Part 2 — The Accusative of the Part Concerned.
Reading edition
The Accusative of the Part Concerned.
1147. Poets use the accusative to express the part concerned, especially a part of the human body: as,
tremit artūs, Lucr. 3, 489, V. G. 3, 84, he shivers in his limbs. tremis ossa pavōre, H. S. 2, 7, 57, thou tremblest in thy bones with fear. viridī membra sub arbutō strātus, H. 1, 1, 21, stretching—his limbs—beneath an arbute green. ōs umerōsque deō similis, V. 1, 589, in face and shoulders like a god.
The Accusative of the Thing put on.
1148. The accusative is used with reflexive verbs in poetry to denote the thing put on: as,
comantem Androgeī galeam induitur, V. 2, 391, Androgeus’ high-haired helm he dons. exuviās indūtus Achillī, V. 2, 275, clad in Achilles’ spoils. Rarely to denote the thing taken off: as, priōrēs exuitur vultūs, St. Th. 10, 640, she doffs her former looks.
The Accusative of Exclamation.
1149. The accusative is used in exclamations, sometimes merely to call attention to something, but generally with a predicate to express a judgment with emphasis.
(a.) In calling attention, ecce or em is used in old Latin: as, ecce mē, Pl. MG. 663, behold, your humble servant. em Dāvom tibī̆, T. Andr. 842, there, Davos sir. For ellum, eccillum, &c., see 667 and 673. Also, from Cicero on, ēn: as, ēn quattuor ārās, V. E. 5, 65, see, altars four. (b.) In emphatic judgments sometimes the accusative alone: as, fortūnātum Nīcobūlum, Pl. B. 455, lucky man that Nicobulus. testīs ēgregiōs, Cael. 63, mighty fine witnesses; sometimes with an interjection: as, ō imperātōrem probum, Pl. B. 759, oh what a good commander; rarely so with ēcastor, edepol, eugē, bravo, heu, īlicet, all’s up, ē̆heu. Interrogatively: hancine impudentiam? V. 5, 62, possible, shamelessness like this?
1150. The accusative is used in excited orders, appeals, and questions, without any verb expressed, or even distinctly felt: as, Tiberium in Tiberim, Suet. Tib. 75, Tiberius to the Tiber. dī vostram fidem, T. Andr. 716, ye gods your help. prō fidem, Thēbānī cīvēs, Pl. Am. 376, oh help, or murder, ye citizens of Thebes. So with unde, quō, and quandō, often followed by mihī̆ or tibī̆: as, quō mihi fortūnam, sī nōn concēditur ūtī? H. E. 1, 5, 12, why wealth for me, if wealth I may not use?
II. THE ACCUSATIVE OF SPACE AND TIME, AND OF AIM OF MOTION.
The Accusative of Space and Time.
1151. Extent of space or duration of time is denoted by the accusative: as,
(a.) mīlia passuum XX prōcēdit, 5, 47, 1, he pushes on twenty miles. trīduī viam prōgressī, 4, 4, 4, having advanced three days journey. aggerem lātum pedēs CCCXXX, altum pedēs LXXX exstrūxērunt, 7, 24, 1, they built up a mound three hundred and thirty feet wide, and eighty feet high (1130). (b.) mātrōnae annum lūxērunt, L. 2, 7, 4, the married women wore mourning a year. ūndēvīgintī annōs nātus erat, Br. 229, he was nineteen years old. secūtae sunt continuōs complūrēs diēs tempestātēs, 4, 34, 4, there followed a good many days a succession of storms. triennium vagātī, 4, 4, 2, having led a nomad life three years. ūnum diem supplicātiō habita est, L. 10, 47, 7, a thanksgiving was held one day. diēs quīndecim supplicātiō, 2, 35, 4, a fortnight thanksgiving (1129). Sometimes per is added: as, lūdī per decem diēs factī sunt, C. 3, 20, games were celebrated ten days long.
1152. The idea of traversing is sometimes not expressed: as, mīlia passuum tria ab eōrum castrīs castra pōnit, 1, 22, 5, he pitches camp three miles away from their camp. quadringentōs inde passūs cōnstituit sīgna, L. 34, 20, 4, four hundred paces from there he set up the standards. See 1399.
1153. With absum and distō, the ablative of amount of difference is sometimes used (1393): as, certior factus est Ariovistī cōpiās ā nostrīs mīlibus passuum quattuor et XX abesse, 1, 41, 5, he was informed that Ariovistus’s troops were four and twenty miles away from ours. If the place is not mentioned from which distance is reckoned, ab or ā is sometimes used before the expression of distance: as, positīs castrīs ā mīlibus passuum XV, 6, 7, 3, pitching camp fifteen miles away.
1154. The accusative is used with abhinc, ago: as, quaestor fuistī abhinc annōs quattuordecim, V. 1, 34, you were a quaestor fourteen years ago. Rarely the ablative (1393): as, quō tempore? abhinc annīs XV, RC. 37, when? fifteen years ago; and once or twice with abhinc, meaning before (1393): as, comitiīs abhinc diēbus trīgintā factīs, V. 2, 130, the election having been held thirty days before.
1155. The accusative singular is used with ordinals, to show the number of days, months, or years since a particular event, including the day, month, or year of the event itself: as, quod annum iam tertium et vīcēsimum rēgnat, IP. 7, the circumstance that he has now been on the throne two and twenty years.
1156. The accusative in some pronominal expressions and adverbs passes over from ‘time through which’ to a loose ‘time at which’: as, id temporis, RA. 97, at that time. hoc noctis, Pl. Am. 163b, at this time of night. tum, then, num, nunc, now, nunc ipsum, Pl. B. 940, Att. 10, 4, 10, this very minute, commodum, just in time. For the locative ablative exceptionally used to denote duration, see 1355.
The Accusative of the Aim of Motion.
1157. (1.) Proper names of towns and of little islands or peninsulas are put in the accusative to denote the aim with expressions of motion: as,
Labiēnus Lutetiam proficīscitur, 7, 57, 1, Labienus starts for Lutetia. Leucadem vēnimus, Fam. 16, 9, 1, we came to Leucas. nocturnus introitus Zmyrnam, Ph. 11, 5, the entrance into Smyrna by night (1129). Plautus uses Accherūns a few times like a town name: as, vīvom mē accersunt Accheruntem mortuī, Most. 509, the dead are taking me to Acheron alive.
1158. With singular names of towns and little islands, Plautus has the accusative alone twenty times, and twenty times with in; Terence has, including Lēmnum, Ph. 567, and Cyprum, Ad. 224, 230, the accusative alone six times, and twice with in, in Lēmnum, Ph. 66, and in Cyprum, Ad. 278. Plural town names never have in.
1159. An appellative urbem or oppidum accompanying the accusative of a town name is usually preceded by in or ad: as, ad urbem Fī̆dēnās tendunt, L. 4, 33, 10, they make for the city of Fidenae. Iugurtha Thalam pervēnit, in oppidum magnum, S. I. 75, 1, Jugurtha arrived at Thala, a large town.
1160. When merely ‘motion towards’ or ‘nearness’ is meant, ad is used: as, trēs viae sunt ad Mutinam, Ph. 12, 22, there are three roads to Mutina. mīles ad Capuam profectus sum, CM. 10, I went to the war as a private, to the region round about Capua.
1161. Proper names of countries are also sometimes put in the accusative in poetry, to denote aim of motion: as, abiīt Ālidem, Pl. Cap. 573, he went away to Elis. So in prose also, Aegyptus in Cicero, Caesar, Nepos, Livy, and Tacitus: as, Germānicus Aegyptum proficīscitur, Ta. 2, 59, Germanicus sets out for Egypt. Rarely and in poetry names of peoples: as, sitientīs ībimus Āfrōs, V. E. 1, 64, to thirst-parched Afrians we shall go. In general the accusative of country names is preceded by in or ad, as are also appellatives regularly in prose; but in poetry, even appellatives without a preposition are common.
1162. (2.) The accusatives domum, rūs, and forās, are used like proper names of towns: as,
(a.) eō domum, Pl. Mer. 659, I’m going home. equitēs domum contendērunt, 2, 24, 4, the cavalry hurried home. domum reditiōnis spē sublātā, 1, 5, 3, the hope of a return home being out of the question (1129). (b.) rūs ībō, T. Eu. 216, I shall go out of town. (c.) effūgī forās, T. Eu. 945, I ran out of doors.
1163. The singular domum is always retained by Caesar, even when two or more separate persons or parties are spoken of. Plautus, Sallust, and Nepos, have the plural domōs once each, and Cicero and Livy use it occasionally.
1164. The accusative domum or domōs sometimes has an attribute, usually a possessive pronoun: as, domum suam quemque revertī, 2, 10, 4, for every man to go back to his home. alius alium domōs suās invītant, S. I. 66, 3, they invite each other to their homes. aurum domum rēgiam comportant, S. I. 76, 6, they bring all the gold to the house royal. cum domum rēgis dēvertissēs, D. 17, when you went to stay at the king’s palace. The preposition in is sometimes used when the attribute is a genitive or a possessive pronoun, and commonly when it is any adjective but a possessive pronoun.
1165. (3.) In old Latin, exsequiās and īnfitiās are also used with eō, and sometimes malam crucem and malam rem, though these last more commonly have in: as,
exsequiās Chremētī īre, T. Ph. 1026, to go to Chremes’s funeral. ut eās malam crucem, Pl. Men. 328, that thou mayst get thee to the accursed cross. Later writers, as Nepos, Livy, and Quintilian, use īnfitiās eō again, and, from Sallust on, vēnum eō and vēnum dō sometimes occur for vēneō and vēndō.
1166. With the accusative in -tum (or -sum), called the supine, the idea of ‘aim’ passes over into that of ‘purpose:’ as mīlitātum abiīt, T. Hau. 117, he’s gone away a soldiering (2270).
TWO ACCUSATIVES COMBINED.
Object and Predicate.
1167. Many verbs may take two accusatives, an object and a predicate.
Such are verbs signifying make, keep, choose, name or call, have, think, recognize or find, show oneself, &c., &c.: as, longiōrem mēnsem faciunt, V. 2, 129, they make the month longer. eum certiōrem faciunt, 5, 37, 7, they let him know. Ancum Mārcium rēgem populus creāvit, L. 1, 32, 1, the people made Ancus Marcius king. mē cēpēre arbitrum, T. Hau. 500, they’ve chosen me as referee. Duellium ‘Bellium’ nōmināvērunt, O. 153, Duellius they named ‘Bellius.’ vīcīnam Capreīs insulam ‘Aprāgopolim’ appellābat, Suet. Aug. 98, the island next to Capreae he called ‘the Castle of Indolence.’ conlēgās adiūtōrēs habēbat, Sest. 87, he had his colleagues as assistants. tē sapientem exīstimant, L. 6, they consider you a sage. quem virum P. Crassum vīdimus, CM. 61, what a man we saw in Crassus. sevērum mē praebeō, C. 4, 12, I show myself stern. In the passive both the object and the predicate become nominatives: as, Caesar certior factus est, 3, 19, 5, Caesar was informed.
1168. In the sense of consider as equivalent to, dūcō and habeō, less frequently putō, have the ablative with prō. Other constructions with these and the above verbs may be found in the dictionary.
Person and Thing.
1169. (1.) Some verbs of teaching and hiding, demanding and questioning, may take two accusatives, one of a person and one of a thing.
The commonest of these verbs are doceō and its compounds, and cēlō; flāgitō, ōrō, poscō, and rogō, interrogō. The thing is usually the neuter of a pronoun or enumerative word (1144): as, (a.) peior magister tē istaec docuit, nōn ego, Pl. B. 163, a worse instructor taught thee that, not I. quid tē litterās doceam? Pis. 73, why should I teach you your A B C’s? (b.) nōn tē cēlāvī sermōnem T. Ampiī, Fam. 2, 16, 3, I have not kept you in the dark about the talk with Ampius. (c.) interim cōtīdiē Caesar Aeduōs frūmentum flāgitāre, 1, 16, 1, meantime Caesar every day a dunning the Aeduans for the grain. Mīlēsiōs nāvem poposcit, V. 1, 86, he called on the Miletus people for a vessel. quid me istud rogās? Fin. 5, 83, why do you ask me that? Racilius mē sententiam rogāvit, QFr. 2, 1, 3, Racilius asked me my opinion.
