Latin Phrase-Book

1. The World – Creation

rerum or mundi universitas– the universe.

rerum natura or simply natura– creation; nature.

haec omnia, quae videmus– the visible world.

totius mundi convenientia et consensus– the perfect harmony of the universe.

deus mundum aedificavit, fabricatus est, effecit (not creavit)1– God made the world.

deus est mundi procreator (not creator), aedificator, fabricator, opifex rerum– God is the Creator of the world.

elementa; initia or principia rerum– the elements.

elementa et tamquam semina rerum– the elements and first beginnings.

nutus et pondus or simply nutus (ῥοπή) – gravity.

2. The Earth and its Surface

orbis terrae, terrarum 2– the earth; the globe

(terra) continens (B. G. 5. 8. 2) – the continent.

terra (regio) mediterranea– an inland region; the interior.

interior Asia; interiora Asiae– the interior of Asia.

sinus urbis (Sall. Cat. 52. 35) – the heart of the city.

in ipsam or intimam Graeciam penetrare– to penetrate into the heart of Greece.

terra effert (more rarely fert,3 but not profert) fruges– the earth brings forth fruit, crops.

terra fundit fruges– the earth brings forth fruit abundantly.

animata (animalia) inanimaque (not inanimata) – animate and inanimate nature.

ea, quae terra gignit– the vegetable kingdom.

ea, quae e terra gignuntur– the vegetable kingdom.

ea, quae a terra stirpibus continentur– the vegetable kingdom.

ea quorum stirpes terra continentur (N. D. 2. 10. 26) – the vegetable kingdom.

arbores stirpesque, herbae stirpesque (De Fin. 5. 11. 33) – the vegetable kingdom.

radices agere (De Off. 2. 12. 73) – to take root.

gemmas agere– to bud, blossom.

gemmae proveniunt– the trees are budding.

arbores frondescunt– the trees are coming into leaf.

rami late diffunduntur– the twigs are shooting out, spreading.

montes vestiti silvis– wooded hills.

summus mons– the top of a mountain.

culmina Alpium– the summits of the Alps.

sub radicibus montis, in infimo monte, sub monte– at the foot of the mountain.

superare Alpes, Pyrenaeum, Apenninum 4(both always in the sing.) – to cross the Alps, Pyrenees, Apennines.

altissimis montibus undique contineri– to be shut in on all sides by very high mountains.

prospectus est ad aliquid– one has a view over…; one is able to see as far as…

collis leniter ab infimo acclivis (opp. leniter a summo declivis) – a gentle ascent.

ad extremum tumulum– on the edge of the hill.

loca edita, superiora– heights, high ground.

loca aspera et montuosa (Planc. 9. 22) – rough and hilly ground.

loca plana or simply plana– level country; plains.

saxa praerupta– steep rocks.

loca inculta– uncultivated districts.

loca deserta (opp. frequentia) – deserts.

loca amoena, amoenitas locorum– pleasant districts; charming surroundings.

3. Water – Rivers – Sea

summa aqua– the surface of the water.

ex aqua exstare– to stand out of the water.

aqua est umbilīco tenus– the water reaches to the waist.

aqua pectus aequat, superat– the water is up to, is above, the chest.

(se) ex aqua emergere 5– to come to the surface.

aquam ex flumine derivare– to draw off water from a river.

aquam ducere per hortum– to bring a stream of water through the garden.

aquae ductus (plur. aquarum ductus)6– a conduit; an aqueduct.

agros irrigare– to irrigate fields.

aqua viva, profluens (opp. stagnum) – running water.

aqua iugis, perennis– a perpetual spring.

frigidā, calidā lavari (Plin. Ep. 3. 5. 11) – to take a cold, warm, bath.

aquae, aquarum inops– ill-watered.

fluctuare or fluctuari– driven by the waves.

fluctibus iactari– tossed hither and thither by the waves.

fluctibus (undis) obrui,7submergi– to be engulfed.

gurgitibus hauriri– to be drowned in the eddies.

flumen citatum fertur– the rivers flows with a rapid current.

flumen imbribus auctum– a river swollen by the rain.

flumen super ripas effunditur– the river is over its banks, is in flood.

flumen extra ripas diffluit– the river is over its banks, is in flood.

flumen agros inundat 8– the river floods the fields.

flumen vado transire– to wade across, to ford a river.

flumine secundo– with the stream; downstream.

flumine adverso– against the stream; upstream.

Rhenus oritur or profluit ex Alpibus– the Rhine rises in the Alps.

accessus et recessus aestuum– ebb and flow (of tide).

decessus aestus– the ebb.

aestus maritimi mutuo accedentes et recedentes (N. D. 2. 53. 132) – the alternation of tides.

aestus ex alto se incitat (B. G. 3.12) – the tide is coming in.

aestu rursus minuente– when the tide begins to go down.

mare ventorum vi agitatur et turbatur– there is a storm at sea.

mare medium or internum9– the Mediterranean Sea.

