EntranceThe educational and methodological manual on the Latin language is intended for students of higher educational institutions of law. Since ancient times, the Latin language has played a huge role in the education of the future lawyer.
Degrees of comparison of adjectives
In Latin, as in Russian, among the adjectives there is a group of qualitative adjectives. They name some quality of an object: beautiful, kind, etc. These qualities may manifest themselves in a particular person or object to a greater or lesser extent. Accordingly, from one or another qualitative adjective forms can be formed that express a greater or lesser degree of this quality: kind - kindest, etc.
In Latin, there are three degrees of comparison of adjectives (this also includes the original forms):
positive (gradus positivus), which includes adjectives already known to us
Comparative (gradus comparatīvus) excellent (gradus superlatīvus).
Comparative and superlative adjectives can be formed:
· using suffixes;
Using words indicating the degree of quality; from bases that do not coincide with the bases of a positive degree.
Comparative degree education
Formation with suffixes
N. sing. the comparative degree of adjectives of all declensions is formed from the base of the adjective, to which is added
· in the forms masculīnum and feminīnum - the suffix -ior-
In the form neutrum - the suffix -ius:
longus, a, um long; G. sing. long-i; long-base. Comparative degree: m - long - ior, f - long - ior, n - long - ius;
brevis, e short; G. sing. brev-is, base brev-. Comparative degree: m - brev - ior, f - brev - ior, n - brev - ius.
The comparative degree changes according to the third consonantal declension:
The comparative degree of adjectives in -dĭcus, -fĭcus, -vŏlus is formed by adding the element -entior to the stem: magnificus, a, um magnificent -> magnificentior, ius more magnificent.
Education with auxiliary words
The comparative degree from the positive degree with the help of the adverb magis is more formed by adjectives whose stem ends in a vowel sound (i.e. adjectives ending in -eus, -ius, -uus in N. sing.): necessarius necessary, magis necessarius - more necessary.
Using the comparative degree
The comparative degree can be used:
with a noun (pronoun) that is compared with something. The object of comparison is joined by the conjunction quam than: aer levior est, quam aqua air is lighter than water.
Ablatīvus comparatiōnis
The conjunction quam with the object of comparison can be omitted. In this case, the word that expresses the object of comparison is put in the ablative (in Russian the genitive case is used: air is lighter than water). Such an ablativus is called ablatīvus comparatiōnis (ąblative comparison): aēr levior est aquā.
The combination of a noun (pronoun) with a comparative degree depending on it can be used in isolation, without an object of comparison. In this case, the comparison occurs as if with a certain norm that exists in the mind of the speaker. This use of the comparative degree is called an independent comparative degree. The independent comparative degree is translated into Russian by a positive degree (i.e. an ordinary adjective) in combination with the words quite, somewhat, very, too, excessively, etc.: senex servior - too stern old man.
Superlative education
The superlative degree of adjectives can be formed in a suffix way:
· by adding the element -ĭssim- to the stem, and to it - the endings of the masculine, feminine and neuter genders of the 1st - 2nd declension: long-us, a, um long > longissĭm-us, a, um the longest
Adjectives with -dĭcus, -fĭcus and vŏlus form a comparative degree with -entissĭmus: magnificus, a, um magnificent -> magnific - entissimus, a ,um the most magnificent. adjectives starting with -er form the superlative degree by adding to the stem the element -rĭm-, and to it - the endings of the masculine, feminine and neuter gender: liber, -ĕra, -ĕrum free; base liber-; superlative liber-rĭm-us, a, um the freest.
The adjective vetus, ĕris old, ancient -> veterrĭmus, a, um oldest, most ancient, also forms the superlative degree.
· a group of adjectives starting with -lis forms a superlative degree with the suffix -lĭm-, to which the generic endings us, a, um are added:
facilis, e easy -> facil-lim-us, a, um the easiest, etc.
difficĭlis, e heavy, difficult
simĭlis, e similar
dissimilis, e different
humilis, e low
gracĭlis, e graceful.
Adjectives ending in -eus, -ius, -uus form a comparative degree from the positive with the help of the adverb maxime most: necessarius, a, um necessary -> maxime necessarius most necessary.