1170. With doceō, meaning inform, cēlō, rogō, and interrogō, the ablative of the thing with dē is also used. And with flāgitō and poscō, sometimes the ablative of the person with ab, with cēlō the ablative of the person with dē.
1171. In the passive the person becomes the subject, and the accusative of a neuter pronoun or adjective is retained: as,
nōsne hoc cēlātōs tam diū, T. Hec. 645, for us not to be told of this so long; rarely with reversed construction: quōr haec cēlāta mē sunt? Pl. Ps. 490, why was this hid from me? Accusatives of appellatives are rare: as, omnīs mīlitiae artīs ēdoctus fuerat, L. 25, 37, 3, he had been thoroughly taught all the arts of war. interrogātus sententiam, L. 36, 7, 1, being asked his opinion. Other constructions of doctus, and of the passive of cēlō, flāgitō, poscō, rogō and interrogō, may be found in the dictionary.
1172. (2.) Verbs of wishing, reminding, inducing, and accusing, and some others, also sometimes take an accusative of the person and one of the thing.
Such are volō, moneō and its compounds, hortor and cōgō; accūsō, arguō, īnsimulō, obiūrgō. The thing is usually the neuter of a pronoun or enumerative word (1144): as, quid mē voltis? Pl. Mer. 868, what do you want of me? illud tē esse admonitum velim, Cael. 8, on this point I want you to be reminded (1171). In old Latin, accusatives of appellatives also are thus used, and sometimes also with dōnō and condōnō.
1173. (3.) The defining accusative is sometimes combined with an accusative of the person: as, tam tē bāsia multa bāsiāre, Cat. 7, 9, thee to kiss so many kisses (1140). But usually with an accusative of the person, the ablative takes the place of the defining accusative: as, ōdissem tē odiō Vatīniānō, Cat. 14, 3, I should hate thee with a Vatinian hate.
Object and Extent, Duration, or Aim.
1174. The accusative of extent or duration, or of aim of motion is often combined with that of the object: as,
(a.) mīlia passuum decem novem mūrum perdūcit, 1, 8, 1, he makes a wall nineteen miles (1151). mātrōnae annum eum lūxērunt, L. 2, 7, 4. the married women wore mourning for him a year (1151). (b.) Ancus multitūdinem omnem Rōmam trādūxit, L. 1, 33, 1, Ancus moved the whole population over to Rome (1157). eōs domum remittit, 4, 21, 6, he sends them home again (1162). For other combinations, see 1138, 1198, and 2270.
THE DATIVE.
1175. The dative denotes that for or to which a thing is or is done, and either accompanies single words, such as verbs, adjectives, sometimes adverbs, rarely substantives, or serves to modify the entire sentence. It has two principal uses.
1176. I. The dative is used as a complement. Complements may be roughly distinguished as essential or optional. But these two complements are not always separated by a sharp line, and the same dative may sometimes be referred indifferently to either head.
1177. (1.) The Essential Complement is a dative of the person or thing added to an idea which is felt as incomplete without the dative (1180).
Thus, pāret, he is obedient, is a statement which is felt as incomplete without a dative added to denote what it is he is obedient to, in the sentence pāret senātuī, he is obedient to the senate. But when stress is put on the action merely, without reference to its bearing, such a verb may be used without a dative: as, pāret, he is obedient, he yields obedience.
1178. (2.) The Optional Complement, that is, the dative of interest, advantage, or disadvantage, adds something to an idea that is already complete in itself (1205).
Thus, carmina cantō, I chant verses, is a statement entirely complete in itself; it may be modified or not, at option, by a dative, thus: carmina virginibus puerīsque cantō, verses for maids and boys I chant.
1179. II. The dative of certain substantives is used predicatively (1219).
I. THE COMPLEMENTARY DATIVE.
(1.) THE ESSENTIAL COMPLEMENT.
The Dative with Verbs.
1180. Many verbs require a dative to complete their meaning.
With Verbs of Intransitive Use.
1181. (1.) Many verbs of intransitive use, particularly such as denote a state, disposition, feeling, or quality, take the dative: as,
quodne vōbīs placeat, displiceat mihī? Pl. MG. 614, shall that which pleases you, displeasing be to me? sī Asiciō causa plūs prōfuit quam invidia nocuit, Cael. 23, if his case has been more helpful to Asicius than the hostility has been damaging. imperat aut servit collēcta pecūnia cuique, H. E. 1, 10, 47, for every man his garnered hoard or master is or slave. nōnne huic lēgī resistētis? Agr. 2, 85, will you not stand out against this law? gymnasiīs indulgent Graeculī, Traj. in Plin. Ep. 40 [49], 2, our Greek cousins are partial to gymnasiums. īgnōscās velim huic festīnātiōnī meae, in a letter, Fam. 5, 12, 1, please excuse haste. huic legiōnī Caesar cōnfīdēbat maximē, 1, 40, 15, Caesar trusted this legion most of all. an C. Trebōniō ego persuāsī? cui nē suādēre quidem ausus essem, Ph. 2, 27, or was it I that brought conviction to Trebonius? a man to whom I should not have presumed even to offer advice. In the passive, such verbs are used impersonally, the dative remaining (1034); personal constructions are rare and poetical.
1182. This dative is used with such verbs or verbal expressions as mean am pleasing or displeasing, helpful or injurious, command, yield, or am obedient, am friendly, partial, or opposed; spare, pardon, threaten, trust, advise, persuade, happen, meet. But the English translation is not a safe guide: many of the verbs used with a dative are represented transitively in English; and some verbs of the meanings above are used transitively in Latin: as, dēlectō, iuvō, laedō, &c., &c.
1183. The dative is rarely used with a form of sum and a predicate noun corresponding in meaning with the verbs above (1181): as, quid mihi scelestō tibī̆ erat auscultātiō? Pl. R. 502, i.e. quid tibī̆ auscultābam? why did I, ill-starred wretch, lend ear to thee? quī studiōsus re͡i nūllī aliaest, Pl. MG. 802, i.e. quī studet, who lends his soul to nothing else. Or immediately with a noun: as, servitūs opulentō hominī, Pl. Am. 166, slavery to a millionaire. optemperātiō lēgibus, Leg. 1, 42, obedience to the laws. aemula labra rosīs, Mart. 4, 42, 10, lips rivalling the rose.
1184. Some verbs have a variable use without any difference of meaning: thus, cūrō, decet, and vītō, have sometimes the dative in old Latin, but usually the accusative. In Cicero, adūlor has the accusative; from Nepos on, the dative as well. medeor, medicor, and praestōlor take either the accusative or the dative.
1185. Some verbs have an accusative with one meaning, a dative of the complement, essential or optional, with another: see aemulor, caveō, comitor, cōnsulō, conveniō, cupiō, dēspērō, maneō, metuō, moderor, prōspiciō, temperō, timeō, and the different uses of invideō, in the dictionary.
1186. In poetry, verbs of union, of contention, and of difference, often take a dative: as, (a.) haeret laterī lētālis harundō, V. 4, 73, sticks to her side the deadly shaft. So with coëō, concurrō, haereō, and similarly with iungō, misceō. (b.) quid enim contendat hirundō cycnīs? Lucr. 3, 6, for how can swallow cope with swans? So with bellō, certō, contendō, pugnō. (c.) īnfīdō scurrae distābit amīcus, H. E. 1, 18, 4, a friend will differ from a faithless hanger-on. So with differō, discrepō, dissentiō, distō.
1187. A verb often takes the dative, when combined with adversum, obviam, or praestō, also with bene, male, or satis, and the like: as,
fit ob viam Clōdiō, Mil. 29, he runs across Clodius. cui bene dīxit umquam bonō? Sest. 110, for what patriot had he ever a good word? nōs, virī fortēs, satis facere rē̆ī pūblicae vidēmur, C. 1, 2, we doughty champions flatter ourselves we are doing our whole duty by the state. Similarly with verbs of transitive use.
1188. (2.) Many verbs of intransitive use compounded with a preposition take a dative connected in sense with the preposition: as,
manus extrēma nōn accessit operibus eius, Br. 126, the last touch was not put upon his works. omnibus adfuit hīs pugnīs Dolābella, Ph. 2, 75, Dolabella was on hand in all these battles. pontō nox incubat ātra, V. 1, 89, over the deep, night broodeth black. cōgnitiōnibus dē Chrīstiānīs interfuī numquam, Plin. Ep. ad Trai. 96 [97], 1, I have never been to any of the trials of the Christians.
1189. The prepositions are chiefly ad, ante, com-, in, inter, ob, prae, sub, or super. In many compounds of these prepositions, however, the dative is due to the general meaning of the verb, as in cōnfīdit mihī̆, he puts all trust in me (1181), as contrasted with cōnsentit mihī̆, he feels with me, nearly equivalent to sentit mēcum (1188).
1190. Instead of the dative, such verbs often have a prepositional construction, particularly when place, literal or figurative, is distinctly to be expressed: as,
accēdere in fūnus, Leg. 2, 66, to go to a funeral. in morbum incidit, Clu. 175, he fell ill.
1191. Some verbs of intransitive use take, when compounded, either the dative or the accusative. See adiaceō, antecēdō, anteeō, praecurrō, praestō, incēdō, inlūdō, īnsultō, invādō, in the dictionary. And some compounds acquire a transitive use altogether, as obeō, oppugnō: see 1137.
With Verbs of Transitive Use.
1192. (1.) Many verbs of transitive use take the dative: as,
ē̆ī fīliam suam in mātrimōnium dat, 1, 3, 5, he gives this person his own daughter in marriage. decima legiō ē̆ī grātiās ēgit, 1, 41, 1, the tenth legion gave him thanks. huic fert subsidium Puliō, 5, 44, 13, to him Pulio brings aid. multīs idem minātur Antōnius, Ph. 11, 2, to many Antony threatens the same. reliquī sēsē fugae mandārunt, 1, 12, 3, the rest betook themselves to flight. commendō vōbīs meum parvum fīlium, C. 4, 23, unto your keeping do I commit the little son of mine. multī sē aliēnissimīs crēdidērunt, 6, 31, 4, many people put themselves in the hands of utter strangers. equitēs imperat cīvitātibus, 6, 4, 6, he issues orders to the communities for horse.
1193. This dative is used with such verbs as dō, trādō, tribuō, dīvidō, ferō, praebeō, praestō, polliceor, prōmittō, dēbeō, negō, mōnstrō, dīcō, nārrō, mandō, praecipiō, &c., &c. In the passive construction, the accusative becomes nominative, the dative remaining.
1194. (2.) Many verbs of transitive use compounded with a preposition take a dative connected in sense with the preposition: as,
nihil novī vōbīs adferam, RP. 1, 21, I shall not lay any novelty before you. lēgēs omnium salūtem singulōrum salūtī antepōnunt, Fin. 3, 64, the law always puts the general safety before the safety of the individual. timōrem bonīs iniēcistis, Agr. 1, 23, you have struck terror into the hearts of patriots. nōluērunt ferīs corpus obicere, RA. 71, they would not cast his person before ravenous beasts. nēminem huic praeferō, N. 8, 1, 1, there is nobody I put before him. hībernīs Labiēnum praeposuit, 1, 54, 2, he put Labienus over the winter-quarters. anitum ōva gallīnīs saepe suppōnimus, DN. 2, 124, we often put ducks’ eggs under hens.
1195. The prepositions are circum, dē, ex, post, or those named in 1189. In many compounds of transitive use, however, the dative is due to the general meaning of the verb, as with those spoken of in 1189.
1196. With these verbs, a prepositional construction is often used, as with the verbs of intransitive use (1190): as,
iam diū nihil novī ad nōs adferēbātur, Fam. 2, 14, no news has got to us this long time. For compounds of circum and trāns with two accusatives, see 1138.
1197. Verbs of transitive use compounded with com- have oftener the ablative with cum: as, cōnferte hanc pācem cum illō bellō, V. 4, 115, just compare this peace with that war. See also in the dictionary, coniungō and compōnō; also the indirect compounds comparō, compare, from compār, and commūnicō.
