Vocabulary and Grammar Notes Martial
Martial #1 A Legacy Hunter
1) nuptiae, arum f. pl. – nuptials, marriage, wedding
2) insto, instare, institi – threaten, press on, pursue
Precor (1) – pray, beg
3) adeo – so, so much, to such a degree
immo – on the contrary
foedus-a-um – vile, shameful, ugly
nil = nihil
4) tussio, ire, ivi – cough
Martial #2 “I just don’t like you”
1) quare – why
2) tantum – only
Martial #3 A Change in Professions?
1) vispillo, onis m. – undertaker
nuper – recently
Martial #4 The Fame of Poets
1) Verona, ae f. – home of the poet Catullus
syllaba, ae f. – syllable
vatis, vatis m. – poet, priest
2) Maro, Maronis m. – Publius Vergilius Maro
Mantua, ae f. – home of Vergil
3) censeo, ere, ui, sensus – enroll, think, decree
Aponus, Aponi m. – a spring near Padua, Livy’s birthplace1
Livius, Livii m. – Livy (ablative of cause)
tellus, telluris f. – earth
4) Stella, Stellae m. – an unknown contemporary author from Padua (abl. of cause)
Flaccus, Flacci m. – an unknown contemporary author from Padua (abl. of cause)
5) Apollodorus, Apollodori m. – an unknown contemporary writer from Egypt
plaudo, plaudere, plaudi, plausus (+dat) – applaud, praise, give plaudits to
imbrifer, imbrifera, imbriferum – rain-bringing
Nilus, Nili m. – Nile river
6) Paeligni – Ovid’s birthplace was in Sulmo, in the country of the Paeligni2
sono (1) – resound
1
B.L. Ullman and Albert I. Suskin. Latin for Americans: Third Book. Mission Hills, CA:
Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1997, pg 228.
2
Ibid
7) duos Senecas – Seneca the Elder and Seneca the Younger
unicus-a-um – one, only, unique
8) facundus-a-um – eloquent
Loquitur – speaks of
Corduba, Cordubae f. – hometown of the Senecas and their relative Lucan
9) gaudeo, gaudere, gavisus – take pleasure, rejoice
iocosus-a-um – humorous (Cadiz was once famous for its dancing girls, hence the
adjective iocosae applied to it)
Gades, Gadum f. pl. – Cadiz
Canius, Cani m. – an unknown author
10) Emerita, Emeritae f. – Merida (supply gaudet as the verb of this clause)
Decianus, Deciani m. – friend of Martial and an author
11) glorior (1) – boast
Licinianus, Liciniani m. – friend of Martial and author
12) Bilbilis, Bilbilis f. – hometown of Martial
taceo, tacere, tacui, tacitus – be silent about
Martial #5 An Epitaph
1) genetric, genetricis f. – mother
Fronto …Flacilla – Martial’s parents, who have died and reside in the Underworld3
Hanc – modifies puella
2) oscula – in apposition with puellam translate as “sweetheart” “darling” “pookie”
delicia, deliciae f. – delight (in apposition with puellam)
commendo, commendere, commendi, commensus – entrust
3) parvolus-a-um – little, itty-bitty
niger-nigra-nigrum – black
Erotion, Erotionis f. – little female slave of Martial’s. “Her name is Greek in origin and
means “Lovey”, similar to Mabel (from amabilis).”4
horresco, horrescere, horrui – shudder at
umbra, umbrae f. – shade, shadow
4) prodigiosus-a-um – unnatural, strange
Tartareus-a-um – belonging to the Underworld
5-6) “She would just now have got through the cold of her sixth winter had she not lived
the same number of days less” = “she died in late winter just six days short of her sixth
birthday”5
7) ludo, ludere, ludi, lusus – play
tam veteres – “such old” (veteres modifies patronos)
lascivus-a-um – frollicking, wanton, playful
8) garrio, garrire, garrivi, garritus – chatter
blaesus-a-um – lisping
3
B.L. Ullman and Albert I. Suskin. Latin for Americans: Third Book. Mission Hills, CA:
Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1997, pg 230
4
ibid
5
Lindsay and Patrician Watson. Martial: Select Epigrams. Cambridge Greek and Latin Classics. NY:
Cambridge University Press, 2003, pg. 344.
