In this lesson, we will begin the study of the declension of nouns in Latin. We will study each of the five declensions in future lessons, but in this lesson, we learn several general rules that apply to all nouns. To complete the objectives of this lesson, complete the following tasks:
- Read the lesson from beginning to end.
- Study each rule with its examples for mastery.
- Memorize the rules (if possible).
- Complete the lesson assessment.
Common Precepts
1. Nomina composita fere instar simplicium declinantur, ut vir, viri; triumvir, triumviri; prudens, prudentis; imprudens, imprudentis. At quaedam id non servant, ut sanguis, sanguinis; exsanguis, exsanguis (non exsanguinis), capricornus, capricorni; centimanus, centimana, centimanum, quamvis composita a cornu et manus: sic unimanus, unimana, unimanum; et anguimanus; quies, quietis; requies, requiei et requietis; pubes, pubis; impubes vel impubis, impubis et impuberis; portus, portus; angiportum, angiporti genere neutro.
Composite nouns are generally declined after the likeness of the simple nouns from which they are derived, as the composite noun triumvir, triumviri (three-man) follows the declension of the simple noun vir, viri (man); as imprudens, imprudentis (unwise) follows prudens, prudentis (wise).
But certain nouns do not keep it, as exsanguis is declined as exsanguis, not exsanguinis though derived from sanguis, sanguinis. Likewise, capricornus is declined as capricorni in the way of second declension nouns, though derived from cornu, cornu, which is a 4th declension noun. The composite noun centimanus, centimana, centimanum is declined according to the first and second declensions, although derived from manus, which is a fourth declension noun. So are unimanus, unimana, unimanum and anguimanus. Likewise, the composite noun requies, requiei and requietis from quies, quietis; impubes or impubis, impubis and impuberis from pubes, pubis; angiportum, angiporti in the neuter gender from portus, portus. Terence uses either angiportus, angiporti or angiportus, angiportus in the masculine gender; Terence also writes,
“Sed hinc concedam in angiportum hunc proximum.”
But hence I shall depart into this nearby alley.
Likewise reads Priscianus.
2. In compositis rectus tantum casus declinatur, ut tribunus plebis, tribuni plebis, tribuno plebis, tribunum plebis, etc. Huc spectant senatusconsultum, iurisperitus, paterfamilias atque eiusdem generis alia.
Translation: In composite nouns, only the Nominative case is declined, as:
- Nominative: tribunus plebis (tribune of the people)
- Genitive: tribuni plebis (of the tribune of the people)
- Dative: tribuno plebis (for the tribune of the people)
- Accusative: tribunum plebis (tribune of the people), and so on.
The composite nouns senatusconsultum (decree of the senate), iurisperitus (prudence of law), paterfamilias (father of the family) and others of the same kind follow this.
3. Si nomen ex duobus rectis copuletur, uterque declinabitur, ut respublica, reipublicae, reipublicae, rempublicam; iusiurandum, iurisiurandi, iuriiurando, etc.
Translation: If a noun is formed from two nominatives, both shall be declined, as
- Nominative: respublica
- Genitive: reipublicae
- Dative: reipublicae
- Accusative: rempublicam
Likewise,
- Nominative: iusiurandum
- Genitive: iurisiurandi
- Dative: iuriiurando, and so on.
4. Excipitur alteruter, cuius posterior tantum pars plerumque solet declinari.
Translation: The composite noun alteruter (either), composed of the nominatives alter and uter, is excepted from the last rule, of which the latter part only is generally accustomed to be declined.
5. Nomina neutra tres casus habent similes, nominandi, accusandi, vocandi, qui numero multitudinis a litera terminantur praeter ambo et duo.
Translation: Neuter nouns have three cases similar: the Nominative, the Accusative and the Vocative, which in the plural number are terminated with the letter –a, except for the nouns ambo and duo.
6. Vocativus singularis quartae et quintae similes est nominativo: sensus, O sensus; dies, O dies.
6. The Vocative singular of the fourth and fifth declension is always like the Nominative case, as: sensus, O sensus; dies, O dies.
7. Nominativus et vocativus multitudinis similes sunt, musae, O musae; virtutes, O virtutes.
Translation: The Nominative and Vocative plural are always the same, as: musae, O musae; virtutes, O virtutes.
8. Dativus and Ablativus numeri pluralis similes sunt, musis, a musis; virtutibus, a virtutibus.
The Dative and Ablative cases of the plural number are always the same, as,
- Dative plural: musis,
- Ablative plural: a musis;
- Dative plural: virtutibus
- Ablative plural: a virtutibus
Summary
In future lessons, we are going to study the five declensions of Latin nouns in detail. In this lesson, we have learned some helpful general rules that apply to all nouns, which will help with our mastery of the declensions.
(c) William C. Michael, 2022. No use outside the Classical Liberal Arts Academy is permitted.