1198. With a few compounds of ad or in, a second accusative is exceptionally used: as, arbitrum illum adēgit, Off. 3, 66, he had the other man up before a daysman. So with inmittō, Pl. Cap. 548, īnsinuō, Lucr. 1, 116, &c., &c. Regularly with animum advertō: as, animum advertī columellam, TD. 5, 65, I noticed a modest shaft. quā rē animum adversā, Caes. C. 1, 80, 4, this fact being paid heed to: compare 1138.
1199. A few compound verbs admit either the dative of the person or thing and accusative of the thing, or the accusative of the person or thing and ablative of the thing; such are adspergō and īnspergō, circumdō, circumfundō, exuō and induō, impertiō, interclūdō; also the uncompounded dōnō: as, praedam mīlitibus dōnat, 7, 11, 9, he presents the booty to the soldiers. scrībam tuum ānulō dōnāstī, V. 3, 185, you presented your clerk with a ring. For the different constructions of interdīcō, see the dictionary.
The Dative with Adjectives.
1200. The dative with many adjectives and some adverbs denotes that to which the quality is directed.
Such have the meaning of useful, necessary, fit, easy, agreeable, known, near, belonging, friendly, faithful, like, and most of their opposites; the adjective is often predicative: as, vēr ūtile silvīs (1036), V. G. 2, 323, the spring is good for woods. est senātōrī necessārium nōsse rem pūblicam, Leg. 3, 41, for a senator it is indispensable to be conversant with government. ōrātiōnis genus pompae quam pugnae aptius, O. 42, a style better suited to the parade than to the field. convenienter nātūrae vīvere, Off. 3, 13, to live in touch with nature.
1201. Some adjectives of this class have the dative of a person, the accusative with ad of a thing: so accommodātus, aptus, idōneus, necessārius, and ūtilis; and some denoting feeling have also the accusative with a preposition: aequus, inīquus, fidēlis with in, benevolus with ergā, and impius with adversus. propior and proximus sometimes accompany an accusative, like prope, propius, and proximē.
1202. The adjectives commūnis, proprius or aliēnus, sacer, tōtus, often accompany the construction of the genitive of the owner: see 1238. For aliēnus with the ablative, see 1306. Sometimes aliēnus has the ablative with ab.
1203. Some adjectives denoting relationship, connection, friendship or hostility, become substantives, and as such, admit the genitive also (1103): such are (a.) adfīnis, cōgnātus; (b.) aequālis, familiāris, fīnitimus, pār and dispār, propīnquus, vīcīnus; (c.) adversārius, amīcus, inimīcus, necessārius.
1204. In Plautus and Terence, similis, the like, the counterpart, and its compounds, regularly take the genitive. The dative, as well as the genitive, is also used from Ennius on, particularly of a limited or approximate likeness: see the dictionary.
(2.) THE OPTIONAL COMPLEMENT.
1205. The dative of a person or thing interested, benefited, harmed, may be added at option to almost any verb: as,
cōnservāte parentī fīlium, parentem fīliō, Cael. 80, save the son for the father, the father for the son. mea domus tibī̆ patet, mihī̆ clausa est, RA. 145, the very house I own is open for you, is shut upon me. cui flāvam religās comam, simplex munditiīs? H. 1, 5, 4, for whom bind’st thou in wreaths thy golden hair, plain in thy neatness? nōn audēret facere haec viduae mulierī, quae in mē fēcit, T. Hau. 953, he durst not to an unprotected female do what he hath done towards me.
1206. The place of a verb with the dative of interest is sometimes filled by an interjection, ecce, ei, em, or vae: as, ei mihi quālis erat, E. 1, 7, V. 2, 274, ah me, how ghastly he did look. vae vīctīs, Pl. Ps. 1317, said by Brennus, 390 B.C., L. 5, 48, 9, woe worth the worsted. vae capitī atque aetātī tuae, Pl. R. 375, a murrain on thy head and life.
1207. The dative is often added to the entire sentence, where either a genitive or a possessive pronoun limiting a substantive might be used.
In such cases the dative expresses interest, advantage, or disadvantage, while the genitive would simply indicate the owner or the object: as, trānsfīgitur scūtum Puliōni, 5, 44, 7, unfortunately for Pulio, his shield gets pierced through and through. mīlitantī in Hispāniā pater ē̆ī moritur, L. 29, 29, 6, while serving in Spain he had the misfortune to lose his father. huic ego mē bellō ducem profiteor, C. 2, 11, I here proclaim myself captain for this war. sēsē Caesarī ad pedēs prōiēcērunt, 1, 31, 2, they cast themselves at Caesar’s feet. nostrīs mīlitibus spem minuit, 5, 33, 5, it dashed the hopes of our soldiers. extergē tibi manūs, Pl. Most. 267, wipe off thy hands. vellunt tibi barbam lascīvī puerī, H. S. 1, 3, 133, the wanton gamins pull thy beard, poor soul.
1208. This dative is sometimes detached from the verb, and used immediately with a substantive, instead of the genitive: as, Philocōmasiō custōs, Pl. MG. 271, the keeper for Philocomasium. rēctor iuvenī, Ta. 1, 24, a mentor for the young man. So particularly with a gerundive in official expressions: as, cūrātor mūrīs reficiendīs, OG. 19, commissioner for rebuilding the walls.
1209. Verbs of warding off sometimes take a dative, especially in poetry, also those of robbing and ridding: as, (a.) hunc quoque arcēbis gravidō pecorī, V. G. 3, 154, him also wilt thou for the pregnant herd keep far. sōlstitium pecorī dēfendite. V. E. 7, 47, the summer’s heat keep distant for the flock. (b.) torquem dētrāxit hostī, Fin. 1, 35, he pulled a torque away from his enemy. ēripiēs mihī̆ hunc errōrem, Att. 10, 4, 6, you will rid me of this mistake.
1210. With verbs of motion the dative of the person interested denotes in poetry the end of motion also: as, multōs Danaūm dēmittimus Orcō, V. 2, 398, we send down many a Danaan for the nether king. So also the dative of personified words of place: as, it clāmor caelō, V. 5, 451, up goes a shout for heaven, i.e. heaven hears a shout. sēdibus hunc refer ante suīs, V. 6, 152, first bear him duly to his place of rest, i.e. let his expectant grave receive him.
The Emotional Dative.
1211. The dative of the personal pronoun is often used with expressions of emotion, interest, surprise, or derision: as,
quid mihi Celsus agit? H. E. 1, 3, 15, how fares me Celsus? Tongilium mihī̆ ēdūxit, C. 2, 4, he took out Tongilius, bless my soul. at tibī̆ repente, cum minimē exspectārem, vēnit ad mē Canīnius māne, Fam. 9, 2, 1, but bless you, sir, when I least dreamt of it, who should drop in on me all at once but Caninius, bright and early.
The Dative of the Possessor.
1212. The dative is used with forms of sum to denote the possessor: as,
est hominī cum deō similitūdō, Leg. 1, 25, man has a resemblance to god. an nescīs longās rēgibus esse manūs? O. E. 16, 166, dost possibly not know kings have long arms? suos quoique mōs, T. Ph. 454, to every man his own pet way. So also with the compounds absum, dēsum, supersum: as, hoc ūnum Caesarī dēfuit, 4, 26, 5, this was all Caesar lacked.
1213. (1.) With mihī̆ est nōmen, the name is put either in the dative or in the nominative: as,
mihī̆ nomen est Iūliō, or mihī̆ nōmen est Iūlius, Gell. 15, 29, 1, my name is Julius. In old Latin and in Sallust, the dative: as, nōmen Mercuriōst mihī, Pl. Am. prol. 19, my name is Mercury; later the nominative: as, canibus pigrīs nōmen erit Pardus, Tigris, Leo, J. 8, 34, the craven cur shall sport the name of ‘Lion, Tiger, Pard.’ Cicero uses the nominative or rarely the dative, Livy oftener the dative than the nominative. Tacitus puts adjectives in the dative, substantives in the nominative, rarely in the genitive. Caesar does not use the construction.
1214. (2.) With the actives nōmen dō, indō, pōnō, tribuō, &c., the name may be in the dative or in the accusative; with the passive of these expressions, the name may be in the dative or in the nominative: as,
quī tibi nōmen īnsānō posuēre, H. S. 2, 3, 47, who’ve put on thee the nickname Crank. quī fīliīs Philippum atque Alexandrum nōmina inposuerat, L. 35, 47, 5, who had given his sons the names Philip and Alexander. A genitive dependent on nōmen is used once by Tacitus and in very late Latin.
1215. With a gerundive, the dative of the possessor denotes the person who has the action to do: see 2243. For the ablative with ab, or for habeō, see 2243, 2245.
1216. This dative is sometimes used with the perfect participle, and the tenses formed with it: as, mihī̆ est ēlabōrātum, Caecil. 40, I have it all worked out. carmina nūlla mihī sunt scrīpta, O. Tr. 5, 12, 35, no poetry have I ready made. Rarely with passives of the present system: as, nūlla placēre diū nec vīvere carmina possunt, quae scrībuntur aquae pōtōribus, H. E. 1, 19, 2, no verse can take or be longlived that by teetotallers is writ.
The Dative of Relation.
1217. The dative may denote the person viewing or judging: as,
eris mihi magnus Apollō, V. E. 3, 104, thou shalt to me the great Apollo be. Quīntia fōrmōsa est multīs, mihi candida, longa, rēcta est, Cat. 86, 1, in many eyes is Quintia fair, to me she’s bonny, tall, and straight. From Caesar on, participles are often used to denote the person viewing or judging: as, est urbe ēgressīs tumulus, V. 2, 713, there is, as you get out of town, a mound. in ūniversum aestimantī, Ta. G. 6, looking at it generally.
1218. In imitation of a Greek idiom, volēns, cupiēns, or invītus, is used by Sallust and Tacitus in agreement with a dative dependent on a form of sum, the combination being equivalent to a subject with a form of volō, cupiō, or invītus sum, respectively: as, cēterīs remanēre volentibus fuit, Ta. H. 3, 43, i.e. cēterī remanēre voluērunt, the rest were minded to bide where they were. Once in Livy.
II. THE PREDICATIVE DATIVE.
The Dative of Tendency or Result.
1219. (1.) Certain datives are used with a form of sum to denote what a thing tends to, proves, or is. This dative is generally accompanied by a dative of the person interested: as,
auxiliō īs fuit, Pl. Am. prol. 92, he was a help to them. odiō sum Rōmānīs, L. 35, 19, 6, I am an abomination in the eyes of Rome. potestne bonum cuiquam malō esse? Par. 7, can good prove bad for any human being? L. Cassius identidem quaerere solēbat, cui bonō fuisset, RA. 84, Cassius used to ask for ever and ever, who the person benefited was, or who the gainer was. nēminī meus adventus labōrī aut sūmptuī fuit, V. 1, 16, my visit did not prove a bother or an expense to a soul. rēs et fortūnae tuae mihī̆ maximae cūrae sunt, Fam. 6, 5, 1, your money-matters are an all-absorbing interest to me.
1220. There are many of these datives, mostly abstracts and all singular, some of the commonest are cūrae, ūsuī, praesidiō, cordī, odiō, auxiliō, impedīmentō, salūtī, voluptātī. The adjectives magnus, maior, maximus, or tantus and quantus, are sometimes used in agreement with them; and the dative frūgī sometimes has bonae.
1221. Instead of the dative of tendency, a predicative nominative or accusative is rarely used: thus, possessiōnem līberam Dardaniae sōlāciō fore, L. 40, 57, 9, that the unrestricted occupancy of Dardania would prove comforting, but, domestica quiēs sōlācium fuit, L. 6, 30, 9, the peace that prevailed at home was a solid comfort. Prepositional expressions with prō and in also occur.
1222. (2.) The dative is also used with a few verbs of considering or accounting to denote what a thing is accounted.
So with such verbs as dō, dūcō, habeō, tribuō, and vertō: as, vitiō mihī̆ dant, quod mortem hominis necessāriī graviter ferō, Matius in Fam. 11, 28, 2, the world scores it against me that I take the murder of a near and dear friend to heart. postquam paupertās probrō habērī coepit, S. C. 12, 1, after lack of wealth began to count as a stigma.
The Dative of Purpose or Intention.
1223. A few datives are used to denote what a thing is intended to be. This dative is generally accompanied by a dative of the person interested.