9) mollis, molle – soft
rigidus-a-um – hard
caespes, caespitis m. – sod, earth, clod of earth
ossum, ossi n. – bone
nec = et ne
illi – dative of disadvantage with gravis
10) terra – vocative
Fueris – perfect subjunctive in a jussive sense. “Perfect subjunctive in a jussive sense is
used mainly (a) in the second person in prohibitions…and (b) in all persons to grant
concessions for the sake of argument” (Woodcock §1126) Translate as “You should
not/may you not/do not be”
Fuit – supply gravis tibi is dative of disadvantage after it.
Martial #6
Advice to a Girl
1) rideo, ridere, risi, risum – laugh
sapio, sapere – be wise, be smart
2) Paelignus-a-um – Paeliginian (see #5 for Paeligni). Paelignus poeta = Ovid.
Puto – parenthetical
3) verum ut – granted that (+subjunctive in a concessive clause Bennet §308)7
6) tibi – dative of possession
dens, dentis m. – tooth
7) piceique buxeique “black and brown” (literally, like fir and boxwood)8
8)quare – therefore
9) aliter – otherwise
risus, risūs m.—laugh
10) quam – than
Prose order: Spanius timet ventum et Priscus timet manum
11) creto (1) – chalk, put chalk on (here = powdered)
nimbus, nimbi m. – rain cloud
12) cerussata – “painted with white lead” 9
13) vultus, vultūs m. – face
induo, induere, indui, indutus – put on
14) coniunx Priami = Hecuba
nurus, nuri f. – daughter-in-law = Andromache
15) mimus, mimi m. – mime (direct object of vita)
Philistio, Philistionis m. – an unknown person, who apparently owns a troupe of mimes.
16) convivium, convivii n. – dinner party, feast, banquet
nequam (indeclinable) – worthless, wretched
vito (1) – avoid
17) quicquid -- = nominative case, “whatever”
6
Woodcock, E.C. A New Latin Syntax. Wauconda, IL: Bolchazy-Carducci, 1959, pg, 87.
Bennett, Charles E. New Latin Grammar. Wauconda, IL: Bolchazy-Carducci, 2004, pg. 203.
8
B.L. Ullman and Albert I. Suskin. Latin for Americans: Third Book. Mission Hills, CA:
Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 1997, pg 228
9
ibid
7
lepidus-a-um – charming
procacitas, procacitatis f. – boldness, impudence
18) laxo (1) relax
labellum, labelli n. – little lip
perspicuus-a-um – clear, manifest
19) decet – it is fitting that x (acc) y (infinitive) (impersonal verb)
assideo, assidere, assidui – sit down beside, sit near, at side of (+dat)
maestus-a-um – grieving, mourning
20) lugeo, ere, luxi – mourn, lament
Virum …fratrem – objects of lugenti
21) vaco (1) – be uninhabitated, have leisure, empty
Tantum – only
22) sequor, sequi, secutus – follow
iudicium, iudicii n. – advice
ploro (1) cry out, wail
Martial #7
A Happy Life
1) beatus-a-um – happy, blessed, rich
2) Iucundissime Martialis – vocative case
1-2) Prose order: Haec sunt ea quae faciant vitam beatiorem, iucundissime Martialis
3) res = property, wealth10
pario, parere, peperi, partus – give birth, produce, gain
relicta – inherited
4) non ingratus ager – a highyield farm estate
Focus, foci m. – hearth
5) lis, litis m. – lawsuit
6) Vis, viris f. – strength ingenuae – free born, suitable for a free born person
7) prudens simplicitas – “frankness tempered with discretion”11
Pares – “well-matched”12
8) convictus facilis – “easy social intercourse”13
9) solvo, solvere, solui, solutus – free from, dissolve from, discharge
10) “a marriage bed not prudish, but nevertheless virtuous”14
11) qui…tenebras “which makes the darkness short”15
12-13) velis…malis...metuas…optes – jussive subjunctive used protreptically16
12) volo, velle, volui – wish, want malo, malle, malui – prefer, want more
13) summum…diem – the final day = death
Opto (1) – hope for, wish for
Prose order: Velis esse [id] quod sis et malis nihil; et ne metuas nec optes summum diem.
