Carl Meissner - Latin Phrase-Book

Not occasio opportuna, bona, pulchra , the notion "favourable" being contained in the word itself. We find, however, occasio praeclara, ampla, tanta , not unfrequently.

Notice potestatem alicui pugnandi facere , to offer battle, and potestatem sui facere alicui , (1) to give opportunity of battle, and also (2) to grant an audience to (cf. sui conveniendi potestatem facere ).

In the same way deesse officio , to leave one's duties undone; d. muneri , to neglect the claims of one's vocation; d. rei publicae , to be careless of state interests, to be unpatriotic; d. sibi , not to do one's best.

beatitas and beatitudo are used by Cicero in one passage only (De Nat. Deorum, 1. 34. 95), but merely as a linguistic experiment.

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.

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 ).

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 .

Similarly descendere is frequently used of consenting unwillingly to a thing, condescending. Cf. vi. 9 ad fin. and xvi. 9.

Notice too poena praesens , instant punishment; pecunia praesens , ready money; medicina praesens , efficacious remedy; deus praesens , a propitious deity; in rem praesentem venire , to go to the very spot to make a closer examination.

Also fructum alicuius rei capere, percipere, ferre, consequi ex aliqua re – e.g. virtutis fructus ex re publica (magnos, laetos, uberes) capere = to be handsomely rewarded by the state for one's high character.

Notice too calamitatem, cladem, incommodum accipere , to suffer mishap, reverse, inconvenience; naufragium facere , to be shipwrecked.

damnum (opp. lucrum ) = loss, especially of worldly possessions; detrimentum (opp. emolumentum ) = harm inflicted by others; fraus = deceitful injury; iactura (properly "throwing overboard") = the intentional sacrifice of something valuable in order either to avert injury or to gain some greater advantage. "Harmful" = inutilis, qui nocet , etc., not noxius , which is only used absolutely – e.g. homo noxius , the offender, evildoer.

Probably originally omnia alicuius causa velle = to wish everything (favourable) in some one's behalf.

But se convertere ad aliquem = either (1) to approach with hostile intention, or (2) to turn to some one for sympathy or assistance.

animus is used similarly in several periphrases to express abstract qualities – e.g. animus inexorabilis = inflexibility, severity; animus implacabilis = implacability; animus (fides) venalis = venality. Cf. simplices mores, simplex natura, ratio, genus = simplicity ( simplicitas is post-Augustan and usually = frankness, candour). immemor ingenium = forgetfulness ( oblivio in this sense is not classical).

mereri is a middle verb, and consequently always has an adverb with it.

Notice the numerous phrases of which afficere is a part – e.g. afficere aliquem admiratione, beneficio, exilio, honore, iniuria, laude, poena, supplicio . Especially important is its passive use – e.g. affici admiratione , to admire; gaudio, voluptate , to rejoice, be pleased; dolore , to be pained, vexed; poena , to suffer punishment.

The singular inimicitia is only used to express the abstract idea "enmity".

Not commemorare , the fundamental meaning of which is "to make a person mindful of…" and implies an emphatic reference to a definite point.

In the same way, to improve a man, alicuius mores corrigere (not aliquem c. ); to understand some one, alicuius orationem or quid dicat intellegere .

existimatio has two uses: (1) active – opinion held by others, criticism; (2) passive – reputation, character, usually in a good sense, consequently = good reputation without the addition of bona, integra , etc.

opus always means the concrete work on which one is engaged; labor is the trouble, fatigue, resulting from effort; opera is the voluntary effort, the trouble spent on an object. Thus laborare = not simply to work, but to work energetically, with exertion and consequent fatigue; operari , to be busy with a thing. Terence thus distinguishes opus and opera : quod in opere faciundo operae consumis tuae . Cf. Verg. Aen. 1. 455 operumque laborem miratur = the trouble with such huge works must have cost.

nervi properly = sinews, muscles, not nerves the existence of which was unknown to the ancients. Metaphorically nervi denotes not only strength in general but also specially – (1) vital power, elasticity, e.g. omnes nervos virtutis elidere (Tusc. 2. 11. 27), incīdere , to paralyse the strength of virtue; (2) motive power, mainspring, essence, of a thing, e.g. vectigalia nervi rei publicae sunt (Imp. Pomp. 7. 17), nervi belli pecunia (Phil. 5. 2. 15).

abuti properly = to consume, make full use of. From this is developed the rarer meaning to use in excess, abuse = perverse, intemperanter, immoderate uti . Abuse, misuse = pravus usus, vitium male utentium, insolens mos . abusus is only found in the Jurists, and abusio is a technical term of rhetoric = κατάχρησις .