So (a.) dōnō and mūnerī: as, ēmit eam dōnō mihī̆, T. Eu. 135, he bought her as a gift for me. centum bovēs mīlitibus dōnō dedit, L. 7, 37, 3, he gave the soldiers a hundred oxen as a present. Also (b.) auxiliō, praesidiō, and subsidiō, used of military operations, chiefly with verbs of motion: as, iī, quī praesidiō contrā castra erant relictī, subsidiō suīs iērunt, 7, 62, 8, the men that had been left as a protection against the camp, went as a reinforcement to their own side.
1224. For the datives dōnō and mūnerī, a predicative nominative or accusative is sometimes used: as, corōnam Iovī dōnum in capitōlium mittunt, L. 2, 22, 6, they send a crown to the capitol as a present for Jupiter. Prepositional expressions are also used for auxiliō, &c.: as, ad praesidium, L. 3, 5, 3, in praesidium, L. 31, 16, 7, for protection, auxiliī causā, L. 2, 24, 4, to help.
1225. The dative receptuī is also used in military language to denote purpose: as, Caesar receptuī canī iussit, 7, 47, 1, Caesar ordered the retreat sounded. Quīnctius receptuī canere iussit, L. 34, 39, 13. This dative is sometimes attached immediately to a substantive: as, receptuī sīgnum, Ph. 13, 15, the trumpet for retreat.
THE GENITIVE.
1226. The genitive is principally used with nouns, less frequently with verbs. Sometimes even when it seems to be dependent on a verb, it really depends on a substantive understood, or on a noun virtually contained or implied in the verb. Some verbs require an accusative also, in addition to the genitive.
I. THE GENITIVE WITH SUBSTANTIVES.
1227. A substantive is often limited by another substantive in the genitive.
The things denoted by the two words are usually distinct: as, metus hostium, the fear of the enemy, i.e. either (a.) which they feel (1231), or (b.) which is felt towards them (1260); magnī ponderis saxa, stones of great weight (1239). Sometimes, however, they are more or less the same: as, mīlitum pars, part of the soldiers (1242); magna multitūdō perditōrum hominum, a perfect swarm of desperadoes (1255).
1228. Two or even three genitives expressing different relations, sometimes limit one substantive: as, superiōrum diērum Sabīnī cunctātiō, 3, 18, 6, Sabinus’s dilatoriness in days preceding. eōrum diērum cōnsuētūdine itineris nostrī exercitūs perspectā, 2, 17, 2, studying up the order of march followed by our army in those days.
1229. The limited substantive is often omitted, when it is obvious from the context: as, ventum erat ad Vestae, sc. aedem, H. S. 1, 9, 35, to Vesta’s were we come, i.e. to her temple. aberam bīduī, sc. iter, Att. 5, 17, 1, I was two days distant. Usually so, when it is expressed with another genitive, which generally precedes: as, quis est, quī possit cōnferre vītam Trebōnī cum Dolābellae? Ph. 11, 9, who is there that can compare the life of Trebonius with Dolabella’s?
1230. Instead of the genitive depending on a substantive, an equivalent adjective or a prepositional expression is often used. Such substitutions will be mentioned below in their appropriate places.
1231. The relations expressed by the limiting genitive vary very much according to the context. These relations may be put in classes, as below (1232-1260). But it must be remembered that as the genitive connects substantives in a loose way, the same construction may sometimes be referred to more than one head.
The Genitive of the Subject, Cause, Origin, or Owner.
1232. (1.) The genitive is used to denote that which does the action, or which causes, originates, or possesses the object designated by the substantive it limits: as,
metus hostium, Gell. 9, 12, 13, the fear of the enemy, i.e. which they feel. adventus Caesaris, 6, 41, 4, the arrival of Caesar. bellum Venetōrum, 3, 16, 1, the war with the Venetans. illud Solōnis, CM. 50, Solon’s memorable words. Canachī sīgna, Br. 70, statues by Canachus. Cupīdinis sīgnum, V. 4, 135, the statue representing Cupid. huius sīgnīs, V. 3, 9, with statues belonging to this man. pācem Ariovistī, 1, 37, 2, a peaceful policy on Ariovistus’s part. Cannārum pugna, L. 23, 43, 4, the battle of Cannae (1427). abacī vāsa omnia, V. 4, 35, all the vessels on the sideboard. prīdiē eius diēī, 1, 47, 2, the day before that day (1413). labrōrum tenus, Lucr. 1, 940, the length of the lips (1420).
1233. Instead of the genitive, an adjective is often used to express such relations; less frequently a prepositional construction: as,
(a.) odium paternum, N. 23, 1, 3, the hatred felt by his father. servīlī tumultū, 1, 40, 5, in the slave insurrection. bellō Cassiānō, 1, 13, 2, in the war with Cassius. illud Cassiānum, cui bonō fuerit, Ph. 2, 35, Cassius’s test question, ‘who the gainer was.’ erīlis patria, Pl. B. 170, my master’s birthplace. intrā domesticōs parietēs, C. 2, 1, within the walls of our houses. So usually with names of countries and of towns: as, anus Corinthia, T. Hau. 600, an old woman of Corinth. pugna Cannēnsis, L. 22, 50, 1, the battle of Cannae. Often in a generalizing sense: as, paternus māternusque sanguī̆s, RA. 66, the blood of a father and of a mother. (b.) ad Cannās pugnam, L. 22, 58, 1, the battle of Cannae.
1234. The possessive pronoun is regularly used instead of the possessive genitive of a personal or reflexive pronoun (1230): as,
mea domus, RA. 145, my own house. in tuā quādam epistolā, Att. 9, 10, 3, in a letter of yours. But sometimes, for emphasis, the genitive of the personal or reflexive is used: as, magnō suī cum perīculō, 4, 28, 2, with great personal risk; commonly so with omnium or utriusque: as, voluntātī vestrūm omnium pāruī, DO. 3, 208, I yielded to your joint wish; see however 1235.
1235. A word in apposition with the possessive pronoun is put in the genitive: as, meā ūnīus operā, Pis. 6, by my sole instrumentality. ad vestram omnium caedem, C. 4, 4, for the murder of you all (1230). So particularly ipse, omnis, sōlus, and ūnus.
1236. The genitive is often used predicatively with verbs meaning am, belong, become, make, seem, am accounted, &c., &c.: as,
litterāriī ista sunt lūdī, Quint. 1, 4, 27, such questions belong to the infant school. hīc versus Plautī nōn est, hīc est, Fam. 9, 16, 4, this line is not Plautus’s, this one is. omnia, quae mulieris fuērunt, virī fīunt, Top. 23, everything which was the woman’s becomes the man’s. neque sē iūdicāre Galliam potius esse Ariovistī quam populī Rōmānī, 1, 45, 1, and that he did not think Gaul was any more Ariovistus’s than it was the Romans’. hostiumst potīta, Pl. E. 562, into the foemen’s hands she fell.
1237. The possessive genitive of a person or of an abstract is particularly common when the subject of the verb is an infinitive or sentence: as,
(a.) scyphīs pugnāre Thrācum est, H. 1, 27, 1, to fight with bowls is Vandal work. erat āmentis, cum aciem vidērēs, pācem cōgitāre, Lig. 28, it was a madman’s act, dreaming of peace when you saw the troops in battalia. temporī cēdere semper sapientis est habitum, Fam. 4, 9, 2, shaping your course to circumstance has always passed as the sign of a wise man. mentīrī nōn est meum, T. Hau. 549, telling lies is not my style (1234). (b.) nōn est pudōris meī, mē prōpugnātōrem P. Scīpiōnis profitērī, V. 4, 80, it is not in keeping with my delicacy to set up as the champion of Scipio. hārum rērum esse dēfēnsōrem magnī animī est, Sest. 99, to be the defender of these interests takes heroism. hoc sentīre prūdentiae est, facere fortitūdinis, Sest. 86, to think thus shows wisdom, to act thus, courage. negāvit mōris esse Graecōrum, ut in convīviō virōrum accumberent mulierēs, V. 1, 66, he said it was not manners among the Greeks to have women at table at a men’s dinner-party.
1238. With the possessive genitive, the limited substantive is sometimes defined by commūnis, proprius or aliēnus, sacer, or tōtus added: as, hoc proprium virtūtis exīstimant, 6, 23, 2, this they consider a special characteristic of bravery. omnia quae nostra erant propria, RA. 150, everything which was our peculiar property (1234). illa īnsula eōrum deōrum sacra putātur, V. 1, 48, that island is considered the hallowed property of those gods. iam mē Pompēī tōtum esse scīs, Fam. 2, 13, 2, you are aware that I am become Pompey’s, out and out.
The Genitive of Quality.
1239. (2.) The genitive with an adjective in agreement is used to denote quality, either attributively or predicatively: as,
(a.) Attributively: magnī ponderis saxa, 2, 29, 3, stones of great weight. summae speī adulēscentēs, 7, 63, 9, young men of high promise. diērum vīgintī supplicātiō, 4, 38, 5, a twenty day thanksgiving. bēlua multōrum es capitum, H. E. 1, 1, 76, a many-headed beast art thou. eius modī cōnsilium, 5, 29, 5, such a plan. dēmittō auriculās ut inīquae mentis asellus, H. S. 1, 9, 20, I drop my ears like Neddy in the sulks (269). vāllō pedum IX, 5, 42, 1, with a nine foot palisade. (b.) Predicatively: magnae habitus auctōritātis, 7, 77, 3, passing for a man of great influence. flūminis erat altitūdō circiter pedum trium, 2, 18, 3, the depth of the river was about three feet. The genitive of quality resembles the ablative of quality (1375); the two are sometimes combined: as, hominem maximī corporis terribilīque faciē, N. 15, 4, 1, a man of gigantic frame and with an awe-inspiring presence. But the genitive is common in designations of size and number.
1240. A substantive expressing quality with aequus, pār, similis, or dissimilis in agreement, is put not in the genitive, but in the ablative, by Cicero, Caesar, Nepos, and Livy.
The Partitive Genitive.
1241. (3.) The partitive genitive denotes a whole of which the limited substantive denotes a part. There are two kinds of partitive genitive, the numerical and the quantitative: as,
(a.) mīlitum pars, 6, 40, 8, part of the soldiers, numerical partitive (1242). (b.) multum aestātis, 5, 22, 4, much of the summer, quantitative partitive (1247).
1242. (a.) The numerical partitive is a plural or a collective, limiting a word expressing part of the number: as,
mīlitum pars, 6, 40, 8, part of the soldiers. pars equitātūs, 4, 16, 2, part of the cavalry. alter cōnsulum, L. 6, 35, 5, one of the two consuls. uter est īnsānior hōrum? H. S. 2, 3, 102, which of these two is crazier? eōrum neuter, Pis. 62, neither of the two. multae istārum arborum, CM. 59, many of the trees you see there. quis omnium mortālium? V. 5, 179, who among all the sons of men? nēmō nostrūm, RA. 55, not one of us. nihil hōrum, RA. 138, none of these things. Stertinius, sapientum octāvus, H. S. 2, 3, 296, Stertinius, of sages eighth. ō maior iuvenum, H. AP. 366, O elder of the youths. hōrum omnium fortissimī sunt Belgae, 1, 1, 3, of all these the stoutest fighters are the Belgians. Also with superlative adverbs: as, deōrum maximē Mercurium colunt, Ta. G. 9, of the gods, they revere Mercury most. minumē gentium, Pl. Poen. 690, T. Eu. 625, no, never in the world.
1243. uterque, each, both, often takes the genitive plural of a pronoun: as, quōrum uterque, uterque eōrum, hōrum, nostrūm, &c.; sometimes of a substantive and pronoun combined: as, utriusque hārum rērum, TD. 1, 65, of each of these things. quārum cīvitātum utraque, V. 5, 56, each of these communities. With a substantive alone, it is oftener attributive: as, uterque dux, Marc. 24, each commander; and sometimes with neuter pronouns: as, quod utrumque, Brut. in Fam. 11, 1, 1, N. 25, 2, 4. The plural utrīque is used both ways: as, ab utrīsque vestrūm, Fam. 11, 21, 5, and ab utrīsque nōbīs, Brut. in Fam. 11, 20, 3.
1244. The plurals tot, totidem, and quot, are not used partitively, and omnēs and cūnctī only so by poets and late prose writers. plērīque is used either way, in agreement, or with the genitive.