Adjectives in the superlative degree change according to the 1st - 2nd declensions.
Meaning of superlative adjectives
Superlative adjectives can have two meanings:
· the highest degree of quality (actually gradus superlatīvus);
Very high degree of quality (this value is called gradus elatīvus).
One or another meaning of the superlative degree is determined by the context. The elative is most often used: flumen latissĭmum the widest river (superlative), very wide river (elative).
The comparative degree can be strengthened with the help of the adverb multo much, significantly; excellent - with the help of the union quam: Sementes quam maxĭmas facĕre - to produce as large crops as possible.
Supplemental degrees of comparison
Supplemental forms of various parts of speech are those forms that are formed from different stems (cf. in Russian: the positive degree is good, and the comparative degree is better). In Latin, suppletive degrees of comparison form adjectives:
Ablatīvus separatiōnis
Ablatīvus separatiōnis is used with verbs or adjectives that mean removal, separation, for example:
movēre, pellĕre - remove, expel (from something)
cedĕre - to withdraw from something
arcēre, prohibēre - to abstain from something
liberāre - to free from something.
If ablatīvus separatiōnis is expressed by an animate noun, then it is used with the preposition a (ab). The inanimate noun in ablatīvus separatiōnis is used without a preposition, and sometimes with the prepositions a(ab), de, e(ex).
Homo sum, humāni nihil a me alienum puto. - I am a man, and I believe that nothing human is alien to me.
Duces copias castris edūcunt. - The commanders are withdrawing the army from the camp.
Ablatīvus loci ("ablative of place") answers the question "where" and means the place of action.
Ablatīvus loci is used without a preposition if words with the meaning of place or space have an agreed definition (that is, in the same case and number as the word to which it refers). In particular, this rule applies to combinations involving the words totus, a, um all, whole and locus, i, m place: totā urbĕ in the whole city; hoc loco in (at) this place.
If there is no definition for such words with a local-spatial meaning, they are used with the preposition in: in urbĕ in the city.
The following are used without a preposition:
· expression of terrā marīque on land and sea;
The name of a path or road with verbs of movement: eōdem itinĕrĕ reverti - return the same way.
Designation of the place of action in Latin
When designating the place of action, answering the question “where”, they are put in the form genetivus:
· names of cities of the 1st and 2nd declension: Romae in Rome
Words
domus, i, f house: domi house
humus, i f earth: humi on (in) earth, on earth
rus, ruris n village: ruri in the village [These forms have the ending of the locative (local case) lost in the Latin language. Therefore, the form ruri has the ending -i, which is unusual for the third declension genetive.]
When indicating the direction of action, words answering the question “where?” are put in the accusativus form: Romam to Rome, domum home, rus to the village.
When denoting the place of departure (i.e. starting point), words are used in the ablatīvus form: Romā from Rome, domō from home, rurĕ from the village.
Names of cities of I - II declension, having only the plural form (Athēnae, ērum f Ąthens, Delphi, ōrum m Delphi), as well as names of cities of III declension (Carthago, Carthagĭnis f Carthage):
· to indicate the place of action and the place of departure are put in the ablative: Athenis in Athens (or from Athens), Delphis in Delphi (or from Delphi), Carthaginĕ in Carthage (or from Carthage);
To indicate the direction of action - in the accusative: Athēnas in Athens, etc.
Russian nouns denoting segments of space (and time) are usually expressed in Latin by adjectives, which in this case are placed before the nouns (on this basis, phrases of this type should be distinguished from ordinary combinations of a noun with an adjective - an agreed definition: media via the middle of the road (cf. . via media middle road), etc.
Genetīvus genĕris
Genetīvus genĕris ("genitive kind" or "genitive species") is used:
· with neuter singular nouns denoting measure, number or quantity;
For quantitative adjectives and pronouns, the neuter singular. Genetivus generis denotes objects or substance that is subject to measurement or counting: numĕrus milĭtum number of warriors; nihil novi nothing new; aliquid tempŏris for some time (lit. several times).
Genetīvus partitīvus
Genetīvus partitīvus is used to designate a whole, from which only a part is isolated.
