinquere– to leave troops to guard the camp.

castra coniungere, iungere (B. C. 1. 63) – to make a camp in common.

castra nudare (B. G. 7. 70) – to leave the camp undefended.

cohors, quae in statione est– the cohort on guard-duty.

vigilias agere in castris (Verr. 4. 43) – to mount guard in the camp.

custodias agere in vallo– to keep watch on the rampart.

stationes agere pro portis– to be on duty before the gates.

circumvenire vigilias (Sall. Iug. 45. 2) – to make the round of the sentries.

tesseram dare (Liv. 28. 14) – to give the watchword, countersign.

copias castris continere– to keep the troops in camp.

se (quietum) tenere castris– to remain inactive in camp.

excursionem in hostium agros facere– to make an inroad into hostile territory.

praedatum ire– to go in search of plunder, booty.

ferre atque agere ²⁹³ praedam– to carry off booty.

capere equos– to capture horses.

lignatum, aquatum ire– to go to fetch wood, water.

pabulatum, frumentatum ire– to forage.

pabulatione premi (B. C. 1. 78) – to suffer from want of forage.

omnia ferro ignique, ferro atque igni or ferro flammaque vastare– to ravage with fire and sword.

classicum or tuba canit ad praetorium– the bugle, trumpet sounds before the general's tent.

vasa conclamare (B. C. 3. 37) – to give the signal for breaking up the camp, collecting baggage.

vasa colligere (Liv. 21. 47) – to pack the baggage (for marching).

signa convellere (vid. sect. XVI. 6, note signa…) – to pluck up the standards out of the ground (to begin the march).

consilium habere, convocare– to hold a council of war.

rem ad consilium deferre– to refer a matter to a council of war.

8. A Siege

oppidum natura loci munitum (B. G. 1. 38) – a town with a strong natural position.

oppidum manu (opere) munitum– a town artificially fortified.

oppidum obsidere– to besiege a city.

oppidum obsidione claudere– to besiege a city.

oppidum in obsidione tenere– to keep a town in a state of siege.

oppidum fame domare– to starve a town into surrender.

oppidum oppugnare– to storm a town.

oppidum cingere vallo et fossa– to surround a town with a rampart and fosse.

opera facere– to raise siege-works.

vineas agere (B. G. 3. 21) – to advance pent-houses, mantlets.

turres instituere, exstruere– to raise towers.

testudine facta moenia subire (B. G. 2. 6) – to advance to the walls protected by a covering of shields.

scalas admovere (B. C. 3. 63) – to apply scaling-ladders.

positis scalis muros ascendere– to scale the walls by means of ladders.

aries murum attingit, percutit– the battering-ram strikes the wall.

iter ruina patefactum– a breach.

patentia ruinis (vid. XII. 1, note ruina…) – a breach.

cuniculos agere (B. G. 3. 21) – to make mines, subterraneous passages.

oppidum tormentis verberare– to rain missiles on a town, bombard it.

tela ingerere, conicere– to discharge showers of missiles.

murum nudare defensoribus– to drive the defenders from the walls.

eruptionem facere ex oppido– to make a sally, sortie from the town.

crebras ex oppido excursiones facere (B. G. 2. 30) – to make a sally, sortie from the town.

ignem inferre operibus (B. C. 2. 14) – to set fire to the siege-works.

subsidium alicui summittere– to send relief to some one.

munitiones perrumpere– to break through the lines (and relieve a town).

urbis obsidionem liberare– to raise a siege (used of the army of relief).

oppidum obsidione liberare– to raise a siege (used of the army of relief).

obsidionem quattuor menses sustinere– to hold out for four months.

oppugnationem, obsidionem relinquere– to give up an assault, a siege.

portas obstruere (B. G. 5. 50) – to barricade the gates.

portas refringere– to break down the gates.

claustra portarum revellere– to break down the gates.

in oppidum irrumpere– to break into the town.

in oppidum irruptionem facere– to break into the town.

oppidum capere, expugnare– to take, storm a town.

oppidum recipere– to retake a town.

oppidum incendere– to fire a town.

oppidum diripere– to plunder a town.

oppidum evertere, excīdere– to completely destroy a town.

oppidum solo aequare– to raze a town to the ground.

deditione facta (Sall. Iug. 26) – after capitulation.

arma tradere– to surrender weapons.

salutem petere a victore– to beg for mercy from the conqueror.

se suaque omnia dedere victori– to give up one's person and all one's possessions to the conqueror.

se suaque omnia permittere victoris potestati– to give up one's person and all one's possessions to the conqueror.

se permittere in fidem atque in potestatem alicuius (B. G. 2. 3) – to surrender oneself to the discretion of some one.

in fidem recipere aliquem (Fam. 13. 16) – to deal mercifully with some one.

libera corpora sub corona (hasta) veneunt (B. G. 3. 16. 4) – the free men are sold as slaves.

cum uxoribus et liberis– with wife and child.

aliquem (incolumem) conservare– to grant a man his life.

