Salvete Omnes,<\/p>\n
This summer I am looking forward to hearing your request for translations and reviewing portions of texts that you are interested in – however before doing so – I wanted to revisit a post I wrong almost seven years ago on the Ablative to include more examples and information for this new journey. So let us begin!<\/p>\n
There are many cases within the Latin language including the Nominative<\/a>,\u00a0the Accusative<\/a>,\u00a0the Genitive\u00a0<\/a>and\u00a0the Dative<\/a>. The last case is called the ablative which has many functions and purposes. This guide consists of all the popular and somewhat unpopular uses of the ablative within Latin literature, epic, and poetry.<\/p>\n It should be noted that the ablative case is unique is not found in many other language, but the genitive and dative may pick up some of these functions and purposes.<\/p>\n Ablative of Separation<\/strong> <\/p>\n Ablative Absolute<\/strong> <\/p>\n Ablative of Origin or Source<\/b> \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Ablative of Instrument or Means<\/strong><\/p>\n The means by which an action was carried out and may be paired with a verb in some form. Essentially the ablative is taken as a “with” or “by” _____. E.g.\u00a0ocul\u012bs\u00a0vid\u0113re<\/i>, \u201cto see wit the eyes\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ablative of Agent<\/strong> <\/p>\n Ablative of Time \u201cWhen\u201d or \u201cWithin which\u201d<\/strong> Ablative of Comparison<\/strong> Ablative of Degree of Difference<\/strong> Ablative of Specification or Respect<\/strong> The Locative Ablative<\/b> Ablative of Cause<\/strong> Ablative of Description<\/strong> The Ablative of Price<\/b> <\/p>\n The Ablative with Deponent Verbs<\/b> <\/p>\n
\nNouns in the ablative that are used with accompanying prepositions of ab\/\u0101\/abs<\/i>, \u201cfrom\u201d;\u00a0ex\/\u0113<\/i>, \u201cout of\u201d; or\u00a0d\u0113<\/i>, \u201cdown from\u201d.\u00a0 E.g.\u00a0ex\u00a0agr\u012bs<\/i>, \u201cfrom the fields\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe circumstances surrounding an action. The ablatives of a participle, capta, <\/em>and a noun (or pronoun),\u00a0urbe,<\/em> are used to form a substitute for a subordinate clause defining the circumstances or situation in which the action of the main verb occurs E.g.\u00a0Urbe capt\u0101, Aen\u0113\u0101s f\u016bgit,<\/i>\u00a0\u201cWith the city having been captured, Aeneas fled.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nA type of ablative of separation, but it\u00a0<\/b>is used ( without a preposition like:\u00a0a, ab, e, ex, etc.<\/em>) with verbs (with past participles) indicating origin, descent, or source: E.g. n\u0101tus\u00a0genere\u00a0n\u014dbil\u012b\u00a0\u00a0<\/i>\u201cborn from\/of a renowned family\u201d \u2014 i.e. \u2018of a renowned family\u2019<\/p>\n
\nThe person or object that does a deed – this is very close to an Ablative of instrument or means but is usually differentiated by the fact that an agent is a person or group of people. E.g.\u00a0rex armis militibus interfectus est<\/i> \u201cthe king was killed by the soldiers\u201d with personal agents ( as armis <\/em>is inferred since all soldiers have weapons) , but litterally it reads rex\u00a0armis\u00a0militum interfectus erat<\/i> \u201cthe king was killed by the weapons of the soldiers.\u201d In both sentence cases –\u00a0armis<\/em> is the ablative of agent\/means<\/p>\n
\nThe time when or within which an action occurred. The way to identify this one is to keep a look at for word dealing with time, season, years, etc. When they have been found – check if they are in the ablative.\u00a0 E.g. aest\u0101te<\/i>, \u201cin summer\u201d;\u00a0e\u014d tempore<\/i>, \u201cat that time\u201d;\u00a0Pauc\u012bs h\u014dr\u012bs\u00a0id faciet<\/i>, \u201cwithin a few hours he will do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe second object being compared, Y is bigger\u00a0than X<\/i><\/strong>, is put in the ablative.E.g.\u00a0Haec via longior\u00a0ill\u00e4\u00a0est<\/i>. This road is longer than that one. (illa<\/i> is the ablative in this case).<\/p>\n
\nThis is very similar to ablative of comparison, but there are not two objects being compared, but only one word of measurement (little, big, small, few, great,etc.) in the ablativebE.g.\u00a0Paul\u00f6\u00a0post disc\u00ebssit<\/i>. He left a little later. (\u201cafterward by a little bit\u201d). Also consider that some deponents take an ablative noun for this very reason.<\/p>\n
\nSometimes, the ablative is used to specify in what respect a statement may or may not be true. E.g.\u00a0Rex\u00a0nomine\u00a0erat<\/i>. He was king in name (only).<\/p>\n
\nWith the names of cities (Rome, Athens, Sparta, Brundisium, Alexandria etc) and small islands (Sicily, Crete etc.), the prepositions\u00a0ad, ab and in\u00a0<\/b>are not used. Places from which: name in the ablative without ab. E.g.\u00a0Brundisio<\/i>\u2013 from Brundisium OR Athenis<\/i>\u2013 from Athens, Sicilia<\/i>\u2013 from Sicily. Place in which\u2013 this is the locative, and rules vary. (First and second plural, plus third plural- use the ablativeE.g.\u00a0Athenis<\/i>\u2013 in Athens, at Athenis<\/em> ORSardibus<\/i>\u2013 in Sardes, at Sardes. Now for the locative ablative – I will say that I was a bit confused and really worry about this one, but unless you are studying Herodotus, Xenophon or Thucydides in great detail – locatives are not seen very often.<\/p>\n
\nThe ablative is often used to explain why something is done, or its \u201ccause.\u201d E.g.\u00a0Hoc f\u00ebc\u00ef\u00a0am\u00f6re\u00a0vestr\u00ef<\/i>. I did this from (out of, because of) love of you.<\/i><\/p>\n
\nA noun in the ablative, accompanied by an adjective, can be used to describe the qualities\u00a0by which\u00a0<\/i>a person is characterized. This is sometimes combined with Ablative of Source or Origin. E.g\u00a0 Diod\u014drus, uir\u00a0summ\u0101\u00a0grauit\u0101te<\/strong>, maxim\u0113 \u012br\u0101tus est.\u00a0<\/i>\u201cDiodorus, a man of the utmost dignity, became extremely angry.\u201d\u00a0 OR E.g\u00a0senex\u00a0c\u0101n\u012bs\u00a0capill\u012bs\u00a0et\u00a0ueste\u00a0sordid\u0101<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/i>\u201cA man with white hair and unclean garments\u201d<\/p>\n
\nAn ablative used to indicate the resources (monetary or other) employed in a purchase: E.g\u00a0mult\u014d\u00a0aur\u014d\u00a0hanc aulam \u0113m\u012b.\u00a0<\/i>\u201cI bought this pot at the cost of much gold.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nAn instrumental ablative is used with\u00a0utor, fruor, potior, fungor, uescor,\u00a0<\/i>and their compounds: E.g\u00a0h\u012bs uerb\u012bs\u00a0\u016bs\u012b sunt.\u00a0<\/i>\u201cThey employed these words.\u201d E.g\u00a0m\u0101lunt\u00a0\u014dti\u014d\u00a0et\u00a0p\u0101ce\u00a0fru\u012b.\u00a0<\/i>\u201cThey prefer to enjoy leisure and peace.\u201d<\/p>\n