Chapter VIII.-Hints on Latin Style.

352. In this chapter brief consideration is given to a few features of Latin diction which belong rather to style than to formal grammar.

NOUNS.

353. 1. Where a distinct reference to several persons or things is involved, the Latin is frequently much more exact in the use of the Plural than is the English; as,—

domōs eunt, they go home (i.e. to their homes);

Germānī corpora cūrant, the Germans care for the body;

animōs mīlitum recreat, he renews the courage of the soldiers;

diēs noctēsque timēre, to be in a state of fear day and night.

2. In case of Neuter Pronouns and Adjectives used substantively, the Latin often employs the Plural where the English uses the Singular; as,—

omnia sunt perdīta, everything is lost;

quae cum ita sint, since this is so;

haec omnibus pervulgāta sunt, this is very well known to all.

3. The Latin is usually more concrete than the English, and especially less bold in the personification of abstract qualities. Thus:—

ā puerō, ā puerīs, from boyhood;

Sullā dictātōre, in Sulla's dictatorship;

mē duce, under my leadership;

Rōmānī cum Carthāginiēnsibus pācem fēcērunt = Rome made peace with Carthage;

liber doctrīnae plēnus = a learned book;

prūdentiā Themistoclīs Graecia servāta est = Themistocles's foresight saved Greece.

4. The Nouns of Agency in -tor and -sor (see § 147, 1) denote a permanent or characteristic activity; as,—

accūsātōrēs, (professional) accusers;

ōrātōrēs, pleaders;

cantōrēs, singers;

Arminius, Germāniae līberātor, Arminius, liberator of Germany.

a. To denote single instances of an action, other expressions are commonly employed; as,—

Numa, quī Rōmulō successit, Numa, successor of Romulus;

quī mea legunt, my readers;

quī mē audiunt, my auditors.

5. The Latin avoids the use of prepositional phrases as modifiers of a Noun. In English we say: 'The war against Carthage'; 'a journey through Gaul'; 'cities on the sea'; 'the book in my hands'; 'the fight at Salamis'; etc. The Latin in such cases usually employs another mode of expression. Thus:—

a) A Genitive; as,—

dolor injūriārum, resentment at injuries.

b) An Adjective; as,—

urbēs maritimae, cities on the sea;

pugna Salamīnia, the fight at Salamis.

c) A Participle; as,—

pugna ad Cannās facta, the battle at Cannae.

d) A Relative clause; as,—

liber quī in meīs manibus est, the book in my hands.

NOTE.—Yet within certain limits the Latin does employ Prepositional phrases as Noun modifiers. This is particularly frequent when the governing noun is derived from a verb. The following are typical examples:—

trānsitus in Britanniam, the passage to Britain;

excessus ē vītā, departure from life;

odium ergā Rōmānōs, hatred of the Romans;

liber dē senectūte, the book on old age;

amor in patriam, love for one's country.

Adjectives.

354. 1. Special Latin Equivalents for English Adjectives are—

a) A Genitive; as,—

virtūtēs animī = moral virtues;

dolōrēs corporis = bodily ills.

b) An Abstract Noun; as,—

novitās reī = the strange circumstance;

asperitās viārum = rough roads.

c) Hendiadys (see § 374, 4); as,—

ratiō et ōrdō = systematic order;

ārdor et impetus = eager onset.

d) Sometimes an Adverb; as,—

omnēs circā populī, all the surrounding tribes;

suōs semper hostēs, their perpetual foes.

2. Often a Latin Noun is equivalent to an English Noun modified by an Adjective; as,—

doctrīna, theoretical knowledge;

prūdentia, practical knowledge;

oppidum, walled town;

libellus, little book.

3. Adjectives are not used in immediate agreement with proper names; but an Adjective may limit vir, homō, ille, or some other word used as an Appositive of a proper name; as,—

Sōcratēs, homō sapiēns = the wise Socrates;

Scīpiō, vir fortissimus = the doughty Scipio;

Syrācūsae, urbs praeclārissima = famous Syracuse.

4. An Adjective may be equivalent to a Possessive or Subjective Genitive; as,—

pāstor rēgius, the shepherd of the king;

tumultus servīlis, the uprising of the slaves.