9. Before the Fight

potestatem, copiam pugnandi hostibus facere– to offer battle to the enemy.

potestatem sui facere (alicui) (cf. sect. XII. 9, note audientia…) – to accept battle.

proelio (ad pugnam) hostes lacessere, provocare– to provoke the enemy to battle.

pugnam detrectare (Liv. 3. 60) – to decline battle.

supersedere proelio– to refrain from fighting.

hostem e manibus non dimittere– to not let the enemy escape.

locum ad pugnam idoneum deligere– to choose suitable ground for an engagement.

diem pugnae constituere (B. G. 3. 24) – to fix a day for the engagement.

signum proelii (committendi) exposcere (B. G. 7. 19) – to demand loudly the signal to engage.

signum proelii dare– to give the signal to engage.

vexillum proponere (Liv. 22. 3) – to fix the ensign on the general's tent (as a signal to commence the engagement).

ad arma concurrere– to rush to arms.

exercitum educere or producere in aciem– to lead the army to the fight.

ad vim et arma descendere (vid. sect. V. 9, note Similarly…) – to have recourse to force of arms.

in certamen descendere– to engage in the fight.

in aciem descendere (Liv. 8. 8) – to enter the field of battle.

aciem (copias, exercitum) instruere or in acie constituere– to draw up forces in battle-order.

aciem triplicem instruere (B. G. 1. 24) – to draw up the army in three lines.

aciem explicare or dilatare– to extend the line of battle, deploy the battalions.

media acies– the centre.

subsidia collocare– to station reserve troops.

equites ad latera disponere (B. G. 6. 8) – to place the cavalry on the wings.

contionari apud milites (B. C. 1. 7) – to harangue the soldiers.

contionem habere apud milites– to harangue the soldiers.

ad virtutem excitare, cohortari (or simply adhortari, cohortari) – to incite to valour.

animos militum confirmare (B. G. 5. 49) – to encourage, embolden the soldiery.

10. The Fight

(a) The Fight in General

proelium committere– (1) to begin the battle, (2) to give battle.

proelium inire (Liv. 2. 14) – to engage.

proelium facere– to give battle.

proelio equestri contendere– to give battle with a cavalry-division.

proelium equestre facere– to give battle with a cavalry-division.

proelium facere secundum– to fight successfully.

proeliis secundis uti– to fight successfully.

rem (bene, male) gerere (vid. sect. XII. 2, note rem gerere…) – to win, lose a fight (of the commander).

proelium intermittere– to interrupt the battle.

proelium dirimere (B. C. 1. 40) – to break off the fight.

proelium restituere– to renew the battle with success.

proelium renovare, redintegrare– to begin the fight again.

proelium deserere– to give up the fight.

proelio, armis decertare (B. G. 1. 50) – to fight a decisive battle.

acie (armis, ferro) decernere– to fight a pitched battle.

in acie dimicare– to fight a pitched battle.

proelio interesse– to take part in the engagement.

ex equo pugnare– to fight on horseback.

certamen singulare– single combat.

povocare aliquem ad certamen singulare– to challenge some one to single combat.

proelium cruentum, atrox– a bloody battle.

proelium iustum (opp. tumultuarium) – a pitched battle.