1245. The numerical partitive is exceptionally used in poetry with the positive of a descriptive adjective: as, sāncte deōrum, V. 4, 576, thou holy of the gods. And in late prose, particularly with words denoting a class of persons: as, cum dēlēctīs peditum, L. 26, 5, 3, with the pick of the infantry. levīs cohortium, Ta. 3, 39, the light-armed of the cohorts.
1246. Instead of the numerical partitive, a prepositional expression with ante, inter, or in, or with ex or dē, is sometimes used: as, ante aliōs acceptissimus, L. 1, 15, 8, most welcome before others. So particularly quīdam and ūnus, duo, trēs, with ex or dē: as, quīdam ex hīs, 2, 17, 2, one of these. ūnus dē multīs, Fin. 2, 66, one of the common herd. But ūnus sometimes has the genitive: as, ūnus multōrum, H. S. 1, 9, 71. And usually so in a series, when ūnus is followed by alter, alius, tertius, &c.
1247. (b.) The quantitative partitive is usually a singular, limiting a neuter singular word denoting amount. The limited word is either a nominative, or an accusative without a preposition. This genitive often borders very closely on the genitive of definition (1255): as,
multum aestātis, 5, 22, 4, much of the summer. amplius obsidum, 6, 9, 7, something more extensive in the way of hostages. minus dubitātiōnis, 1, 14, 1, less of hesitation. quam minimum spatiī, 3, 19, 1, as little time as possible. id aetātis, DO. 1, 207, at that time of life. id temporis, Fin. 5, 1, at that time of day. quid causae est? Ac. 1, 10, what earthly reason is there? hoc litterulārum, Att. 12, 1, 1, this apology for a letter, or this hasty line. hoc sibī̆ sōlācī prōpōnēbant, 7, 15, 2, they laid this flattering unction to their souls.
1248. Such neuters are: multum, plērumque, plūrimum, amplius, plūs, paulum, minus, minimum, tantum, quantum, tantundem, nimium; in poetry and late prose, also many other adjectives singular and plural. Furthermore, id, hoc, illud, quod, quid, &c., and nihil; also abunde, adfatim, largiter, nimis, partim, parum, and satis.
1249. A few adjectives of place and time indicating a particular part of an object, are commonly used in immediate agreement with their substantives: as,
summus mōns, 1, 22, 1, the highest part of the mountain, or the mountain-top. extrēmā hieme, mediā aestāte, IP. 35, at the end of the winter, in midsummer. Such are: prīmus, intimus, medius, extrēmus, postrēmus, ūltimus, summus, īnfimus, īmus, reliquus. But the neuter is sometimes used partitively: as, aestātis extrēmum erat, S. I. 90, 1, it was the end of summer. summa pectoris, Fam. 1, 9, 15, the upper parts of the breast.
1250. The limiting genitive is often the neuter singular of an adjective used substantively: as,
aliquid bonī, T. Andr. 398, something good. aliquid malī, T. Eu. 999, something bad. numquid tandem novī? Br. 10, nothing new, pray? This use is ordinarily confined to stems in -o-; rarely otherwise: as, plūs inānis, Lucr. 1, 365, more of the void: and usually only when joined with an -o- stem: as, nihil solidī, nihil ēminentis, DN. 1, 75, no solidity, no projection.
1251. The partitive construction sometimes extends to the predicate: as, id erit sīgnī mē invītum facere, RA. 83, this will be something of an indication that I act with reluctance; sīgnī is here in the predicate, and yet made dependent on id. quid ergō est tuī cōnsulī? Brut. in Fam. 11, 1, 3, what then is your advice? quid suī cōnsilī sit ostendit, 1, 21, 2, he explains what his plan is. quid est enim huic reliquī? Sull. 89, for what is there left for my client? hī mīlitēs nihil reliquī victīs fēcēre, S. C. 11, 7, these soldiers left nothing over to the conquered. nihil ad celeritātem sibī̆ reliquī fēcērunt, 2, 26, 5, as for speed, they left no effort unspared.
1252. The accusative with a preposition also sometimes has the genitive, as, in id redāctus sum locī, T. Ph. 979, I am reduced to such a strait. ad id locī, S. C. 45, 3, to that spot. ad id locōrum, S. I. 63, 6, up to that time. in multum diēī, L. 9, 44, 11, till late in the day. In Cicero, also the ablatives eō, eōdem, and quō, with locī: as, eō locī, Sest. 68, in that position. And in later writers, other ablatives, with or without a preposition, also have a genitive.
1253. Some appellatives of place are put in the genitive with adverbs of place: as, ubinam gentium? Pl. Mer. 434, C. 1, 9, where in the world? nusquam gentium, T. Ad. 540, nowhere in the world. Similarly, locī with adverbs of time or order, as with intereā in Plautus and Terence, postideā in Plautus, posteā in Sallust, and inde in Lucretius; also locōrum with adhūc and postid in Plautus.
1254. In Sallust, Livy, and Tacitus, genitives of abstracts are used with the adverbs eō, quō, and hūc: as, eō miseriārum, S. I. 14, 3, to that pitch of distress. Ones with ut: ut quisque audentiae habuisset, adcurrerent, Ta. 15, 53, they should run up, with a speed commensurate in every case to their daring.
The Genitive of Definition.
1255. (4.) The genitive is used to define that of which a thing consists: as,
magna multitūdō perditōrum hominum, 3, 17, 4, a perfect swarm of desperadoes. innumerābile pondus aurī, Sest. 93, a weight of gold too great to count. mīlle numerō nāvium clāssem, V. 1, 48, an armada a thousand sail strong.
1256. The genitive of an explicit word containing the leading idea is sometimes used to define a more general word; as,
praedae pecudum hominumque, L. 24, 20, 5, booty consisting of cattle and human beings. pignora coniugum ac līberōrum, L. 2, 1, 5, pledges in the shape of wives and children. cōnfīsus mūnītiōne fossae, Caes. C. 1, 42, 3, relying on the defensive works in the shape of a moat. Rarely in poetry and late prose, the proper name of a place, with urbs, prōmunturium, &c.: as, urbem Patavī, V., 1, 247, the city of Patavium (1045). Particularly with the words vōx, nōmen, genus, and especially causa: as, haec vōx voluptātis, Fin. 2, 6, this word ‘pleasure.’ nōmen amīcitiae, Fin. 2, 78, the name ‘friendship.’ Compare nōmen frāternum, 1, 36, 5, the name of brothers (1233). haec īgnōminiae causa, Clu. 120, this reason, namely the censor’s stigma. parvulae causae vel falsae suspīciōnis vel terrōris repentīnī, Caes. C. 3, 72, 4, insignificant causes, as for instance ungrounded suspicion or a panic. propter eam causam sceleris istīus, V. 4, 113, for this reason, namely the crime of the defendant.
1257. The genitive of definition is very common with causā, less common with grātiā, to define what the motive or cause is: as,
amīcitiae causā, 1, 39, 2, from motives of friendship. Compare vestrā magis hoc causā volēbam, quam meā, DO. 1, 164, I wished this more for your sake than for my own (1234). honestātis amplitūdinisque grātiā, RA. 15, in compliment to their respectability and high social standing. So also sometimes with nōmine, and in old or official Latin, with ergō.
1258. Conversely, the genitive of a generic word denoting a person is sometimes added to a leading word defining the kind of a person: as, frūstum puerī, Pl. Per. 849, thou bit of a boy. mōnstrum hominis, T. Eu. 696, thou fiend in human shape. quaedam pestēs hominum, Fam. 5, 8, 2, some regular plagues in the shape of men.
1259. quidquid est, quantum est, quod est, or quodcumque est, with a genitive, is equivalent to an emphatic omnis: as, quidquid patrum est, L. 3, 17, 5, whatever there is in the shape of senators, i.e. every single senator. quod est pecūniae, trādit, Caes. C. 2, 20, 8, what there is in the-way of money, he hands over. Similarly tantum for tot: as, tantum hominum, Pl. Poen. 619, such a mass of men.
The Objective Genitive.
1260. (5.) The objective genitive denotes the object of the action expressed in the limited substantive: as,
metus hostium, Gell. 9, 12, 13, the fear of the enemy, i.e. which is felt towards them. vēnditiō bonōrum, RA. 110, sale of the goods. lūctū fīlī, DO. 2, 193, from grief for his son. This construction is freely used, even when the parallel verb has a dative, an ablative, or a prepositional expression: as, fīdūciā locī, 7, 19, 2, from confidence in the position. līberātiōnem culpae, Lig. 1, acquittal from guilt. mīlitiae vacātiōnem, 6, 14, 1, exemption from military service. opīniōne trium legiōnum dēiectus, 5, 48, 1, disappointed in his hope of three legions. deōrum opīniō, TD. 1, 30, a conception of the gods. miserrima est contentiō honōrum, Off. 1, 87, a scramble for office is a pitiful thing.
1261. Instead of the objective genitive, a prepositional expression is sometimes used with greater precision: as,
metus ā vī atque īrā deōrum, DN. 1, 45, fear of the might and wrath of the gods. So especially the accusative, usually denoting a person, with in, ergā, or adversus, combined with substantives denoting feeling: as, odium in hominum ūniversum genus, TD. 4, 25, hatred to all mankind. vestra ergā mē voluntās, C. 4, 1, your good-will towards me.
1262. A possessive pronoun or adjective is sometimes used for the objective genitive: as,
(a.) odiō tuō, T. Ph. 1016, from hate to thee. tuā fīdūciā, V. 5, 176, from his reliance on you. aspectūque suō, Lucr. 1, 91, and at the sight of her. (b.) metus hostīlis, S. I. 41, 2, fear felt of the enemy. servīlis percontātiō, DO. 2, 327, crossquestioning of the servant-girls. firmus adversus mīlitārem largītiōnem, Ta. H. 2, 82, dead-set against any largess to the military.
II. THE GENITIVE WITH ADJECTIVES.
1263. (1.) The genitive is used with many adjectives to denote the object.
Such are chiefly adjectives meaning (a.) desirous, (b.) knowing, or remembering, (c.) participating, controlling, or guilty, (d.) full, and most of their opposites: as, (a.) aurī cupidus, Pl. Poen. 179, eager for gold. sapientiae studiōsōs, id est enim philosophōs, TD. 5, 9, devotees of wisdom, for that is what ‘philosophers’ means. So also aemulus, avidus, fastīdiōsus, invidus. (b.) gnārus rē̆ī pūblicae, Br. 228, familiar with government. rē̆ī mīlitāris perītissimus, 1, 21, 4, a master of the art military. hominēs adulēscentulōs, inperītōs rērum, T. Andr. 910, mere hobbledehoys, not up in the world’s ways. imperītus mōrum, RA. 143, behind the times. immemor beneficiōrum, memor patriae, Ph. 2, 27, forgetful of kindnesses, never forgetting his country. So also cōnscius, cōnsultus, īnscius, īnsolēns, īnsolitus, īnsuētus, iēiūnus, prōvidus, prūdēns, rudis. (c.) praedae participēs, Caes. C. 3, 82, 1, sharing in the booty. manifestus tantī sceleris, S. I. 35, 8, caught in committing this atrocious crime. expers glōriae, IP. 57, without a share in the glory. So also adfīnis, compos, cōnsors, exhērēs, potēns, reus. (d.) negōtī plēnus, Pl. Ps. 380, full of business. fōns plēnissimus piscium, V. 4, 118, a fountain swarming with fish. refertō praedōnum marī, IP. 31, when the sea was crammed with corsairs. So also fertilis, inops, līberālis, nūdus, prōfūsus.
1264. In poetry and late prose, a great many other adjectives of these meanings, besides those mentioned above, are also used with the genitive. Such are principally: (a.) avārus, cūriōsus, incūriōsus, sēcūrus. (b.) nescius, praesāgus, praescius, scītus. (c.) exsors, immūnis, impos, impotēns, innocēns, innoxius, īnsōns, noxius, suspectus. (d.) abundāns, dīves, egēnus, inānis, indigus, largus, parcus, pauper, prōdigus, sterilis, vacuus.
1265. With cōnscius and the genitive of a thing, the dative of a person is sometimes added: as, tot flāgitiōrum exercituī meō cōnscius, Ta. 1, 43, a participant with my army in so many outrages. Sometimes cōnscius has the dative of a thing: as, mēns cōnscia factīs, Lucr. 3, 1018, the mind of guilt aware.
