Carl Meissner - Latin Phrase-Book

fortunae se committere – to trust to luck.

fortunam in manibus habere – to have success in one's grasp.

fortunam ex manibus dimittere – to let success slip through one's fingers.

fortuna commutatur, se inclinat – luck is changing, waning.

ludibrium fortunae – the plaything of Fortune.

is, quem fortuna complexa est – Fortune's favourite.

a fortuna desertum, derelictum esse – to be abandoned by good luck.

fortuna aliquem effert – Fortune exalts a man, makes him conspicuous.

rebus secundis efferri – to be puffed up by success; to be made arrogant by prosperity.

ad felicitatem (magnus) cumulus accedit ex aliqua re – his crowning happiness is produced by a thing; the culminating point of his felicity is…

aliquid felicitatis cumulum affert – his crowning happiness is produced by a thing; the culminating point of his felicity is…

aliquid felicitatem magno cumulo auget – his crowning happiness is produced by a thing; the culminating point of his felicity is…

in rebus prosperis et ad voluntatem fluentibus – when life runs smoothly.

beata vita, beate vivere, beatum esse 66 66 beatitas and beatitudo are used by Cicero in one passage only (De Nat. Deorum, 1. 34. 95), but merely as a linguistic experiment. – happiness, bliss.

ad bene beateque vivendum – for a life of perfect happiness.

peropportune accidit, quod – it is most fortunate that…

fortuna adversa – misfortune, adversity.

res adversae, afflictae, perditae – misfortune, adversity.

in calamitatem incidere – to be overtaken by calamity.

calamitatem accipere, subire – to suffer mishap.

nihil calamitatis (in vita) videre – to live a life free from all misfortune.

calamitatem haurire – to drain the cup of sorrow. 67 67 In Latin metaphor the verb only, as a rule, is sufficient to express the metaphorical meaning – e.g. amicitiam iungere cum aliquo , to be bound by the bands of affection to any one; religionem labefactare , to undermine the very foundations of belief; bellum exstinguere , to extinguish the torch of war; cuncta bello ardent , the fires of war are raging all around; libido consedit , the storm of passion has ceased; animum pellere , to strike the heart-strings; vetustas monumenta exederat , the tooth of time had eaten away the monuments.

omnes labores exanclare – to drain the cup of sorrow.

calamitatem, pestem inferre alicui – to bring mishap, ruin on a person.

calamitatibus affligi – to be the victim of misfortune.

calamitatibus obrui – to be overwhelmed with misfortune.

calamitatibus defungi – to come to the end of one's troubles.

calamitate doctus – schooled by adversity.

conflictari (cum) adversa fortuna – to struggle with adversity.

in malis iacere – to be broken down by misfortune.

malis urgeri – to be hard pressed by misfortune.

fortunae vicissitudines – the vicissitudes of fortune.

ancipites et varii casus – the changes and chances of this life.

sub varios incertosque casus subiectum esse – to have to submit to the uncertainties of fortune; to be subject to Fortune's caprice.

multis casibus iactari – to experience the ups and downs of life.

ad omnes casus subsidia comparare – to be prepared for all that may come.

varia fortuna uti – to experience the vicissitudes of fortune; to have a chequered career.

multis iniquitatibus exerceri 68 68 The first meaning of exercere is to keep in motion, give no rest to. Then, metaphorically, to keep busy, to harass – e.g. fortuna aliquem vehementer exercet . Lastly, exercere is used to express the main activity in any branch of industry, thus, exercere agros , to farm; metalla , to carry on a mining industry; navem , to fit out ships, be a shipowner; vectigalia , to levy, collect taxes, used specially of the publicani ; qui exercet iudicium , the presiding judge ( praetor ). – to be severely tried by misfortune.

fortunae telis propositum esse – to be exposed to the assaults of fate.

fortunae obiectum esse – to be abandoned to fate.

ad iniurias fortunae expositum esse – to be a victim of the malice of Fortune.

fortunae cedere – to acquiesce in one's fate.

aliquem affligere, perdere, pessumdare, in praeceps dare – to bring a man to ruin; to destroy.

praecipitem agi, ire – to be ruined, undone.

ad exitium vocari – to be ruined, undone.

ad interitum ruere – to be ruined, undone.

in perniciem incurrere – to be ruined, undone.

pestem alicui (in aliquem) machinari – to compass, devise a man's overthrow, ruin.

perniciem (exitium) alicui afferre, moliri, parare – to compass, devise a man's overthrow, ruin.

ab exitio, ab interitu aliquem vindicare – to rescue from destruction.

in periculo esse or versari – to be in danger.

res in summo discrimine versatur – the position is very critical.

in vitae discrimine versari – to be in peril of one's life.

in pericula incidere, incurrere – to find oneself in a hazardous position.

pericula alicui impendent, imminent – dangers threaten a man.

pericula in or ad aliquem redundant – many dangers hem a person in; one meets new risks at every turn.

pericula subire, adire, suscipere – to incur danger, risk.

periculis se offerre – to expose oneself to peril.

salutem, vitam suam in discrimen offerre (not exponere ) – to risk one's life.

aliquem, aliquid in periculum (discrimen) adducere, vocare 69 69 vocare helps to form several phrases – e.g. in invidiam, in suspicionem, in dubium, ad exitium, in periculum vocare . It is used in the passive to express periphrastically the passive of verbs which have only an active voice – e.g. in invidiam vocari , to become unpopular, be hated, invideor not being used. Cf. in invidiam venire . – to endanger, imperil a person or thing.

alicui periculum creare, conflare – to endanger, imperil a person or thing.

in periculum capitis, in discrimen vitae se inferre – to recklessly hazard one's life.

salus, caput, vita alicuius agitur, periclitatur, in discrimine est or versatur – a man's life is at stake, is in very great danger.

in ipso periculi discrimine – at the critical moment.

aliquem ex periculo eripere, servare – to rescue from peril.

nullum periculum recusare pro – to avoid no risk in order to…

periculis perfungi – to surmount dangers.

periculum facere alicuius rei – to make trial of; to risk.

periculum hostis facere – to try one's strength with the enemy; to try issue of battle.

res ad extremum casum perducta est – affairs are desperate; we are reduced to extremeties.

ad extrema perventum est – affairs are desperate; we are reduced to extremeties.

in tuto esse – to be in a position of safety.

in tuto collocare aliquid – to ensure the safety of a thing.