Genetivus partitivus is used:
· in the presence of a definition expressed by an adjective in the comparative or superlative degree: Gallōrum omnium fortissĭmi sunt Belgae (Caes.) - The bravest of all Gauls are the Belgae;
For interrogative and indefinite pronouns (see lecture): quis nostrum? which one of us? nemo nostrum none of us; with adjectives with the meaning of quantity, in the plural form (multi many, pauci few, etc.): multi nostrum many of us; with numerals: unus nostrum one of us.
In Russian, the combination genetīvus genĕris with these words is translated in the genitive case with the prepositions “from”, “between”, “among”.
The lecture notes presented to your attention are intended to prepare students of medical universities for passing the exam. The book includes a full course of lectures on the Latin language, is written in accessible language and will be an indispensable assistant for those who want to quickly prepare for the exam and pass it successfully.
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The given introductory fragment of the book Latin for doctors: lecture notes (A. I. Shtun) provided by our book partner - the company liters.
Lecture No. 4. Adjective. Grammatical categories
1. Adjectives in Latin, as in Russian, are divided into qualitative and relative. Qualitative adjectives denote a feature of an object directly, that is, without relation to other objects: true rib - costa vera, long bone - os longum, yellow ligament - ligamentum flavum, transverse process - processus transversus, large hole - foramen magnum, trapezoid bone - os trapezoideum, sphenoid bone – os sphenoidale, etc.
Relative adjectives indicate the attribute of an object not directly, but through its relationship to another object: spinal column (column of vertebrae) - columna vertebralis, frontal bone - os frontale, sphenoid sinus (cavity in the body of the sphenoid bone) - sinus sphenoidalis, sphenoid crest (section anterior surface of the body of the sphenoid bone) – crista sphenoidalis.
The predominant mass of adjectives in anatomical nomenclature are relative adjectives, indicating that a given anatomical formation belongs to a whole organ or to another anatomical formation, such as the frontal process (extending from the zygomatic bone upward, where it connects with the zygomatic process of the frontal bone) - processus frontalis.
2. The categorical meaning of an adjective is expressed in the categories of gender, number and case. The category of gender is an inflectional category. As in Russian, adjectives change according to gender: they can be in the masculine, feminine or neuter form. The gender of an adjective depends on the gender of the noun with which it is agreed. For example, the Latin adjective meaning “yellow” (-aya, -oe) has three gender forms – flavus (m. p.), flava (f. p.), flavum (w. p.).
3. Inflection of adjectives also occurs according to cases and numbers, i.e. adjectives, like nouns, are declined.
1. Declension of adjectives. Dictionary form
Adjectives, unlike nouns, are declined only in the I, II or III declension.
The specific type of declension by which a particular adjective is modified is determined by the standard dictionary form in which it is written in the dictionary and in which it should be remembered.
In the dictionary form of the vast majority of adjectives, the endings characteristic of one type or another are indicated. p.un. h.
Moreover, some adjectives have endings in them. items for each gender are completely different, for example: rectus, recta, rectum - straight, straight, direct; other adjectives for the masculine and feminine gender have one common ending, and for the neuter gender - another, for example: brevis - short and short, breve - short.
Adjectives are also given in dictionary form in different ways. For example: rectus, -a, -um; brevis, -e.
Ending -us m.r. replaced in w. R. to -a (recta), and in cf. R. – on -um (rectum).
Two groups of adjectives
Depending on the type of declension in which adjectives are declined, they are divided into 2 groups. Group membership is recognized by standard dictionary forms.
The 1st group includes adjectives that are declined according to the 1st and 2nd declension. They are easily recognized by their endings. n. -us (or -er), -a, -um in dictionary form.
The 2nd group includes all adjectives that have a different dictionary form. Their inflection occurs according to the third declension.
Memorizing the dictionary form is necessary in order to correctly determine the type of declension and use the appropriate endings in oblique cases.
Adjectives of the 1st group
If there is a dictionary form with endings in them. p.un. Part -us, -a, -um or -er, -a, -um adjectives in the form w. R. Declined according to the first declension, in the form of m.r. and Wed R. - according to II declination.