4. Fire

ignem facere, accendere– to light, make a fire.

ignem tectis inferre, subicere– to set fire to houses.

ignem concipere, comprehendere– to take fire.

ignem excitare (pro Mur. 25. 51) – to make up, stir up a fire.

ignem alere– to keep up a fire.

accendere, incendere aedificia– to set buildings on fire.

inflammare urbem– to set fire to a city.

flammis corripi– to be devoured by the flames.

incendio flagrare, or simply conflagrare, ardere (Liv. 30. 7) – to be on fire, in flames.

incendio deleri, absūmi– to be burned to ashes.

igni cremari, necari– to perish in the flames.

ignem conclamare– to raise an alarm of fire.

ventus ignem distulit (B. G. 5. 43) – the wind spread the conflagration.

5. Air – Sky – Climate – Heavenly Bodies

aer terrae circumiectus or circumfusus– the atmosphere.

aer qui est terrae proximus– the atmosphere.

suspicere 10 (in) caelum– to raise the eyes to heaven; to look up to the sky.

oculos tollere, attollere ad caelum– to raise the eyes to heaven; to look up to the sky.

sub divo– in the open air.

orbis finiens (Div. 2. 44. 92) – the horizon.

caelum or natura caeli– climate.

caelum salūbre, salubritas caeli (opp. grave, gravitas) – healthy climate.

caeli temperatio– temperate climate.

aer calore et frigore temperatus– temperate climate.

caeli asperitas– rough climate.

caeli varietas– variable climate.

caelestia– (1) the heavenly bodies, (2) celestial phenomena.

sol oritur, occidit– the sun rises, sets.

ortus, occasus solis– sunrise; sunset.

sol 11(luna) deficit, obscuratur– the sun, moon, is eclipsed.

solis defectio– an eclipse of the sun.

luna crescit; decrescit, senescit– the moon waxes, wanes.

motus stellarum constantes et rati– the regular courses of the stars.

cursum conficere in caelo– to run its course in the sky.

caelum astris distinctum et ornatum– the star-lit sky; the firmament.

nox sideribus illustris– a star-light night.

stellae errantes, vagae– the planets.

stellae inerrantes (N. D. 2. 21. 54) – the fixed stars.

sidera certis locis infixa– the fixed stars.

orbis lacteus– the milky way.

orbis signifer– the zodiac.

vertex caeli, axis caeli, cardo caeli– the pole.

orbis, pars (terrae), cingulus– a zone.

orbis medius– the temperate zone.

6. Natural Phenomena

vocis imago, or simply imago12– an echo.

saxa voci respondent or resonant– the rocks re-echo.

ventus remittit (opp. increbrescit) – the wind is falling.

ventus cadit, cessat– the wind dies down, ceases.

ventis secundis, adversis uti– to have favourable, contrary, winds.

ventus se vertit in Africum– the wind is turning to the south-west.

tempestas cooritur– a storm is rising.

imber tenet (Liv. 23. 44. 6) – the rain continues.

imbres repente effusi– a sudden shower.

tempestatem idoneam, bonam nancisci– to meet with good weather.

calor se frangit (opp. increscit) – the heat is abating.

sol ardet, urit– the sun burns, scorches.

ardore solis torreri– to be dried up by the sun's heat.

tanta vis frigoris insecuta est, ut– the frost set in so severely that…

frigore (gelu) rigere, torpere– to be numb with cold.

frigore confici– to freeze to death.

aestus et frigoris patientem esse– to be able to bear heat and cold.

tempestas cum magno fragore (caeli) tonitribusque (Liv. 1. 16) – a storm accompanied by heavy claps of thunder.

caelum tonitru contremit– the heavens are shaken by the thunder.

fulmina 13 micant– the lightning flashes.

fulmen locum tetigit– the lightning has struck somewhere.

fulmine tangi, ici– to be struck by lightning.

de caelo tangi, percuti– to be struck by lightning.

fulmine ictus– struck by lightning.

eruptiones ignium Aetnaeorum– an eruption of Etna.

Vesuvius evomit (more strongly eructat) ignes– Vesuvius is discharging flame.

venti ab ortu solis flant– the east winds are blowing.

1. Points of the Compass – Situation

spectare in (vergere ad) orientem (solem), occidentem 14 (solem), ad meridiem, in septentriones– to lie to the east, west, south, north.

spectare inter occasum solis et septentriones– to be situate to the north-west.