10
Lindsay and Patrician Watson. Martial: Select Epigrams. Cambridge Greek and Latin Classics. NY:
Cambridge University Press, 2003, pg.140
11
Ibid, pg 141.
12
ibid
13
Ibid, pg. 142
14
Ibid
15
ibid
16
ibid
Martial #8 A Great Dinner Guest
1) ceno (1) – dine
sine + abl = without aper, apri m. – boar Tite – vocative
Caecilianus – a glutton (possibly fictitious)
2) bellus-a-um – beautiful, charming
conviva, ae m. – dinner guest
Martial #9 Greed
1) miliens – millions
capto (1) hung for legacies
2) multis – substantive, dat. I.O.
nimis or nimium – too, too much, excessively
Martial #10 Dental Hygiene
1) Prose order: Thais habet nigros dentes, [sed] Laecania habet niveos dentes.
Niveus-a-um – snow white Thais and Laecania – women’s names
2) emptus-a-um – store-bought, purchased
Martial #11 Contradictions
1) Prose order: Es difficilis, es facilis, es iucundus, es acerbus, es idem
acerbus – bitter, sharp
Martial #12 My book?
1) Prose order: [ille] libellus quem recitas est meus, O Fidentine
2) Prose order: sed cum recitas male, incipit esse tuus.
1-2) recito (1) – recite
2) cum – when
incipio, incipere, incepi, inceptus – begin
Martial #13
1) selectus-a-um – select, carefully chosen
Prose order: Nisi das mihi selectos libellos
2) tinea, ae m. – magoot, bookworm
trux, trucis – fierce, savage
blatta, ae m. – cockroach
Martial #14
1) langueo, languere, langui – be faint, weak, languid, sick, weary
protinus – immediately
comitatus-a-um – accompanied by
2) centum – modifies discipulis
3) centum – modifies manus gelatus-a-um – chilled (modifies manus)
tango, tangere, tetigi, tactus – touch (tetigere = tetigerunt)
aquilo, aquilonis m. – north wind
4) febris, febris f. – fever
Martial #15
1) Pontilianus, Pontiliani m. – another “friend” of Martial’s
Martial #16
1) dignus-a-um – worthy
Callistratus, Callistrati m. – another “friend” of Martial’s
Prose order: Callistratus laudat omnes ne laudet dignos.
2) Prose order: Quis potest esse bonus ei cui nemo est malus?
Martial #17
1) mensa, ae f. – table, but here “courses” or “dishes”
opertus-a-um – concealed, covered
2) ego – “even I”
Olus, Oli m. – a friend of M’s
Martial #18
1) vivus – “while living”
Dicis…daturam prose order: dicis te daturum esse post mortem
2) stultus-a-um – stupid, foolish
Maro—another friend
Martial #19
1) tantum…quantum – as much....as
2) parva…Mantua – birthplace of Vergil
magna…Vergona – birthplace of Catullus
Martial #20
1) seni-ae-a – six each, six apiece
gero, gerere, gessi, gestus – wear
omnibus digitis – “on all his fingers”
2) nec – not even
ponit = deponit “put away”
Anulus, anuli m. – ring (anulos object of gerit and ponit)
3) cum = when
lavor, ari, lavatus – wash oneself (middle)
Causa…quaeritis prose order: quaeritis quae causa sit.