1266. (2.) The genitive of the object is often used with present participles which express permanent condition.
These participles are chiefly from verbs which have a transitive use. Not common in old Latin: as, amantem uxōris, Pl. As. 857, devoted to his wife, fugitāns lītium, T. Ph. 623, inclined to dodge a suit at law. Very common in Cicero: as, semper appetentēs glōriae praeter cēterās gentīs fuistis, IP. 7, you have always been more hungry for glory than any other nation. Especially in set expressions: as, homo amantissimus patriae, Sull. 34, vir amantissimus rē̆ī pūblicae, C. 4, 13, ever a devoted patriot. negōtī gerentēs, Sest. 97, business men. aliēnī appetēns, DO. 2, 135, S. C. 5, 4, always hankering after other people’s things. In Caesar seldom: as, fugiēns labōris, C. 1, 69, 3, apt to shirk exertion.
1267. The genitive is hardly ever found with adjectives in -āx (284): as, huius re͡i mendācem, Pl. As. 855, untruthful in this point. But in poetry, from Vergil and Horace on, and in late prose, a few genitives occur with adjectives whose parallel verbs have a transitive use, such as capāx, edāx, tenāx, &c.: as, tempus edāx rērum, O. 15, 234, thou all-devourer—time.
1268. Some of the adjectives which usually take the genitive have occasionally other constructions.
Thus, with adfīnis the dative also occurs (1200), rarely with aemulus (1183); the ablative with adjectives of fulness, as dīves, plēnus, and refertus (1387); iūre with cōnsultus and perītus (1385). For vacuus, &c., see 1306. Prepositional constructions also occur with these adjectives, such as the accusative with ad or in, or the ablative with ab, dē, or in: see the dictionary.
1269. For the genitive, with words denoting relationship, connection, friendship, or hostility, see 1203; with similis, 1204. With dignus and indignus, worthy and unworthy, the ablative is regularly used (1392); rarely the genitive: as, nōn ego sum dignus salūtis? Pl. Tri. 1153, don’t I deserve a greeting too? indignus avōrum, V. 12, 649, unworthy of my sires.
1270. (3.) In poetry and late prose, the genitive is used very freely with many adjectives of various meanings, often merely to indicate what they apply to: as,
nēmō mīlitāris rē̆ī callidior habēbātur, Ta. H. 2, 32, at soldiering nobody was thought to have a greater knack. vetus operis ac labōris, Ta. 1, 20, an old hand at the toil and moil of army life. aevī mātūrus Acestēs, V. 5, 73, Acestes, ripe in years. sērī studiōrum, H. S. 1, 10, 21, what laggards at your books. integer vītae scelerisque pūrus, H. 1, 22, 1, the man unspotted in his life and clean of sin. fessī rērum, V. 1, 178, in travail spent. satin tū sānu’s mentis aut animī tuī? Pl. Tri. 454, art thou quite right in thy five wits? (1339).
III. THE GENITIVE WITH VERBS.
Verbs Of Valuing.
1271. A few neuter adjectives of quantity are put in the genitive with verbs of valuing to denote the amount of estimation; such genitives are:
magnī, plūris, plūrimī; parvī, minōris, minimī; tantī, quantī.
The verbs with which these genitives are used are aestimō, dūcō, faciō, habeō, pendō, putō, and sum; rarely exīstimō: as, magnī opera eius aestimāta est, N. 24, 1, 2, his services were rated high. nōn magnī pendō, Pl. As. 460, I don’t care much. sua parvī pendere, S. C. 12, 2, a setting small store by what they had of their own. Verrēsne tibī̆ tantī fuit? V. 1, 77, was Verres so important in your eyes? est mihī̆ tantī. C. 2, 15, it is well worth my while. quantī is ā cīvibus suīs fieret īgnōrābās? V. 4, 19, did not you know how the man was prized by his own townsmen? Rarely maximī: as, maximī aestimāre, Clu. 159, to think all the world of.
1272. In expressions of worthlessness, other genitives are also used thus; such are nihilī, or, usually with a negative, āssis, floccī, naucī, pilī, teruncī: as, nōn āssis facis? Cat. 43, 13, car’st not a doit? So also huius: as, huius nōn faciam, T. Ad. 163, I shall not care a snap.
1273. With aestimō, the ablatives magnō and permagnō are sometimes used: as, quid? tū ista permagnō aestimās? V. 4, 13, tell me, do you rate that sort of thing very high yourself? Compare 1390.
1274. The genitives tantī and quantī, plūris and minōris are also used with verbs of buying and selling, hiring and letting, and costing. But other words are put in the ablative with these verbs: see 1391. For magnī, &c., with rēfert and interest, see 1279.
1275. A similar genitive occurs in one or two set forms, such as aequī bonīque dīcō, or faciō, aequī faciō, and bonī cōnsulō: as, istūc, Chremēs, aequī bonīque faciō, T. Hau. 787, I count that, Chremes, fair and good. aequī istūc faciō, Pl. MG. 784, that’s all the same to me.
The Verbs rēfert and interest.
1276. rēfert and interest, it concerns, are much alike in meaning and in construction. But the use of rēfert is characteristic of old Latin and poetry; in prose from Cicero on it is almost supplanted by interest, especially where persons are concerned.
1277. (1.) With rēfert and interest, a first or second person concerned is denoted by the possessive pronoun forms meā, tuā, nostrā, vestrā; and, from Cicero on, the third person reflexive by suā: as,
(a.) quid id rēfert meā? Pl. Cur. 395, what’s that to me? tuā istūc rēfert maxumē, Pl. Tri. 319, that is of most concern to thee. nōn suā rēferre, Quinct. 19, that it did not concern him. nōn nostrā magis quam vestrā rēfert vōs nōn rebellāre, L. 34, 17, 7, it is not more for our interest than for your own that you should not make war again. Without the verb: as, quid istūc nostrā, or quid id nostrā? T. Ph. 800, 940, what’s that to us? (b.) tuā et meā maximē interest tē valēre, Fam. 16, 4, 4, your health is a matter of the highest importance to you and to me. vestrā hōc maximē interest, Sull. 79, this is of vital moment to you.
1278. (2.) With interest, from Cicero on, a third person or thing concerned is denoted by the genitive. Also with rēfert, a few times from Sallust on: as,
(a.) quid eius intererat? RA. 96, what concern was it of his? interesse rē̆ī pūblicae sē cum Pompēiō colloquī, Caes. C. 1, 24, 5, that it was of importance to the common weal that he should have a parley with Pompey. (b.) faciundum aliquid, quod illōrum magis quam suā rētulisse vidērētur, S. I. 111, 1, that he must do something which should seem more for the other side’s good than his own. For the accusative with ad with these verbs, or for the dative with rēfert, see the dictionary.
1279. The matter of concern is expressed by a sentence or infinitive, or by a neuter pronoun; rarely by an appellative: as, nōn quō meā interesset locī nātūra, Att. 3, 19, 1, not that the character of the place concerned me. The degree of concern is expressed by an adverb, as magnopere, by a neuter accusative, as multum, or by a genitive of estimation, magnī, permagnī, plūris, parvī, tantī, quantī (1271).
Judicial Verbs.
1280. Verbs of accusing, convicting, condemning, and acquitting, take a genitive of the charge: as,
C. Verrem īnsimulat avāritiae, V. 1, 128, he charges Verres with avarice. accūsātus est prōditiōnis, N. 1, 7, 5, he was charged with treason. capitis arcēssere, D. 30, accuse on a capital charge. prōditiōnis damnātus est, N. 2, 8, 2, he was convicted of treason. Pollis pecūniae pūblicae est condemnātus, Flacc. 43, Pollis was condemned for embezzlement of government money. maiestātis absolūtī sunt permultī, Clu. 116, a good many were acquitted of high treason. With this genitive, an ablative, crīmine, iūdiciō, nōmine, or lēge, is sometimes expressed (1377): as, nē quem umquam innocentem iūdiciō capitis arcēssās, Off. 2, 51, that you are never to accuse any innocent man on a charge affecting his status as a citizen.
1281. The charge is sometimes denoted by a prepositional construction: as, sescentī sunt, quī inter sīcāriōs et dē venēficiīs accūsābant, RA. 90, there are hundreds and hundreds that brought charges of murder, by steel and by poison. So also dē āleā, of gambling, in Cicero regularly dē pecūniīs repetundīs, of extortion, and necessarily dē vī, of an act of violence, as vīs has no genitive. For the neuter accusative, see 1172.
1282. The penalty also is sometimes denoted by the genitive: as, cupiō octuplī damnārī Aprōnium, V. 3, 28, I want to have Apronius condemned to a payment of eightfold. damnātusque longī Sīsyphus Aeolidēs labōris, H. 2, 14, 19, and Sisyphus the Aeolid, amerced with penance long. Sometimes by the ablative: as, capite, V. 5, 109. So usually from Livy on, when the penalty is a definite sum of money or fractional part of a thing.
Impersonal Verbs of Mental Distress.
1283. A genitive of the thing, commonly with an accusative of the person, is used with five impersonals of mental distress:
miseret, paenitet, piget, pudet, taedet: as,
tu͡i mē miseret, me͡i piget, E. in Div. 1, 66, I pity thee, I loathe myself. frātris mē pudet pigetque, T. Ad. 391, my brother stirs my shame and my disgust. mī pater, mē tu͡i pudet, T. Ad. 681, dear father, in thy presence I’m abashed. galeātum sēro duellī paenitet, J. 1, 169, too late, with casque on head, a combatant repenteth him of war. So also miserētur, and in old Latin inceptively, miserēscit, commiserēscit.
1284. These verbs sometimes have a sentence or a neuter pronoun as subject: as, nōn tē haec pudent? T. Ad. 754, does not this make thee blush for shame? Rarely an appellative: as, mē quidem haec condiciō nōn paenitet, Pl. St. 51, for my part, with my wedded state I’m well content. Or a person: as, pudeō, Pl. Cas. 877, I feel ashamed. For participles and gerundives, see 817.
1285. The genitive is used with the personals misereor or misereō, and in poetry with miserēscō: as,
aliquandō miserēminī sociōrum, V. 1, 72, do take pity on your allies, it is high time. nēminis miserēre certumst, quia me͡i miseret nēminem, Pl. Cap. 764, I’m bound to care for nobody, as no one cares for me. Arcadiī miserēscite rēgis, V. 8, 573, take pity on the king of Arcady.
1286. Personal verbs of desiring, loathing, admiring, and dreading, sometimes take the genitive: as, pol, quamquam domī cupiō, opperiar, Pl. Tri. 841, although I yearn for home, I vow I’ll wait (1263). fastīdit meī, Pl. Aul. 245, he views me with disdain (1263). iūstitiaene prius mīrer, bellīne labōrum? V. 11, 126, thy justice first shall I admire? thy toils in war? nē tuī quidem testimōnī veritus, Att. 8, 4, 1, not having any awe about your recommendation either.
Verbs of Memory.
1287. The genitive is used with verbs of remembering and forgetting when they denote an inherent state of memory or of forgetfulness: as,
faciam ut meī meminerīs dum vītam vīvās, Pl. Per. 494, I’ll make you remember me as long as you live. num potuī magis oblīvīscī temporum meōrum, meminisse āctiōnum? Fam. 1, 9, 8, could I have been more forgetful of my present interests, more mindful of my past career? reminīscerētur incommodī populī Rōmānī, 1, 13, 4, he had better bear in mind the rebuff dealt out to Rome. oblītusque meōrum oblīvīscendus et illīs, H. E. 1, 11, 10, of friends forgetful and by friends forgot. See 1263.
1288. The accusative is used with these verbs when they denote the mere intellectual exercise of memory or a failure to remember: as,
equid meministī tu͡om parentum nōmina? Pl. Poen. 1062, do you remember your parents’ names? Cinnam meminī vīdī Sūllam, Ph. 5, 17, I can remember Cinna, I have seen Sulla. utinam mēmet possim oblīscier! Accius ap. Non. 500, 5, oh that myself I could forget! subitō tōtam causam oblītus est, Br. 217, suddenly he forgot the whole case.
