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Hobbitvs Ille: Part III Posted by on Nov 28, 2018 in Latin Language

Salvete Omnes!

Homework

It is from the beginning of Hobbitvs Ille:

in foramine terrae habitabat *hobbitus: nec foedum,sordidum madidumque foramen, nec extremis lumbricorum atque odore caenoso impletum, nec etiam foramen aridum, inane, harenosum, in quo nihil erat ad considendum aut
edendum aptum; immo foramen-hobbitum, ergo commodum.

Vocabulary:

  • hobbitus is an invented word for this adaptation meaning “Hobbit” (1st Declension Noun)
  • que(added to the end of another word) means “and”
  • Considendum and Edendum are gerunds from the verbs consido and edo.

Translation

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

REVIEW LAST MONTH’S WORK if you need a refresher.

The Break Down

nec extremis lumbricorum atque odore caenoso impletum (literal translation) nor (a hole) having been filled up with the ends of worms or filled up with a filthy odor

nec meaning “and not or nor”

extremis = adjective in the ablative meaning “ends”

lumbricorum = noun masculine genitive plural (lumbricus) meaning”of worms”

atque = conjunction “and/or”

odore = singular masculine ablative from odor meaning “odor or smell”

caenoso = adjective singular masculine ablative from caenosus meaning ” foul or filthy”

impletum = perfect passive participle neuter accusative (referring to foramen) from impleo meaning “having been filled up with” can take an ablative as an objective

 

nec etiam foramen aridum, inane, harenosum (literal translation) and yet not, an arid, empty, sandy hole

nec meaning “and not or nor”

etiam = for, still, yet

foramen = neuter noun, meaning “hole or opening”

aridum = adjective singular neuter for foramen, from aridus, meaning “dry or arid”

inane = adjective singular neuter for foramen, from inanis, meaning “empty , bare or nothingness”

harenosum = adjective singular neuter for formen, harenosus, meaning “full of sand; sandy”

Next month will be the last portion of this very long sentence.
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About the Author: Brittany Britanniae

Hello There! Please feel free to ask me anything about Latin Grammar, Syntax, or the Ancient World.


Comments:

  1. Dr. Kurt Fiedler:

    Pax tecum in memoria !
    Much appreciated and most helpful in understanding!
    Per aspera ad astra—carpe diem –pecunia non olet!

  2. Hanna Debia:

    Dear Brittany, I had joined T.Lang several years ago but lost touch or maybe interest.
    Just saw your greeting and it took me back to happier years in Secondary school where a small group of girls decided to bravely opt for Latin.
    Teacher walks in and we stand up.
    I believe we would say “Salve magister” in response to her “Salve puellae” then tell us to sit. Sounded like “Selvete” but am unsure.
    Anyway I have become interested in your work here and will try to get older posts. Great going! Best wishes, Hanna.