(b) The Attack

classicum canit (B. C. 3. 82) – the trumpet sounds for the attack.

gradum inferre in hostem– to march on the enemy.

aggredi hostem– to attack the enemy.

invadere, impetum ²⁹⁴ facere in hostem– to attack the enemy.

signa inferre in hostem– to attack the enemy.

impetum sustinere (B. G. 1. 26) – to resist the attack, onset.

impetum excipere ²⁹⁵ (Liv. 6. 12) – to parry the attack.

in medios hostes se inicere– to rush into the midst of the foe.

per medios hostes (mediam hostium aciem) perrumpere– to break through the enemy's centre.

manum (us) conserere cum hoste– to come to close quarters.

signa conferre cum hoste ²⁹⁶– to come to close quarters.

proelio concurritur (Sall. Iug. 59) – the lines charge in battle one on another.

adversis hostibus occurrere– to attack the enemy in the front.

aversos hostes aggredi– to attack the enemy in the rear.

hostes a tergo adoriri– to attack the enemy in the rear.

iusto (opp. tumultuario) proelio confligere cum hoste (Liv. 35. 4) – to fight a pitched, orderly battle with an enemy.

acies inclīnat or inclīnatur (Liv. 7. 33) – the line of battle gives way.

proelium anceps est– the issue of the battle is undecided.

ancipiti Marte pugnatur– the issue of the battle is undecided.

diu anceps stetit pugna– the issue of the day was for a long time uncertain.

res est in periculo, in summo discrimine– the position is critical.

res ad triarios ²⁹⁷ redit (Liv. 8. 8) – the triarii must now fight (proverbially = we are reduced to extremities).

(c) Close Quarters

collatis signis (viribus) pugnare– to fight hand-to-hand, at close quarters.

tum pes cum pede collatus est (Liv. 28. 2) – a hand-to-hand engagement ensued.

collato pede (Liv. 6. 12) – hand to hand.

gladio comminus (opp. eminus) rem gerere– to fight with swords at close quarters.

omissis pilis gladiis rem gerere– to throw down the javelins (pila) and fight with the sword.

res ad gladios vēnit– swords must now decide the day.

res gladiis geri coepta est– swords must now decide the day.

strictis gladiis in hostem ferri– to throw oneself on the enemy with drawn sword.

res ad manus venit– the fighting is now at close quarters.

laxatis (opp. confertis) ordinibus pugnare– to fight in open order.

ferarum ²⁹⁸ ritu pugnare– to fight like lions.

manu fortis– personally brave.

(d) Tactics – Reinforcements

in latus hostium incurrere– to fall upon the enemy's flank.

circumvenire hostem aversum or a tergo (B. G. 2. 26) – to surround the enemy from the rear.

multitudine hostium cingi– to be surrounded by the superior force of the enemy.

equitatu superiorem esse– to have the advantage in cavalry.

parem (opp. imparem) esse hosti– to be a match for the enemy.

orbem ²⁹⁹ facere (Sall. Iug. 97. 5) – to form a square.

in orbem consistere– to form a square.

cuneum facere (Liv. 22. 47) – to draw up troops in a wedge-formation.

phalangem facere (B. G. 1. 24) – to form a phalanx.

phalangem perfringere– to break through the phalanx.

subsidia summittere– to send up reserves.

integros defatigatis summittere– to send fresh troops to take the place of those wearied with fighting.

rari dispersique pugnare (B. C. 1. 44) – to fight in skirmishing order.

integri et recentes defatigatis succedunt– fresh troops relieve the tired men.

(e) Successful Attack

pellere hostem– to repulse the enemy.

acies hostium impellitur– the enemy's line is repulsed.

loco movere, depellere, deicere hostem (B. G. 7. 51) – to drive the enemy from his position.

summovere or reicere hostium equites– to repel the attack of the enemy's cavalry.

repellere, propulsare hostem– to repulse an attack.

undique premi, urgeri (B. G. 2. 26) – to be pressed on all sides.

prosternere, profligare hostem– to rout the enemy.

(f) Retreat – Flight – Pursuit

signa receptui canunt– the retreat is sounded.

receptui canitur (B. G. 7. 47) – the retreat is sounded.

pedem referre– to retire (without turning one's back on the enemy).

equitatus tutum receptum dat– the cavalry covers the retreat.

se recipere (B. G. 7. 20) – to withdraw one's forces.

loco excedere– to abandon one's position.

in fugam dare, conicere hostem– to put the enemy to flight.

fugare hostem– to put the enemy to flight.

fundere hostium copias– to rout the enemy's forces.

caedere et fundere hostem– to utterly rout the enemy.

fundere et fugare hostem– to utterly rout the enemy.

prae se agere hostem– to drive the enemy before one.

fugam facere (Sall. Iug. 53) – (1) to put to flight, (2) to take to flight.

terga vertere or dare– to flee, run away.

terga dare hosti– to run away from the enemy.