For example: longus, -a, -um – long; liber, -era, -erum – free. In the family etc., they have, respectively, the endings:
Some adjectives that have a m.r. ending -er, the letter “e” appears in the m.r., starting with gender. p.un. h., and in w. R. and on Wed. R. - in all cases without exception. This does not happen with other adjectives. For example, the dictionary forms ruber, -bra, -brum, liber, -era, -erum.
Adjectives of the 2nd group
Adjectives of the 2nd group are declined according to the 3rd declension. Their dictionary form differs from adjectives of the 1st group.
According to the number of gender endings in the dictionary form, adjectives of the 2nd group are divided into:
1) adjectives with two endings;
2) adjectives of the same ending;
3) adjectives with three endings.
1. Adjectives with two endings are most common in anatomical-histological and in medical terminology in general. They have it in them. p., units only two generic endings – -is, -е; -is – common for m.r. and f. r., e – only for Wed. R. For example: brevis – short, short; breve – short.
Examples of adjectives with two endings in dictionary form:
brevis, e – short, -aya, -oe;
frontalis, e – frontal, -aya, -oe.
The predominant number of adjectives with two endings found in the nomenclature is characterized by the following word-formation model.
For example: stem-al-is, e – sternal, cost-al-is e – costal, clavicul-ar-is – clavicular, dors-al-is – dorsal, dorsal.
All adjectives formed in this suffixal way acquired the general meaning “relating to what is called the base” (sternum, rib, collarbone, back, rear).
2. Adjectives of the same ending have one common ending in them for all genders. p.un. h. Such an ending can be, in particular, -х, or -s, etc. For example: simplex - simple, -th, -oe; teres – round, -aya, -oe; biceps – two-headed, -aya, -oe.
Unlike all other types of adjectives, they have the following feature: the stem is in gender. n. and im. n. - different. This is reflected in dictionary form. For example:
simplex, icis – teres, etis – biceps, ipitis;
base: simplic– – teret– – bicipit-.
3. Adjectives of three endings have the endings: m.r. – -er, f. p. – -is, cf. R. – -e. For example: celer, -eris, -ere – fast, -aya, -oe; celeber, -bris, -bre – healing, -aya, -oe.
All adjectives of the 2nd group, regardless of the dictionary form, are declined according to the 3rd declension and have a single stem in oblique cases.
For example:
2. Coordination. Adjective - agreed definition
Another type of subordinating connection, when the function of definition in a noun phrase is performed by a non-noun in gender. p., and the adjective is called agreement, and the definition is agreed upon.
When agreed, a grammatically dependent definition is likened in gender, number and case to the main word. As the grammatical forms of the main word change, the forms of the dependent word also change. In other words, as in Russian, adjectives agree with the noun in gender, number and case.
For example, when agreeing the adjectives transversus, -a, -um and vertebralis, -e with the nouns processus, -us (m); linea, -ae (f); ligamentum, -i (n); canalls, -is (m); incisura, -ae, (f); foramen, -inis (n) the following phrases are obtained:
3. Comparative degree (Gradus comparativus); education and declination
As in Russian, Latin qualitative adjectives have three degrees of comparison: positive (gradus positivus), comparative (gradus comparativus) and superlative (gradus superlativus).
The comparative degree is formed from the stem of the positive degree by adding to it the suffix -ior for m.r. and f. r., suffix -ius – for cf. R. For example:
1. The main grammatical features of adjectives in the comparative degree are: for m.r. and f. R. – suffix -ior, for cf. R. – suffix -ius.
For example: brevior, -ius; latior, -ius.
2. For all comparative adjectives, the base coincides with the m.r. form. and f. R. in them p.un. h.:
3. Adjectives are declined in the comparative degree according to the III declension. Genus form p.un. h. is the same for all three genders: it is formed by adding the ending -is to the stem.
4. Adjectives agree comparatively with nouns in gender, number and case, that is, they are agreed upon definitions: sutura latior; sulcus latior; foramen latius.
