In this lesson, we continue to study the grammar of third declension nouns, focusing on the forms of ablative cases of different classes of nouns. To complete the objectives of this lesson, complete the following tasks:
- Read over the lesson once to become familiar with the content to be studied.
- Study the lesson for mastery, learning the translation of each Latin rule.
- Complete the lesson assessment.
Source: Alvarez, Institutio Grammatica, translated by Mr. William C. Michael.
Lesson
I. Nomina substantiva latina, quorum accusativus exit in -IM, tantum -I postulant in ablativo, ut: siti, pelvi, tussi, cucumi, cannabi. Adde Hispali,Ligeri, Baeti; quamvis Livius dixerit: Superato Baete amni; et Persius: Torta cannabe.
I. Latin substantive nouns, of which the accusative case ends in -IM, only -I seek in the Ablative case, as: siti (thirst), pelvi (bowl), tussi (cough), cucumi (cucumber), cannabi (hemp). Add Hispali (Sevilla, Spain), Ligeri (Loire River), Baeti (Baetis River); although Livius has said: superato (crossed) Baete amni (river); et Persius: Torta (twisted) cannabe (hemp).
II. Substantiva latina, quorum accusativus in -EM vel -IM, in ablativo utramque terminationem sortiuntur, ut nave et navi, febre et febri, reste et resti, etc. At turri multo quam turre usitatius est.
II. Latin substantives, of which the accusative case (ends) in -EM or -IM, in the ablative case either termination are appointed, as nave and navi (ship), febre and febri (fever) , reste and resti (rope), etc. But turri (tower) more (often) than turre is used.
III. Quaedam latina, quorum accusativus tantum in -EM, ablativum habent -E et -I, ut: igne et igni; imbre et imbri; amne et amni; supellectile et supellectili, fine et (apud Gellium) fini. Apud poetas praesertim ave et avi; angue et angui, classe et classi, vecte et vecti, ungue et ungui, ove et ovi, cive et civi, poste et posti, fuste et fusti. Addunt aliqui nepte et nepti, mugile et mugili; exemplis tamen non satis haec probant.
III. Certain Latin (substantives), of which the accusative (case) (ends) only in -EM, the ablative (case) have in -E and -I, as: igne and igni (fire); imbre and imbri (rain); amne and amni (river); supellectile and supellectili (furniture), fine and (with Gellius) fini (end). With the poets especially ave and avi (bird); angue and angui (snake), classe and classi (class), vecte and vecti (lever), ungue and ungui (nail), ove and ovi (sheep), cive and civi (citizen), poste and posti (post), fuste and fusti (stick). Others add nepte et nepti (granddaughter), mugile et mugili (fish); yet, they do not sufficiently prove these with examples.
IV. Substantiva neutra in -AL, -AR, -E et nomina mensium tertiae habent -I in ablativo, ut: animali, calcari, monili, mari, Aprili, Septembri. Sic strigili et canali, nam veteres hoc strigile et hoc crinale dicebant. Par tamem nectar, hepar, jubar e contenta sunt, ut farre, etc. Mare etiam auferendi casu reperies apud Plautum, in mare communi; et Ovid, Libyco de mare, quod perquam rarum est. Sexto etiam casu reperies rete, praesepe, quia olim erat hic retis et haec praesepis. Quibus adde Soracte, Caere, Praeneste, Nepete, Reate, gausape, nisi forte horum aliqua sint declinationis expertia.
IV. Neuter substantive (that end) -AL, -AR, -E and (the) names of months of the third (declension) have -I in the ablative case, as: animal (animal), calcari (spur), monili (necklace), mari (sea), Aprili (April), Septembri (September). So strigili (scraper) et canali (channel), for the ancients said hoc strigile (with this scraper) and hoc canale (in this canal). Yet, par (partner) tamen nectar, hepar (liver), jubar (brightness) with -E are content, as farre (grain), etc. Mare (sea) also in the ablative case you shall find with Plautus, in mare communi; and Ovid, Libyco de mare, which is extremely rare. You shall also find in the sixth case (i.e., the ablative) rete (net), praesepe (manger), because there once was hic retis (masculine) et haec praesepis (feminine). To which add the proper nouns Soracte (a mountain), Caere (a city), Praeneste (a city), Nepete (a city), Reate (a city), gausape (woolen cloth), unless perhaps some of these are free of declension (i.e., not declined).
V. Verbalia in -TRIX -E habent, ut: altrice, nutrice: verum -I poscunt victrici, ultrici.
V. Verbal (substantives that end) in -TRIX have -E (in the ablative case), ut: altrice (nurse), nutrice (nurse): however, the nouns victrici (victor-ess), and ultrici (avenger) seek an -I (ending).
VI. Adjectiva (praeter illa, quae infra excipiemus) -I vel -E admittunt, ut felix, procax, dives, trux; felice vel felici, etc. sed per -I melius. Sic degener et uber, degenere vel degeneri, ubere vel uberi. Sic vigili et artifici, cum adjectiva sunt, ut apud Statium vigili aure: et apud Plinium, Manus libratur artifici temperamento.