1289. recordor has once the genitive (Pis. 12), but from its meaning bring to heart it is naturally found oftener with the accusative. With it and with meminī, the ablative with dē also occurs. The rare reminīscor has the genitive once each in Caesar and Nepos; twice later; oftener the accusative. Neuter pronouns are in the accusative with all these verbs.
1290. The impersonal venit in mentem also takes the genitive: as, venit mihī̆ Platōnis in mentem, Fin. 5, 2, Plato comes into my head; very exceptionally the ablative with dē. But the verb in this combination is often used personally, with the thing occurring to the mind as the subject, and regularly in Cicero, when it is rēs or genus, or a neuter pronoun.
1291. Verbs of reminding take the accusative of a person and sometimes with it the genitive of a thing: as,
admonēbat alium egestātis, alium cupiditātis suae, S. C. 21, 4, he reminded one man of his beggary, another of his greed. So also commoneō, commonē̆faciō, and, in Tacitus only, moneō. Oftener however the thing is in the ablative with dē, or, if it is a neuter pronoun or adjective, in the accusative (1172). Rarely a substantive equivalent to a neuter pronoun: as, eam rem nōs locus admonuit, S. I. 79, 1, the place has reminded me of that.
Verbs of Participation and Mastery.
1292. Verbs of participation and mastery sometimes take the genitive in old Latin and in poetry: as, servom su͡i participat cōnsilī, Pl. Cist. 163, she makes a slave a sharer in her plot (1263). quā Daunus agrestium rēgnāvit populōrum, H. 3, 30, 11, where Daunus was the lord of rural folk (1260). So, even in prose, potior, which usually has the ablative (1379): as, totīus Galliae sēsē potīrī posse spērant, 1, 3, 8, they hope they can get the mastery over the whole of Gaul. Especially with persons, or with the genitive plural rērum: rērum potior, get to be, or often, am, master of the situation, or I am monarch of all I survey. Similarly in Tacitus apīscor, adipīscor: as, arma, quīs Servius Galba rērum adeptus est, Ta. 3, 55, the war by which Galba became master of the throne. In Plautus crēdō sometimes has the genitive of a thing and dative of a person.
Verbs of Fulness and Want.
1293. The genitive is sometimes used with verbs of filling, abounding, and lacking, as it is with the corresponding adjectives (1263): as,
convīvium vīcīnōrum cōtīdiē compleō, CM. 46, I fill out a dinner-party every day with neighbours. haec rēs vītae mē, soror, saturant, Pl. St. 18, these things, my sister, sicken me of life. terra ferārum nunc etiam scatit, Lucr. 5, 39, still teems the earth with ravin beasts. So with egeō sometimes: as, egeō cōnsilī, Att. 7, 22, 2, I am in need of some advice. And usually with indigeō: as, hoc bellum indiget celeritātis, Ph. 6, 7, this war requires rapid action. But, from Livy on, the ablative is commoner with indigeō: see 1305.
1294. With verbs of separating and abstaining, the ablative is regularly used (1302). But the genitive is sometimes found in poetry: as, mē omnium labōrum levās, Pl. R. 247, thou riddest me of all my woes. abstinētō īrārum calidaeque rixae, H. 3, 27, 69, from bursts of rage keep thou and hot affray.
IV. THE GENITIVE OF EXCLAMATION.
1295. In poetry, the genitive with an adjective in agreement occurs two or three times in exclamation: as, foederis heu tacitī, Prop. 5, 7, 21, alas, that secret covenant. Usually the nominative (1117), or the accusative (1149).
THE ABLATIVE.
1296. The ablative is used principally with verbs and their participles, or with adjectives, and consists of three cases that were originally distinct.
1297. I. The Ablative proper denotes that from which something parts or proceeds (1302).
The ablative proper is often accompanied by the prepositions ab, dē, ex, prae, prō, sine, or tenus.
1298. With the ablative proper two other cases, originally distinct, a locative case and an instrumental case, were confounded, and merged under the common name of the ablative.
1299. II. The Locative case denotes the place in, at, or on which action occurs. A few forms of the locative proper are still preserved (1331). But the place where is ordinarily denoted by the locative ablative (1342).
The locative ablative is often accompanied by the prepositions in or sub.
1300. III. The Instrumental case denotes that by which or with which a main person or thing is attended (1356).
The instrumental ablative is often accompanied by the prepositions cum or cōram.
1301. The ablative or locative is sometimes attached immediately to a substantive.
Thus, (a.) sometimes to a substantive which denotes or implies action: as, interitus ferrō, destruction with the sword, like intereō ferrō; see 1307, 1331, 1342, 1376, 1377. (b.) In constructions in which the ablative is due to an older combination with a verb: as, vir singulārī virtūte, a man of unexampled bravery. See 1309 and 1375.
I. THE ABLATIVE PROPER.
The Ablative of Separation and Want, and of Departure.
1302. Verbs of separation take an ablative of the thing from which separation takes place: as,
(a.) caruit forō posteā Pompēius, caruit senātū, caruit pūblicō, Mil. 18, after that Pompey had to keep away from the market place, from the senate, from highways and byways. adhūc Q. Ligārius omnī culpā vacat, Lig. 4, thus far Ligarius proves devoid of any guilt. egeō cōnsiliō, Att. 15, 1, A, 5, I need advice (1305). (b.) Ītaliā prohibētur: nōn tū eum patriā prīvāre, quā caret, sed vītā vīs, Lig. 11, he is kept out of Italy; you want to deprive him not of his country, from which he is debarred, but of life. līberēmus cūrā populum Rōmānum, L. 39, 51, 9, Hannibal’s words when he took poison, 183 B.C., let me relieve Rome of anxiety.
1303. This ablative is used (a.) with such verbs as mean abstain, abstineō, dēsistō, supersedeō; am devoid of, careō, vacō; need, egeō; and in addition to the accusative of the object, (b.) with verbs used transitively, such as mean keep off, arceō, exclūdō and interclūdō, prohibeō; drive away, remove, pellō, moveō, and their compounds; free, expediō, līberō, levō, solvō and exsolvō; deprive, orbō, prīvō, spoliō, nūdō, fraudō.
1304. A preposition, ab or ex, is often used with these verbs, and regularly when the ablative denotes a person. But careō and egeō, and exsolvō and levō, never have a preposition.
1305. With egeō, the genitive is sometimes used, and often with indigeō: see 1293. Also in poetry, with verbs of abstaining and separating: see 1294.
1306. The ablative of separation is sometimes used with such adjectives as aliēnus, expers, līber, nūdus, vacuus, &c.: as, negant id esse aliēnum maiestāte deōrum, Div. 2, 105, they maintain that this is not at variance with the greatness of the gods. vacuī cūrīs, Fin. 2, 46, devoid of cares. arce et urbe orba sum, E. Tr. 114, of tower and town bereft am I. But sometimes the genitive: see 1263 and 1264; sometimes also prepositional constructions: for these, and particularly for the different constructions of aliēnus, see the dictionary.
Town and Island Names.
1307. (1.) Proper names of towns and of little islands are put in the ablative with verbs of motion, to denote the place from which motion proceeds: as,
Dāmarātus fūgit Tarquiniōs Corinthō, TD. 5, 109, Damaratus ran away from Corinth to Tarquinii. sīgnum Carthāgine captum, V. 4, 82, the statue carried off from Carthage. Megaribus, Pl. Per. 137, from Megara. Lēmnō, Pl. Tru. 90, from Lemnos. Rōmā accēperam litterās, Att. 5, 8, 2, I had got a letter from Rome. Rarely with a substantive of motion (1301): as, dē illīus Alexandrēā discessū, Att. 11, 18, 1, about his departure from Alexandrea. Also in dating letters: as, V kal. Sextīl., Rēgiō, Fam. 7, 19, Regium, 28 July; less often the locative: as, Īdibus Iūniīs, Thessalonīcae, QFr. 1, 3, 10, Thessalonica, 13 June. Like a town name: Ācherunte, poet. in TD. 1, 37, from Acheron. With an attribute: ipsā Samō, V. 1, 51, from Samos itself. Teānō Sidicīnō, Att. 8, 11, B, 2, from Sidicinian Teanum.
1308. Singular town or island names sometimes have ex in old Latin: thus, Carystō, Pl. Ps. 730, from Carystus, or, ex Carystō, Ps. 737, indifferently. ex Andrō, T. Andr. 70, from Andros. In classical Latin, town names rarely have ab: as, ab Athēnīs proficīscī, Serv. in Fam. 4, 12, 2, to start from Athens; chiefly of neighbourhood: as, ab Gergoviā, 7, 43, 5: 7, 59, 1, from camp at Gergovia; or direction: as, ā Salōnīs ad Ōricum, Caes. C. 3, 8, 4, from Salonae to Oricum; regularly with longē: as, longē ā Syrācūsīs, V. 4, 107, far from Syracuse.
1309. The ablative of a town or country name is rarely attached immediately to a substantive, to denote origin: as, Periphanēs Rhodō mercātor dīves, Pl. As. 499, Periphanes from Rhodes a chapman rich. videō ibī̆ hospitem Zacynthō, Pl. Mer. 940, I see the friend there from Zacynthus. Rarely in Cicero: as, Teānō Āpulō laudātōrēs, Clu. 197, eulogists from Apulian Teanum; in Caesar twice. In Livy with ab only: as, Turnus ab Arīciā, L. 1, 50, 3, Turnus from Aricia. But the Roman tribe one belongs to, is regularly in the ablative: as, Q. Verrem Rōmiliā, sc. tribū, V. a. pr. 1, 23, Verres of the tribe Romilia.
1310. With a verb, country names regularly have a preposition, and always in Cicero, Sallust, and Livy: as, ē Ciliciā dēcēdēns, Br. 1, going away from Cilicia. The ablative alone is rare: as, Aegyptō adveniō domum, Pl. Most. 440, from Egypt I come home. Chiefly in Tacitus: as, Aegyptō remeāns, 2, 69, coming back from Egypt. In Caesar, by attraction: cōgēbantur Corcȳrā atque Acarnāniā pābulum supportāre, C. 3, 58, 4, they were forced to fetch fodder from Corcyra and even Acarnania.
1311. (2.) The ablatives domō and rūre, and in poetry humō, are used like proper names of towns: as,
(a.) domō excesserant, 4, 14, 5, they had gone away from home. Also metaphorically: as, domō doctus, Pl. Mer. 355, by home-experience taught. (b.) rūre rediīt uxor mea, Pl. Mer. 705, my wife’s come back from out of town. (c.) humō, in Vergil first: as, vix oculōs attollit humō, O. 2, 448, scarce from the ground her eyes she lifts.
The Ablative of Source, Stuff, or Material.
1312. The verb nāscor and participles of origin take an ablative to denote parentage or rank in life.
Such participles are: nātus, prōgnātus, and ortus; in poetry and late prose, also crētus, ēditus, generātus, genitus, satus, and oriundus: as, (a.) Rōmulus deō prōgnātus, L. 1, 40, 3, Romulus, sprung from a god. dīs genite, V. 9, 642, thou sired of gods. Of a parent, ex is sometimes used: as ex mē hic nātus nōn est, T. Ad. 40, he’s not my son; and of remoter ancestors, ab. (b.) locō nātus honestō, 5, 45, 2, respectably descended. summō locō nātus, 5, 25, 1, of high birth, familiā antīquissimā nātum, 7, 32, 4, a member of an old family. Rarely with dē: as, quō dē genere gnātust Philocratēs? Pl. Cap. 277, what is the parentage of Philocrates?
1313. The ablative with an attribute, attached to a substantive, sometimes denotes stuff or material: as, aere cavō clipeum, V. 3, 286, a targe of hallow bronze. perennī fronde corōnam, Lucr. 1, 118, a crown of amaranthine leaf. solidōque adamante columnae, V. 6, 552, and pillars of the solid adamant. This construction borders closely on the ablative of quality (1375). Rarely without an attribute: as, pīctās abiete puppīs, V. 5, 663, painted sterns of fir.
1314. A substantive denoting stuff or material is generally put in the ablative with dē or ex; thus,
(a.) Directly with a substantive: pōcula ex aurō, V. 4, 62, cups of gold. (b.) Oftener with an auxiliary verb or participle: sīgnum erat hoc Cupīdinis ē marmore, V. 4, 5, this statue of Cupid was made of marble. scūtīs ex cortice factīs, 2, 33, 2, with long shields made out of bark. ex ūnā gemmā pergrandī trūlla excavāta, V. 4, 62, a ladle scooped out of a single enormous semi-precious stone.