4) dactyliotheca, ae f. – ring box, jewelry chest
Martial #21
1) Prose order: Quaerisne, Line, quid Nomentanus ager reddat mihi?
Reddo, ere, reddi, redditus – give back, return in profit
Nomentanus-a-um – of/in Nomentum, a town of Latium known for its wine industry.
Martial #22
1) nil = nihil, object of recitas
vis = from volo
videri – supply esse
2) esto – future imperative of sum, “Be…!” quidquid – whatever
Dummodo – provided that
Martial #23
1) pauper, pauperis – poor
2) opes – riches, wealth
nulli – dative
Martial #24
1) mentior, mentiri, mentitus – lie, deceive vitiosus-a-um – full of vice
Martial #25
1) nosco, noscere, novi, notus – present system learn, perfect – know
2) divis, divitis – rich, wealthy
3) cum – when
Martial #26
1) vis – from volo
miror (1) – wonder
2) ducere = “marry”
sapio, sapere, sapi – be wise
Martial #27
1-2) Prose order: Ea quae legis hīc sunt bona, quaedam sunt mediocria, plura sunt mala:
non aliter liber fit, Avite.
Quidam, quaedam, quodam – some, certain plus, plures – more fit – from fio
Martial #28
1) lector, lectoris m. – reader
auditor, auditoris m. – listener
2) quidam—modifies poeta
exactus-a-um – finished, perfect
3) ferculum, ferculi n. – course (of a meal)
4) malim – optative subjunctive “I would prerfer”
Prose order malim fercula meae cenae placuisse convivis quam cocis.
Cocus, coci m. – cook
Martial #29
1) Prose order: rogas ut recitem mea epigrammata tibi. Nolo.
epigramma, epigrammatis n. – epigram
Martial #30
1) candidus-a-um – beautiful
te – ablative noto (1) – note, notice
2) si quando – whenever
pauci-ae-a – few
distica (Gk. Acc. plural Neuter)—couplets, verses
3) Marsus, Marsi m. – popular Latin poet
4)tamquam + pot. subj = “just as if…”
Deteriora (supply scripta) worse poetry
5) conlata (with mea) – compared with mine?
6) Prose order: tamen malo [ut] recites tua [scripta], Caeciliane.
Martial #31
1) Prose order: Quidam sunt qui dicant me non esse poetam;
2) bibliopola, ae m. – bookseller
Prose order: Bibliopola qui vendit me[os libellos] putat [me esse poetam]
Martial #32
1) Caecina Paetus was compelled to commit suicide in 42 AD because of the role he had
played in an unssuccessful conspiracy against Claudius; his courageous and devoted wife
Arria, choosing to die with him, stabbed herself before passing the sword to her husband
and assuring him that the pain of the wound itself would be slight.
Prose order: Cum casta Arria traderet gladium suo Paeto
Castus-a-um – chaste
gladius, gladii m. – sword
2) quem – antecedent is gladius
viscera, viscerum n. pl. – guts, abdomen
Stringo, stringere, strinxi, strinctum – draw out, pull out
ipsa – she herself
3) si qua fides – “if you have any faith in me”
doleo, dolere, dolui -- hurt
4) Prose order: Hoc [vulunus] quod tu facies, Paete, dolet mihi.
Martial #33
1) capto (1) – hunt for legacies
1-2) Prose order: Scis te avarum captare, scis hunc qui captat avarum esse,
et scis eum qui captat quid velit, Mariane, [avarum esse]
3-4) “Yet, you, foolish man, mark this man down as an heir in your last will and
testament and you want him to take your place after you die.”