VI. Adjective nouns (besides those, which below are excepted) admit -I or -E, as felix (happy), procax (insolent), dives (rich), trux (wild); make felice or felici, etc. but better by -I. Thus, degener (degenerate) et uber (abounding), make degenere or degeneri, ubere or uberi. Likewise vigili (vigilant) and artifici (skillful), when they are adjectives, as with Statius, vigili aure (with vigilant ear): and with Pliny, manus libratur artifici temperamento (the hand must be poised by a skillful temperament).
VI. Adjectiva, quorum neutrum -E litera terminatur, -I adsciscunt in ablativo, ut brevi, pingui, volucri, rudi; at volucre et rude, cum sunt substantiva. Horatius, Donatum iam rude. lllis adde pluri et memori; nam prisci pluris et plure, memoris et memore declinabant. Caeleste, perenne, bimestre pro caelesti, etc. vel apud ipsos poetas rara sunt.
VII. Adjectives, of which (the) neuter (forms) are terminated with the letter -E, take the letter -I in the ablative (case), as breve (brief), brevi; pingue, pingui (fat); volucre, volucri (winged), rude, rudi (rough); but these make volucre and rude, when they are substantives. Horace, donatum iam rude (presented already with the trophy). Add to these pluri and memori; for the ancients declined pluris and plure, memoris and memore. Caeleste, perenne, bimestre for caelesti, etc. even with the poets are rare.
VIII. Substantiva appellativa adjectivis similia -IS syllaba terminata -I habent in ablativo, ut aedili, assini, annali, bipenni, familiari, natali, patrueli, rivali, sodali, tridenti, triremi, quadriremi, quinqueremi. Quamvis Caesar semel dixerit trireme constructa, et Plinius sodale, et Lucan, natale, et Ovid, tridente. Verum poetae in his liberiores sunt. Nomina tamen propria, quamvis adjectivis similia, E tantum retinent, ut Cicero, Julio annale”, et idem, laterense, Martial. Cum Juvenale meo. Sic Felice, Martiale, etc.
VIII. Appellative substantives to adjectives similar terminated with the syllable -IS have -I in the ablative (case), as aedili, assini, annali, bipenni, familiari, natali, patrueli, rivali, sodali, tridenti, triremi, quadriremi, quinqueremi. Although Caesar one said trireme constructa, and Pliny said sodale, Lucan said natale, and Ovid, tridente. Indeed the poets are more liberal in these. Proper nouns, nevertheless, although similar to adjectives, E only retain, as Cicero, Julio annale, and the same, laterense, Martial, cum Juvenale meo. Likewise Felice, Martiale, etc.
IX. Quamvis adjectiva omnia literis -NS finita, -E in ablativo terminari Verrius Flaccus docuerit, ut sapiente, prudente, etc. sunt tamen et quae -I habent, ut: Cicero ingenti campo; Livius vejenti bello; Caesaris ex continenti; Cicero, sermone recenti; idem, vehementi incitatione; auctor Ad Herennium, diligenti ratione; Gellius, ingenio eleganti.
IX. Although all adjectives ended with the letters -NS, Verrius Flaccus has taught to be ended in the ablative (case) with -E, as sapiens, sapiente (wise), prudens, prudente (prudent), etc. there are nevertheless also those which have -I, as: Cicero ingenti campo (from a vast plain); Livius Veienti bello (in the Veientine war); Caesar’s ex continenti (from the continent); Cicero, sermone recenti (from a recent sermon); likewise, vehementi incitatione (by a passionate incitation); the author of Ad Herennium, diligenti ratione (with a careful rule); Gellius, ingenio eleganti (with elegant character).
X. Participia in -NS semper habent -E, ut: absente, praesente, audiente. Cicer, Illa Deos hominesque implorante. Plinius, Baetica a flumine eam mediam secante cognominata. Quod si interdum -I habeant, fere in nomina transeunt, ut Cicero, excellenti virtute; idem, gaudenti ac libenti animo.
Participles ending in -NS always have -E (in the Ablative case), as: absens, absente (absent); praesens, praesente (present); audiens, audiente (listening). Cicero writes, illa Deos hominesque implorante (with that woman Gods and men imploring); Plinius, Baetica a flumine eam mediam secante cognominata (Baetica from the river the middle dividing named). But if sometimes they have -I, they almost change into nouns, as Cicero writes, excellenti virtute (with excellent virtue); and the same, gaudenti ac libenti animo (with a glad and cheerful mind).
XI. Comparativa nomina fere semper in -E exeunt, ut superiore, faciliore, uberiore, leviore; quanquam et interdum in -I, ut: Caesar, Majori cum fiducia; Plinius, posteriori parte; Quintilian, majori mole; ut habent libri Gryphiani, Aldini, etc.
Comparative nouns almost always end in -E, as superiore (superior), faciliore (easier), uberiore (more abundant), leviore (lighter); though also sometimes in -I, as Caesar, majori cum fiducia (with greater trust); Pliny, posteriori parte (following part); Quintilian, majori mole (greater rock); as have the books Gryphiani*, Aldini*, etc.
* Note: I do not know the meaning of the terms Gryphiani and Aldini in this rule. -Mr. Michael