Germania quae or Germaniae ea pars quae, ad orientem, occidentem vergit– eastern, western Germany.

est a septentrionibus collis– a hill lies to the north.

situs loci– the situation of a place.

natura loci– the natural position of a place.

opportunitas loci (B. G. 3. 14) – the advantageous situation of a place.

opportuno loco situm or positum esse– to be favourably situated.

urbs situ ad aspectum praeclara est– the city is very beautifully situated.

oppidum mari adiacet– the town lies near the sea.

villa tangit viam– the country-house stands near the road.

oppidum colli impositum est– the town stands on rising ground.

oppidum monti subiectum est– the town lies at the foot of a mountain.

promunturium in mare procurrit– a promontory juts out into the sea.

paeninsula in mare excurrit, procurrit– a peninsula projects into the sea.

promunturium superare– to double a cape.

urbs in sinu sita est– the city is situate on a bay.

2. Boundary – Territory – Distance

tangere, attingere terram– to be contiguous, adjacent to a country.

finitimum 15 esse terrae– to be contiguous, adjacent to a country.

continentem esse terrae or cum terra (Fam. 15. 2. 2) – to have the same boundaries; to be coterminous.

Gallia Rhodano continetur (vid. sect. V. 4., note contineri aliqua re…) – Gaul is bounded by the Rhone.16

Rhodanus Sequanos ab Helvetiis dividit– the Rhone.17 is the frontier between the Helvetii and the Sequani.

fines (imperii) propagare, extendere, (longius) proferre– to enlarge the boundaries of a kingdom.

(ex) finibus excedere– to evacuate territory.

in Sequanis– in the country of the Sequani.

in Sequanos proficisci– to invade the territory of the Sequani.

porrigi ad septentriones– to stretch northwards.

haec gens pertinet usque ad Rhenum– the territory of this race extends as far as the Rhine.

in latitudinem, in longitudinem patere– to extend in breadth, in length.

late patere 18 (also metaphorically vid. sect. VIII. 8) – to have a wide extent.

imperium orbis terrarum terminis definitur– the empire reaches to the ends of the world.

longe, procul abesse ab urbe– to be far from town.

prope (propius, proxime) abesse– to be not far away.

paribus intervallis distare– to be equidistant.

tantundem viae est– the road is the same length.

longo spatio, intervallo interiecto– at a great distance.

intervallo locorum et temporum disiunctum esse– to be separated by an immense interval of space and time.

a mille passibus– a mile away.

e longinquo– from a distance.

loca longinqua– distant places.

ultimae terrae– the most distant countries, the world's end.

extremae terrae partes– the most distant countries, the world's end.

longinquae nationes– distant nations.

3. Road – Travel

viam sternere (silice, saxo)– to pave a road.

substruere viam glarea (Liv. 41. 27) – to make a gravel path.

via strata– a street, a made road.

via trita 19– a well-trodden, much-frequented way.

viam munire 20– to make a road.

viam patefacere, aperire– to open a route.

ferro viam facere (per confertos hostes)– to cut one's way (through the enemies' ranks).

viam intercludere– to obstruct a road; to close a route.

iter obstruere– to obstruct a road; to close a route.

via fert, ducit aliquo– a road leads somewhere.

in viam se dare– to set out on a journey.

viae se committere– to set out on a journey.

viam ingredi, inire (also metaphorically) – to enter upon a route; to take a road.

rectā (viā)– straight on.

de via declinare, deflectere (also metaphorically) – to turn aside from the right way; to deviate.

(de via) decedere alicui– make way for any one.

Appia via proficisci– to set out by the Appian road.

erranti viam monstrare– to direct a person who has lost his way.

errores Ulixis– the wanderings of Ulysses.

viam persequi (also metaphorically) – to continue one's journey, pursue one's course.

longam viam conficere– to accomplish a long journey.

fessus de via– weary with travelling; way-worn.

Hercules 21 in trivio, in bivio, in compitis– Hercules at the cross-roads, between virtue and vice.

iter facere– (1) to take a journey, (2) to make, lay down a road (rare).

una iter facere– to travel together.

iter ingredi (pedibus, equo, terra)– to begin a journey (on foot, on horseback, by land).

iter aliquo dirigere, intendere– to journey towards a place.

tendere aliquo– to journey towards a place.

longum itineris spatium emetiri– to finish a very long journey.

ex itinere redire 22– to return from a journey.

in itinere 23– on a journey; by the way.

iter terrestre, pedestre– travel by land, on foot.

itinera diurna nocturnaque– travelling day and night.

iter unius diei or simply diei– a day's journey.

iter impeditum– an impassable road.

disiunctissimas ultimas terras peragrare (not permigrare) – to travel through the most remote countries.

peregrinatio– a foreign journey.

peregrinari, peregre esse– to be travelling abroad.

peregre proficisci– to go abroad.

aliquem proficiscentem prosequi– to accompany any one when starting; to see a person off.

aliquem proficiscentem votis ominibusque prosequi (vid. sect. VI. 11, note Prosequi…) – to wish any one a prosperous journey.

rus excurrere– to make a pleasure-trip into the country.

ruri vivere, rusticari– to live in the country.

vita rustica– country life (the life of resident farmers, etc.)

rusticatio, vita rusticana– country life (of casual, temporary visitors).