4. Nominative plural (Nominativus pluralis) of nouns of the I, II, III, IV, V declension and adjectives
1. Any case endings, including endings named after. p.m. h., are always attached to the base.
2. For the formation of word forms named after. p.m. including different declinations, the following provisions must be adhered to.
If the noun refers to Wed. r., then it declines in accordance with the rule cf. r., which reads: all words cf. R. (both nouns and adjectives of all degrees of comparison), regardless of which declension they belong to, end in them. p.m. h. on -a. This applies only to the words cf. r., for example: ligamenta lata - broad ligaments, crura ossea - bone legs, ossa temporalia - temporal bones, cornua majora - large horns.
Word endings in m.r. and f. R. in them p.m. h. it is easier to remember taking into account each individual declination. In this case, it is necessary to remember the following correspondences: nouns of I, II, IV declensions have in them. p.m. h. exactly the same ending as in gen. p.m. h. The same correspondence is observed with adjectives of the 1st group, because they are declined like nouns of the 1st and 2nd declensions, for example:
Nouns of the III and V declensions, as well as adjectives of the III declension and adjectives in the comparative degree (they are also declined in the III declension) have in them. p.m. including the same ending -es.
Generalization of data on the endings of nouns and adjectives in them. p.m. h.
§ 51. Gradus comparationis adjectivorum (degrees of comparison of adjectives)
Qualitative adjectives in Latin, as in Russian, have three degrees of comparison:
positive - degreepositī vus,
comparative - degreecompareī vus,
excellent - degreesuperlatī vus
In Latin, degrees of comparison of adjectives can be formed synthetically and analytically. The most productive is the synthetic, suffixal, method of forming degrees of comparison.
Graduscompareī vus(comparative)
The comparative degree of adjectives is formed by adding the suffix - ior For masculine andfemale gender and suffix - ius For average sort of
In the dictionary form of the comparative degree of adjectives, two components are given: the general masculine and feminine form with the suffix -ior and the neuter suffix -ius. For example: latior, ius – wider, -aya, -oe; longior, ius – longer, -aya, -oe. All adjectives are comparatively inflected according to the consonantal type 3rd declension; in the genitive singular the ending is the samefor all three genera -ior + is. For example:
longus, a, um long
brevis, e short
|
long-ior brev-ior |
long-ius brev-ius |
long-iōr-is brev-iōr-is |
Declension sample
latior, ius - wider
Gradussuperlatīvus(Superlative)
1. The superlative degree of most adjectives is formed by adding to basis adjective of any declension suffix - issĭ m and generic endings - us, -a, -um. For example:
2. Adjectives ending in the masculine gender - er, form the superlative by joining the form Nom. sing. masculine suffix - rĭ m and generic endings - us, -a, -um.
For example:
| Gradus positivus | Gradus superlativus |
|
niger, gra, grum black, -oh, oh acer, acris, acre spicy,-oh, -oh |
nigerrĭmus, a, um mostblack - oh, oh acerrĭmus, a, um mostspicy, -oh, oh |
3. Six 3rd declension adjectives ending in -ĭ lis: facilis, e - easy, -oh, difficilis, e - difficult, simĭlis, e- similar, -aya, -ee, dissimilis, e - unlike, -aya, -ee, humilis, e - low, gracĭlis, e- thin, -oh, oh form a superlative by adding a positive suffix to the stem - lĭ m- and generic endings - us, -a, -um. For example: facillĭmus, a, um - the lightest one, -her. The remaining adjectives starting with –ilis form the superlative degree according to the general rule, i.e. starting with -issimus
Superlative adjectives bow downaccording to the 1st and 2nd declensions.
Declension sample
In Latin, as in Russian, among the adjectives there is a group of qualitative adjectives. They name some quality of an object: beautiful, kind, etc. These qualities may manifest themselves in a particular person or object to a greater or lesser extent. Accordingly, from one or another qualitative adjective forms can be formed that express a greater or lesser degree of this quality: kind - kindest, etc.
In Latin there are three degrees of comparison for qualitative adjectives:
gradus positovus -- positive degree
gradus comparatоvus -- comparative degree
gradus superlatovus -- superlative degree
In the positive degree, Latin adjectives, as is known, change according to the 1st - 2nd declension and according to the 3rd declension (vowel).
