Tuesday 29 October 2013

Cave felem!

Cave canem, which means: beware of the dog, must be one of the best known Latin phrases.  But how do you say: "Beware of the cat"?  Well, beware will be just the same.  Cat is feles, -is (f).  Canem is the accusative singular of canis, -is (m/f) dog.  So I guess beware of the cat must be: "Cave felem!"

Wednesday 16 October 2013

Cras amet

This is the start of a couplet in the Pervigilium Veneris.  The full couplet goes:

"Cras amet qui numquam amavit;
Quique amavit, cras amet."

The translation is:

"May he love tomorrow, who has never loved before;
And may he who has loved, love tomorrow also."

Of course, this could just as well be translated with she instead of he.  ie  "May she love tomorrow, ..."

cras  adv.  tomorrow.
amet  3rd person singular present active subjunctive of amo
numquam  adv.  never
amavit  3rd person singular perfect active indicative of amo

cras  adv.  tomorrow
hodie  adv.  today
heri  adv.  yesterday

Sunday 13 October 2013

Umbra solis non aeris

This short phrase comes from a sundial.  "Umbra solis non aeris" means "the shadow of the sun not of the  bronze."

Friday 11 October 2013

In domo Patris mei

The famous words of John chapter 14 verse 2 start in English: "In my father's house there are many mansions."  In the Latin Vulgate the verse reads:

"In domo Patris mei mansiones multae sunt si quo minus dixissem vobis quia vado parare vobis locum."

Thursday 10 October 2013

Iustitia elevat gentem

A common translation into English of Proverbs 14:34 is "Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.  The Latin Vulgate is: "iustitia elevat gentem miseros facit populos peccatum."