5) Supply Marianus dixit
munus, muneris n. – gift
hamus, hami m. – hook
6) piscis, piscis m. – fish
piscator, piscatoris m. – fisherman
7) Hicine – Will this man…
defleo, deflere, deflevi, defletus – weep
Tua fata = tuum mortem
dolor, doloris m. – pain, grief
8) ut ploret – jussive noun clause after cupis
Martial #34
1) mentiris = “you imitate”
iuvenis, iuvenis m. – a young man
tinctus-a-um – dyed
capillus, capilli m. – hair
2) corvus, corvi m. – raven
modo – just recently
cycnus, cycni m. – swan
3) fallo, fallere, fefelli – deceive
canus-a-um – grey-haired
4) detraho, detrahere, detraxi, detractus – drag down
Martial #35
1) Cinna, Cinnae m. – a famous Roman name
Cinnamus, Cinnami m. – a slave
2) Prose order: Estne hic non barbarismus, Cinna?
barbarismus, barbarismi m. – a barbarism, an improprietry of speech
4) fur, furis m. – thief
Martial #36
1) Prose order: Gellia non flet amissum patrem cum sola est
Amissum – having died, dead
fleo, flere, flevi, fletus – weep for cum = when
2) quis = aliquis
prosilio (4) – leap forth
3) Prose order: Gellia (vocative), quisquis quaerit laudari, non luget.
4) testis, testis m. – witness
Martial #37
1) convivor (1) – to feast
2) Prose order inveni rationem quā noceam tibi
noceo, nocere, nocui, -- injure [+dat]
3) licet…rogesque “even though you continuoulsy invite me and call me to dinner.”
Martial #38
1) Prose order: [dicis] te victurum [esse] cras, dicis semper cras, Postume.
Victurum—from vivo
2) Prose order: Dic mihi, Postume, quando istud cras venit?
3) Quam longe – How long! Unde – whence, from where
4) numquid…latet – It does not lie hidden…., does it?
Apud – among
Parthos – the Parthians
Armenios – the Armenians (both are
traditional enemies of the Romans)
5) Priami Nestoris – both possess annos, direct object of habet
6) quanti – genitive of price, “for how much”
possit – potential subjunctive
7) serum est – “its too late”
Martial #39
1) Issa – colloquial and affectionate form for Ipsa and here used as the name for a pet
dog.
Passer, passeris m. – sparrow
nequior – more mischievous
2) columba, columbae f. – dove
3) blandus-a-um – flattering, caressing, coaxing
4) carus-a-um – dear lapillus, lapilli m. – gemstone
Indicus-a-um -- Indian
5) catella, ae f. – little dog
deliciae – darling (in apposition with catella)
6) Prose order: Tu putabis hanc loqui, si queritur (queritur = bark)
7) tristita, ae f. – sadness
gaudium, gaudi n. – pleasure
8) “tuckered out, she lays her head down and takes a nap”
9) suspirium, suspirii n. – shortness of breath, panting
10) desiderium, desiderii n. – desire
venter, ventris m. – stomach
coactus-a-um – driven
11-13) “she does not soil any coverlets with even a drop of urine, but she rouses with her
charming foot and warns that the bed be left behind and asks to be let out in order to pee
outside”
14) pudor, pudoris m. – modesty
15) ignoro (1) – ignores
Venerem = going into heat
17-18) prose order: Publius exprimit pictā tabella ne suprema lux rapiat hanc totam
17) suprema lux = mors
hanc totam = “all of this one”
18) exprimo, ere, express, expressus – portray
pictā tabellā – painting
19) tam..Issam “an Issa so similar to the real Issa…”
20) Prose order: ut nec ipsa sit tam similis sibi
nec = not even
21) denique = finally, therefore, …. Pone = depone
Issam cum tabellā = the painting of Issa
22) utramque = both
Martial #40
1) Prose order: Paulus emit carmina, Paulus recitat carmina sua
Sua – predicatively, translate “as his own” emo, emere, emi, emptus – buy
2) emas – subjunctive buy attraction to possis
possis – potential subj.
iure -- rightly