In Latin, degrees of comparison of adjectives can be formed synthetically and analytically. The most productive is the synthetic, suffixal method of forming degrees of comparison.
1.Nom. sing. The comparative degree of adjectives of all declensions is formed with the help of the suffixes -ior in the masculine and feminine and -ius in the neuter, which are added to the practical basis of the adjective.
Gen. sing. all three genders end in -ifris.
adjective Latin
longus, a, um long (practical basis long-)
|
long-ior comp. Art. m. and f. sort of long-ius compare Art. Wed sort of |
brevis, e short (practical basis brev-)
|
brev-ior compare Art. m. and f. sort of brev-ius compare Art. Wed sort of |
2. The superlative degree of most adjectives is formed using the suffix -issm- and the endings -, -г, -m.
long-issim-us, a, um the longest, longest, very long
brev-issim-us, a, um the shortest, the shortest, very short
Adjectives in the superlative degree are declined according to the I--II declension.
Adjectives ending in the positive degree in -er form the superlative degree with the suffix -rim- added to the form nom. sing. male:
celer-rim-us, ah, um the fastest; very fast
pulcher-rim-us, ah, um the most beautiful; very beautiful
3. A group of adjectives forms the superlative degree with the suffix -lm-:
facilis, e easy
dissimilis, e different
difficilis, e heavy, difficult
humilis, e low
similis, e similar
gracilis, e graceful
- 4. The comparative degree of an adjective can be used independently, without an object of comparison. In this case, a comparison is made, as it were, with some norm existing in the speaker’s mind, for example: senex severior too, an excessively stern old man.
- 5. The superlative degree of adjectives in Latin can have two meanings:
- a) the highest degree of quality (gradus superlatovus), from the verb superfero, supertuli, superlвtum, superfзrre to extol
- b) a very high degree of quality (gradus elatovus), from the verb effero, extuli, elвtum, effзrre to endure, to highlight.
Vilius argentum est auro, virtutĭbus aurum.
Silver is cheaper than gold, and gold is cheaper than valor.Horatius Epistulae I 1, 52
Degrees of comparison of adjectives
Adjectives in Latin, as well as in other languages, form three degrees of comparison (e.g.: large, greater, largest):
- positive degree - gradus positivus;
- comparative degree - gradus comparativus;
- superlative degree - gradus superlativus.
When calling the degree of comparison, we omit the word gradus - degree.
Comparative (comparative) for all adjectives, regardless of which declension this or that adjective belongs to and how many endings it has in nom. sing., is formed in the same way: by adding a formant -ior in masculine and feminine gender and formant -ius in the neuter gender instead of ending gen. sing. positive degree. Adjectives in the comparative degree are declined according to the third consonantal declension:
Superlativus (superlative) is formed in several ways. Most often, instead of ending gen. sing. a suffix is added to the positive degree -issim- and gender endings of adjectives -us, -a, -um.
Adjectives ending in the positive degree in -er, -a, -um(I - II declension) and on -er, -is, -e(III declension), form the superlative using the suffix -rim-, which is appended directly to the form nom. sing. masculine gender and endings -us, -a, -um.
| Positive | Superlativus | |||
| No. | Gen. | m | f | n |
| clarus famous |
clar-i | clarissimus most famous, most famous |
clarissima the most famous most famous |
clarissimum the most famous most famous |
| beātus | beāt-i | beatissimus | beatissima | beatissimum |
| sapiens | sapient-is | sapientissimus | sapientissima | sapientissimum |
| miser | miserrĭmus | miserrĭma | miserrimum | |
| celeber | celebrity | celebrities | celebrity | |
Six adjectives of the third declension ending in nom. sing. husband. and wives sort of on -ĭlis, form superlatives using the suffix -lĭm-, added to the form gen. sing. without end -is, and endings -us, -a, -um. These are the following adjectives: facilis - easy, difficilis - difficult, simĭlis - similar, dissimilis - unlike, grace - slim, humilis - short. For example: facilis (gen. sing. facilis) - facillĭmus, a, um - the easiest.