1315. The ablative with forms of faciō and sum denotes that with which or to which something is done: as, quid hōc homine faciās? Sest. 29, what can you do with such a fellow? quid mē fīet? T. Andr. 709, what will become of me? But often the dative (1205): as, quid tibī̆ faciam? Att. 7, 3, 2, what shall I do to you? Or the ablative with dē: as, dē frātre quid fīet? T. Ad. 996, as to my brother, what will come to pass?
The Ablative of Cause, Influence, or Motive.
1316. The ablative is used to denote cause, influence, or motive: as,
madeō metū, Pl. Most. 395, I’m drenched with dread. tū imprūdentiā lāberis, Mur. 78, you, sir, slip from inadvertence. maerōre et lacrimīs cōnsenēscēbat, Clu. 13, she just pined away in sorrow and tears. īrā incendor, Pl. Ps. 201, I’m getting hot with wrath. premor lūctū, Att. 3, 22, 3, I am bowed down with grief. quod ego nōn superbiā faciēbam, DO. 1, 99, I did not act thus from superciliousness, not I. nōn movētur pecūniā, V. 4, 18, he is not moved by money. boat caelum fremitū virūm, Pl. Am. 232, the welkin rings with roar of men. dēlictō dolēre, corrēctiōne gaudēre, L. 90, be pained by the sin, take pleasure in the reproof. aetāte nōn quīs optuērier, Pl. Most. 840, owing to age thou canst not see. Iovis iussū veniō, Pl. Am. prol. 19, at Jove’s behest I come. Sēiānus nimiā fortūnā sōcors, Ta. 4, 39, Sejanus giddy with over-prosperity. ferōx praedā glōriāque exercitus, Ta. H. 1, 51, the army flushed with booty and glory. exercitūs nostrī interitus ferrō, Pis. 40, the annihilation of our army by the sword (1301).
1317. Instead of the ablative, other constructions often occur, especially with verbs used transitively; such are:
(a.) Prepositional phrases with dē or ex, in Varro and Livy with ab; also with ob, per, or propter: as, multī in oppidum propter timōrem sēsē recipiunt, Caes. C. 2, 35, 6, a good many retreated to the town from fear. Sometimes with prae: as, prae amōre exclūstī hunc forās, T. Eu. 98, it was for love you turned him out of doors: in classical Latin, usually of hindrance: as, sōlem prae iaculōrum multitūdine nōn vidēbitis, TD. 1, 101, you won’t see the sun for the cloud of javelins. (b.) Circumlocutions with causā, less frequently with grātiā (1257). (c.) Ablatives absolute, or participles, particularly auxiliary participles with an ablative to express cause, oftener motive, such as captus, ductus, excitātus or incitātus, impulsus, incēnsus, īnflammātus, mōtus, perterritus: as, nōnnūllī pudōre adductī remanēbant, 1, 39, 3, some stuck by from shame.
1318. The person by whom the action of a passive verb is done, is denoted by the ablative with ab or ā. Also occasionally with verbs equivalent to a passive, such as cadō, intereō, pereō, vēneō, &c., &c. Things or animals are sometimes represented as persons by the use of ab: as, animus bene īnfōrmātus ā nātūrā, Off. 1, 13, a soul meetly fashioned by dame nature. See 1476-1478.
1319. In poetry, an ablative denoting a person, with an adjective in agreement, is sometimes equivalent to an expression with an abstract substantive: as, et adsiduō ruptae lēctōre columnae, J. 1, 13, and pillars by persistent reader riven, i.e. adsiduitāte lēctōris, or adsiduā lēctiōne. cūrātus inaequālī tōnsōre capillōs, H. E. 1, 1, 94, my locks by unsymmetric barber trimmed.
The Ablative of Comparison.
1320. (1.) The ablative may be used with a comparative adjective, when the first of two things compared is in the nominative, or is a subject-accusative.
Such an ablative is translated by than: as, (a.) lūce sunt clāriōra nōbīs tua cōnsilia, C. 1, 6, your schemes are plainer to us than day. ō mātre pulchrā fīlia pulchrior, H. 1, 16, 1, O daughter fairer than a mother fair. Particularly in sentences of negative import: as, quis Karthāginiēnsium plūris fuit Hannibale? Sest. 142, of all the sons of Carthage, who was rated higher than Hannibal? nec mihī̆ est tē iūcundius quicquam nec cārius, Fam. 2, 10, 1, and there is nothing in the world nearer and dearer to me than you. (b.) illud cōgnōscēs profectō, mihī̆ tē neque cāriōrem neque iūcundiōrem esse quemquam, Fam. 2, 3, 2, one thing I am sure you will see, that there is nobody nearer and dearer to me than you.
1321. (2.) The ablative of comparison is similarly used when the first member of comparison is an accusative of the object: as,
exēgī monumentum aere perennius, H. 3, 30, 1, I have builded up a monument more durable than bronze. Particularly so in sentences of negative import: as, hōc mihī̆ grātius facere nihil potes, Fam. 13, 44, you can do nothing for me more welcome than this. Also with predicate adjectives dependent on a verb of thinking (1167): as, Hērodotum cūr vērāciōrem dūcam Enniō? Div. 2, 116, why should I count Herodotus any more truthful than Ennius? Regularly when the second member of comparison is a relative: as, quā pecude nihil genuit nātūra fēcundius, DN. 2, 160, nature has created nothing more prolific than this animal, i.e. the sow.
1322. (3.) In poetry, the ablative of comparison may be used with the first member of comparison in any case: as, Lūcīlī rītū, nostrūm meliōris utrōque, H. S. 2, 1, 29, after Lucilius’s way, a better man than thou or I.
1323. (4.) In sentences of negative import, the ablative is sometimes used with alter and alius, as with a comparative: as, neque mēst alter quisquam, Pl. As. 492, and there’s no other man than I. nec quicquam aliud lībertāte commūnī quaesīsse, Brut. and Cass. in Fam. 11, 2, 2, and to have aimed at nothing else than freedom for all. But in prose, quam is commonly used.
1324. (1.) The second member of comparison is often introduced by quam, than, or in poetry by atque or ac. This member, whatever the case of the first member, is sometimes made the subject of a form of sum in a new sentence: as,
meliōrem quam ego sum suppōnō tibī̆, Pl. Cur. 256, I give you as a substitute a better than I am myself. verba M. Varrōnis, hominis quam fuit Claudius doctiōris, Gell. 10, 1, 4, the words of Varro, a better scholar than Claudius ever was. ut tibī̆ maiōrī quam Āfricanus fuit, mē adiūnctum esse patiāre, Fam. 5, 7, 3, so that you will allow me to be associated with you, a bigger man than Africanus ever was.
1325. (2.) When the first member is in the nominative or accusative, quam is commonly a mere coordinating word, with both members in the same case: as,
(a.) plūris est oculātus testis ūnus quam aurītī decem, Pl. Tru. 490, a single witness with an eye rates higher than a dozen with the ear. (b.) tū velim exīstimēs nēminem cuiquam neque cāriōrem neque iūcundiōrem umquam fuisse quam tē mihī̆, Fam. 1, 9, 24, I hope you will be convinced that nobody was ever nearer and dearer to anybody than you to me.
1326. An introductory ablative of a demonstrative or relative pronoun sometimes precedes the construction with quam: as, quid hōc est clārius, quam omnīs Segestae mātrōnās et virginēs convēnisse? V. 4, 77, what fact is there better known than this, to wit, that all the women in Segesta, married and single, came streaming together?
1327. The ablative is sometimes used with comparative adverbs also.
So particularly in sentences of negative import: as, nihil lacrimā citius ārēscit, Corn. 2, 50, nothing dries up quicker than a tear. Less frequently in positive sentences in prose: as, fortūna, quae plūs cōnsilīs hūmānīs pollet, contrāxit certāmen, L. 44, 40, 3, fortune, who is mightier than the devices of man, precipitated the engagement. Very commonly, however, quam is used with comparative adverbs.
1328. Designations of number or extent are often qualified by amplius, longius, or plūs, over, or by minus, under.
The word thus qualified is put in the case which the context would require without any such qualification: as, plūs septingentī captī, L. 41, 12, 8, over seven hundred were taken prisoners. tēcum plūs annum vīxit, Q. 41, he lived with you over a year (1151). cum equīs plūs quīngentīs, L. 40, 32, 6, with over five hundred horses. Less frequently with quam. When these words are felt as real substantives in the nominative or accusative, the ablative of comparison may be used (1320): as, plūs trīduō, RA. 74, more than three days.
1329. In expressions of age with nātus, the adjectives maior and minor are used as well as amplius and minus, and with the same construction (1328): as, annōs nātus maior quadrāgintā, RA. 39, over forty years old. For other constructions, see the dictionary. Similarly conlēctus aquae digitum nōn altior ūnum, Lucr. 4, 414, a pool no deeper than a finger’s breadth (1130). But commonly with comparative adjectives of extent, quam is used, or the ablative (1320): as, palūs nōn lātior pedibus quīnquāgintā, 7, 19, 1, a marsh not wider than fifty feet.
1330. With a comparative adjective or adverb, the ablatives opīniōne, exspectātiōne, and spē, and some others, chiefly in poetry, take the place of a sentence with quam: as,
opīniōne melius, Pl. Cas. 338, better than you thought. minōra opīniōne, Caes. C. 2, 31, 5, more insignificant than is thought. lātius opīniōne dissēminātum est hoc malum, C. 4, 6, this infection is more sweeping than anybody dreams. spē omnium sērius, L. 2, 3, 1, later than was generally expected.
II. THE LOCATIVE ABLATIVE.
(A.) THE LOCATIVE PROPER.
1331. (1.) Singular proper names of towns and of little islands are put in the locative to denote the place in or at which action occurs: as,
quid Rōmae faciam? mentīrī nescio, J. 3, 41, what can I do in Rome? I don’t know how to lie. Corinthī et Karthāginī, Agr. 2, 90, at Corinth and at Carthage. Lacedaemonī, N. praef. 4, in Lacedaemon. Tīburī, Att. 16, 3, 1, at Tibur. Rhodī, Fam. 4, 7, 4, at Rhodes. mānsiōnēs diutinae Lēmnī, T. Ph. 1012, protracted stays at Lemnos (1301). Sometimes in dates: as, data Thessalonīcae, Att. 3, 20, 3, given at Thessalonica (1307). The locative rarely means near: as, Antiī, L. 22, 1, 10, round about Antium. In Plautus only two singular town names with consonant stems occur, and these regularly in the locative, Carthāginī and Sicyōnī, three times each; once in a doubtful example, Sicyōne, Cist. 128. Terence has no examples of these stems. From Cicero on, the locative ablative is commoner with them (1343).
1332. With an adjective attribute also, the locative is used: as, Teānī Āpulī, Clu. 27, at the Apulian Teanum. Suessae Auruncae, L. 32, 9, 3, at the Auruncan Suessa. The appellative forum, market place, used, with an attribute, as a proper name, is sometimes put in the accusative with ad: as, Claternae, ad Forum Cornēlium, Fam. 12, 5, 2, at Claterna and at Forum Cornelium; sometimes in the locative ablative: Forō Iūlī, Plin. Ep. 5, 19, 7.
1333. When the locative is further explained by an appellative following, the appellative is put in the locative ablative, either alone, or with in: as, Antiochīae, celebrī quondam urbe, Arch. 4, at Antioch, once a bustling town. Neāpolī, in celeberrimō oppidō, RabP. 26, at Neapolis, a town swarming with people. An appellative in the ablative with in may be further defined by a proper name in the locative: as, duābus in īnsulīs, Melitae et Samī, V. 5, 184, in two islands—at Melita and Samos. in oppidō, Antiochīae, Att. 5, 18, 1, within town walls—at Antioch. in sēcessū, Apollōniae, Suet. Aug. 94, out of town—at Apollonia. Or in the ablative: as, in oppidō Citiō, N. 5, 3, 4, in the town of Citium. in urbe Rōmā, L. 39, 14, 7, in the city of Rome.