4. Coming – Going

pedibus ire– to go on foot.

discedere a, de, ex loco aliquo– to leave a place.

egredi loco;24 excedere ex loco– to leave a place.

decedere loco, de, ex loco 25– to quit a place for ever.

ingredi, intrare urbem, introire in urbem– to enter a city.

portā ingredi, exire– to go in at, go out of a gate.

extra portam egredi– to go outside the gate.

commeare ad aliquem– to go in and out of any one's house; to visit frequently.

Romam venire, pervenire– to come to Rome.

adventus Romam, in urbem– arrival in Rome, in town.

in unum locum convenire, confluere– to collect together at one spot.

Romam concurrere (Mil. 15. 39) – to stream towards Rome.

obviam ire alicui– to meet any one.

obviam venire alicui– to go to meet some one.

obvium or obviam esse, obviam fieri– to meet some one by chance.

incidere in aliquem– to meet, come across a person; to meet casually.

offendere, nancisci aliquem– to meet, come across a person; to meet casually.

obviam alicui aliquem mittere– to send to meet a person.

5. Riding – Driving

curru vehi, in rheda (Mil. 21. 55) – to drive.

equo vehi– to ride.

sternere equum– to saddle a horse.

conscendere equum– to mount.

ascendere in equum– to mount.

descendere ex equo– to dismount.

in equo sedere; equo insidēre– to be on horseback.

(in) equo haerere– to sit a horse well; to have a good seat.

calcaria subdere equo– to put spurs to a horse.

calcaribus equum concitare– to put spurs to a horse.

equo citato or admisso– at full gallop.

freno remisso; effusis habenis– with loose reins.

equum in aliquem concitare– ride against any one at full speed; charge a person.

habenas adducere– to tighten the reins.

habenas permittere– to slacken the reins.

admittere, permittere equum– to give a horse the reins.

frenos 26 dare equo– to give a horse the reins.

agitare equum– to make a horse prance.

moderari equum– to manage a horse.

equi consternantur– the horses are panic-stricken, run away.

equos incitatos sustinere– to bring horses to the halt when at full gallop.

6. Walking – Footsteps – Direction

gradum facere– to take a step.

gradum addere (sc. gradui) (Liv. 26. 9) – to increase one's pace.

suspenso gradu– on tiptoe.

gradum sensim referre– to retreat step by step.

vestigia alicuius sequi, persequi or vestigiis aliquem sequi, persequi– to follow in any one's steps.

vestigiis alicuius insistere, ingredi (also metaph.) – to follow in any one's steps.

loco or vestigio se non movere– not to stir from one's place.

recta (regione, via); in directum– in a straight line.

in obliquum– in an oblique direction; sideways.

obliquo monte decurrere– to run obliquely down the hill.

in contrarium; in contrarias partes– in an opposite direction.

in transversum, e transverso– across; transversely.

quoquo versus; in omnes partes– in all directions.

in diversas partes or simply diversi abeunt, discedunt– they disperse in different directions.

huc (et) illuc– hither and thither.

ultro citroque– on this side and on that; to and fro.

longe lateque, passim (e.g. fluere) – far and wide; on all sides; everywhere.

7. Movement in General

se conferre in aliquem locum– to go to a place.

petere locum– to go to a place quo tendis?– where are you going?

sublimem or sublime (not in sublime or sublimiter) ferri, abire– to fly aloft; to be carried into the sky.

praecipitem ire; in praeceps deferri– to fall down headlong.

in profundum deici– to fall down into the abyss.

se deicere de muro– to throw oneself from the ramparts.

deicere aliquem de saxo Tarpeio– to throw some one down the Tarpeian rock.

Nilus praecipitat 27 ex altissimis montibus– the Nile rushes down from very high mountains.

se proripere ex domo– to rush out of the house.

humi procumbere– to fall on the ground.

humi prosternere aliquem– to throw any one to the ground.

in terram cadere, decidere– to fall to the earth.

in terram demergi– to sink into the earth.

appropinquare urbi, rarely ad urbem– to draw near to a city.

propius accedere ad urbem or urbem– to advance nearer to the city.

longius progredi, procedere– to march further forward.

Romam versus proficisci– to advance in the direction of Rome.

ad Romam proficisci– to set out for Rome.

properat, maturat proficisci– he starts in all haste, precipitately.