Several adjectives form degrees of comparison from different stems:
Before you begin translating sentences containing adjectives in the comparative and superlative degrees, you need to become familiar with two features of the use of these forms in Latin:
1. Vilius est argentum auro = argentum est vilius auro. - Silver is cheaper than gold(than gold).
Nullus locus est domestĭcā sede iucundior. - There is no place sweeter than home(than home).
Candidior nive - whiter than snow(than snow).
The examples given show that the noun with which something is compared is used in the ablative without a preposition (in Russian - genitive case); one can also say: argentum vilius est, quam aurum (than gold), but ablativus is more common. This is the so-called ablativus comparisonis(ablative comparison).
2. Homērus poētārum celeberrĭmus. - Homer is the most famous of (among) poets.
This example shows that with the superlative degree of the adjective, the noun denoting the whole (all poets) is used in gen. plur. without pretext; We translate it into Russian with the prepositions “from”, “among”. This is the so-called genetivus partitivus(pars, partis - Part) - genitive partial. It is called so because we are talking about a part of the whole expressed by the genitive.
Translate:
De Solōne et Croeso
Solo 1 , ille sapiens, qui leges utilissĭmas 2 Atheniensĭbus scripsit, terras aliēnas libenter visitābat. Aliquando Croesus, Lydiae rex, Solōnem invitāvit, nam divitias suas viro sapienti ostendĕre desiderāvit. Croesus Solōne divitior, sed Solo Croeso sapientior erat. Croesus, qui se ipsum felicissĭmum putābat 3 (nam divitissĭmus erat), Solōnem interrogāvit: “Quem tu, vir sapiens, omnium homĭnum felicissĭmum putas?” Solo respondit: “Tellum Atheniensem felicissĭmum puto, nam filios bonos honestosque educāvit et ipse pro patria pugnans morte honestissĭmā vitam finīvit.” Alios quoque viros, qui mortem honestam habuĕrant, nomināvit; tum rex irātus: “Nonne me felicissĭmum omnium homĭnum putas? Quis enim pulchriōres vestes, splendidiōres gemmas, aedificia ampliōra habet?” “O rex, - inquit Solo, - nunc te divĭtem 4 et regem video 5, sed felīcem non prius te nominābo, quam vitam bonā et honestā morte finivĕris.” Hoc responsum minĭme regi placuit 6, et Solo regnum eius relīquit.
open dictionary
1. Solo, Solōnis - III declension.
2. leges utilissĭmas ... scripsit - Solon (c. 640-560 BC), one of the seven Greek sages, political and public figure, poet. In 594 BC. e. carried out important socio-political reforms in Athens, including the abolition of debts that oppressed small landowners; prohibited lending against the debtor's personality (which often made him the lender's slave), and divided the population into categories according to their property status.
3. se ipsum felicissĭmum putābat - considered myself the happiest; double wine case (see lesson 7).
4. Adjective dives, divĭtis - rich- has the following degrees of comparison: dives; divitior, divitius; divitissĭmus - or shortened form: dives; ditior, ditius; ditissimus.
5. te divĭtem et regem video - I see you as a rich man(rich) and the king; double accusative case.
6. minĭme... placuit - didn't like it, didn't like it at all; minĭme is used as a negation (= non) with an enhanced meaning: “not at all”, “not at all”, “not at all”.
Exercises
1. Translate into Latin. We remind you that with an adjective in the comparative degree ablativus comparationis is used:
Homeland is more valuable than life. There is no animal truer (= no animal truer) than a dog. Silver is cheaper than gold, gold is more expensive than silver.
2. Translate into Latin. We remind you: with the superlative degree of an adjective, genetivus partitivus is used to denote the whole from which a part is isolated:
The most famous of the Roman orators was Cicero. Of all the Gauls, the Belgae were the strongest.
Expensive carus, a, um
life vita, ae
no nullus, a, um
loyal fidēlis, fidēlis, fidēle
dog canis, canis
silver argentum,i
gold aurum,i
cheap vilis, vilis, vile
Expensive (by price) pretiōsus, a, um
strong fortis, fortis, forte
Gauls Galli, Gallorum
Belgians Belgae, Belgarum