fugae se mandare (B. G. 2. 24) – to take to flight.

fugam capessere, capere– to take to flight.

se dare in fugam, fugae– to take to flight.

se conicere, se conferre in fugam– to take to flight.

fuga salutem petere– to seek safety in flight.

fuga effusa, praeceps (Liv. 30. 5) – headlong flight.

pecorum modo fugere (Liv. 40. 27) – to flee like deer, sheep.

arma abicere– to throw away one's arms.

praecipitem se fugae mandare– to flee headlong.

ex (in) fuga dissipati or dispersi (B. G. 2. 24) – soldiers routed and dispersed.

hostes insequi, prosequi– to pursue the enemy.

hostes (fusos) persequi– to follow up and harass the enemy when in flight.

hostes assequi, consequi– to overtake the enemy.

fugientibus instare– to press the fugitives.

tergis hostium inhaerere– to be on the heels of the enemy.

fugam hostium reprimere (B. G. 3. 14) – to bring the flying enemy to a stand.

excipere aliquem fugientem– to cut off some one's flight.

magna caedes hostium fugientium facta est– there was great slaughter of fugitives.

capere aliquem vivum– to take a person alive.

effugere, elābi e manibus hostium– to escape from the hands of the enemy.

dimittere e manibus hostes– to let the enemy escape.

eripere aliquem e manibus hostium– to rescue some one from the hands of the enemy.

se fuga recipere (B. G. 1. 11) – to save oneself by flight.

(g) Defeat – Massacre – Wounds – Losses

proelio vinci, superari, inferiorem, victum discedere– to be defeated in fight, lose the battle.

cladem hostibus afferre, inferre– to inflict a defeat on the enemy.

cladem accipere– to suffer a defeat.

ingentem caedem edere (Liv. 5. 13) – to cause great slaughter, carnage.

stragem edere, facere– to massacre.

omnia strata sunt ferro– all have perished by the sword.

hostes, exercitum delere, concīdere– to annihilate, cut up the enemy, an army.

hostes ad internecionem caedere, delere (Liv. 9. 26) – to absolutely annihilate the enemy.

hostium copias occidione occīdere (Liv. 2. 51) – to absolutely annihilate the enemy.

vulnus infligere alicui– to wound a person (also used metaphorically).

mortiferam plagam alicui infligere– to inflict a mortal wound on some one.

vulnus (grave, mortiferum) accipere, excipere– to be (seriously, mortally) wounded.

multis et illatis et acceptis vulneribus (B. G. 1. 50) – after many had been wounded on both sides.

vulneribus confectus– weakened by wounds.

vulnera (cicatrices) adversa (opp. aversa) – wounds (scars) on the breast.

vulnera adverso corpore accepta– wounds (scars) on the breast.

refricare ³⁰⁰ vulnus, cicatricem obductam– to open an old wound.

ex vulnere mori (Fam. 10. 33) – to die of wounds.

magno cum detrimento– with great loss.

nostri circiter centum ceciderunt– about a hundred of our men fell.

ad unum omnes ³⁰¹ perierunt– they perished to a man.

11. Victory – Triumph

exercitus victor– the victorious army.

superiorem (opp. inferiorem), victorem (proelio, pugna) discedere– to come off victorious.

victoriam adipisci, parere– to gain a victory, win a battle.

victoriam ferre, referre– to gain a victory, win a battle.

proelio vincere– to gain a victory, win a battle.

victoriam reportare ab hoste– to gain a victory over the enemy.

victoriam praecipere (animo) (Liv. 10. 26) – to consider oneself already victor.

victoriam exploratam dimittere– to let a sure victory slip through one's hands.

sicut parta iam atque explorata victoria– as if the victory were already won.

victoriam conclamare (B. G. 5. 37) – to raise a shout of victory.

victoriam or de victoria gratulari alicui– to congratulate a person on his victory.

victoria multo sanguine ac vulneribus stetit (Liv. 23. 30) – the victory cost much blood and many wounds, was very dearly bought.

triumphare de aliquo (ex bellis)– to triumph over some one.

triumphum ³⁰² agere de or ex aliquo or c. Gen. (victoriae, pugnae) – to triumph over some one.

per triumphum (in triumpho) aliquem ducere– to lead some one in triumph.

triumphum senatus Africano decernit (Fin. 4. 9. 22) – the senate decrees to Africanus the honours of a triumph.