← Latin for Biologists and Gardeners — Botanical Latin
This lesson introduces one of the most common Latin verbs: dō dare dedī datum (to give). This is a regular first conjugation verb but with some unique characteristics, notably its short 'a' in the infinitive dare (most first conjugation verbs have long ā).
27.1 Pater the father fīliō to the son librum a book dat gives.
27.2 Praemium a reward discipulō to the student magister the teacher dat gives.
27.3 Amīcō to the friend pecūniam money Mārcus Marcus dat gives.
27.4 Nautae the sailors puerīs to the boys cibum food dant give.
27.5 Corōnam a crown deae to the goddess rēgīna the queen dat gives.
27.6 Frūmentum grain agricola the farmer mercātōrī to the merchant dat gives.
27.7 Mīlitibus to the soldiers cōnsul the consul honōrem honor dat gives.
27.8 Aquam water equīs to the horses virī the men dant give.
27.9 Flōrem a flower mātrī to the mother puella the girl dat gives.
27.10 Victimam a victim deīs to the gods sacerdōs the priest dat gives.
27.11 Epistulam a letter tibi to you (sg.) dō I give.
27.12 Cōnsilium advice mihi to me dās you give.
27.13 Auxilium help vōbīs to you (pl.) damus we give.
27.14 Spem hope nōbīs to us datis you give.
27.15 Panem bread pauperibus to the poor dīvitēs the rich dant give.
Dative Endings by Declension: - 1st declension: -ae (magistrae, fīliae) - 2nd declension: -ō (fīlō, amīcō) - 3rd declension: -ī or -ibus (mercātōrī, deīs, mīlitibus)
Pronouns: - mihi (to me) - tibi (to you) - nōbīs (to us) - vōbīs (to you all)
"The father gives a book to the son." - Pater = subject (nominative) - librum = direct object (accusative) - fīliō = indirect object (dative) - dat = verb
These are excellent practice for recognizing the three-case pattern essential to Latin grammar. All translations are accurate! ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
27.1 Pater fīliō librum dat. The father gives a book to his son.
27.2 Praemium discipulō magister dat. The teacher gives a reward to the student.
27.3 Amīcō pecūniam Mārcus dat. Marcus gives money to his friend.
27.4 Nautae puerīs cibum dant. The sailors give food to the boys.
27.5 Corōnam deae rēgīna dat. The queen gives a crown to the goddess.
27.6 Frūmentum agricola mercātōrī dat. The farmer gives grain to the merchant.
27.7 Mīlitibus cōnsul honōrem dat. The consul gives honor to the soldiers.
27.8 Aquam equīs virī dant. The men give water to the horses.
27.9 Flōrem mātrī puella dat. The girl gives a flower to her mother.
27.10 Victimam deīs sacerdōs dat. The priest gives a sacrifice to the gods.
27.11 Epistulam tibi dō. I give you a letter.
27.12 Cōnsilium mihi dās. You give me advice.
27.13 Auxilium vōbīs damus. We give help to you.
27.14 Spem nōbīs datis. You give hope to us.
27.15 Panem pauperibus dīvitēs dant. The rich give bread to the poor.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
27.1 Pater fīliō librum dat.
27.2 Praemium discipulō magister dat.
27.3 Amīcō pecūniam Mārcus dat.
27.4 Nautae puerīs cibum dant.
27.5 Corōnam deae rēgīna dat.
27.6 Frūmentum agricola mercātōrī dat.
27.7 Mīlitibus cōnsul honōrem dat.
27.8 Aquam equīs virī dant.
27.9 Flōrem mātrī puella dat.
27.10 Victimam deīs sacerdōs dat.
27.11 Epistulam tibi dō.
27.12 Cōnsilium mihi dās.
27.13 Auxilium vōbīs damus.
27.14 Spem nōbīs datis.
27.15 Panem pauperibus dīvitēs dant.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
For English speakers, the verb "dō" has several important features to understand: -
Principal Parts: -
dō (present) -
dare (infinitive) -
dedī (perfect) -
datum (supine) -
Present Tense Conjugation: -
dō (I give) -
dās (you give) -
dat (he/she/it gives) -
damus (we give) -
datis (you all give) -
dant (they give) -
Special Features: -
Unlike most first conjugation verbs, "dare" has a short 'a' -
The stem 'da-' is unusually short for a first conjugation verb -
Takes both direct object (accusative) and indirect object (dative) -
Common Constructions: -
Double object construction (accusative + dative) -
Personal pronouns often used as indirect objects -
Often appears with abstract objects (hope, honor, advice)
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
For English speakers, understanding "dō" requires cultural context: -
Gift-Giving in Roman Culture: -
Formal gift exchange was important in Roman society -
Gifts often marked social relationships and obligations -
Religious offerings were a form of giving to the gods -
Social Implications: -
Giving created social bonds and obligations -
Different types of gifts for different relationships -
Public giving demonstrated status and wealth -
Modern Parallels: -
Similar to English "give" in basic meaning -
Different in formal vs informal contexts -
Important in understanding Roman social networks
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
27.16 Multōs many frūctūs fruits arbor the tree nōbīs to us dat gives.
27.17 Odōrem the scent suāvem sweet flōrēs the flowers rosārum of roses dant give.
27.18 Plantīs to the plants nūtrīmenta nourishment terra the earth dat gives.
27.19 Nectar nectar flōribus to the flowers apēs the bees dant give.
27.20 Lūcem light herbīs to the herbs sōl the sun dat gives.
27.21 Hortō to the garden aquam water agricola the farmer dat gives.
27.22 Vīrēs strength arborī to the tree radīcēs the roots dant give.
27.23 Plantīs to the plants minōribus smaller umbram shade folia the leaves dant give.
27.24 Novīs to new plantīs plants nōmina names botānicus the botanist dat gives.
27.25 Ūvās grapes autumnō in autumn vītis the grapevine dat gives.
27.26 Vītam life siccīs to dry agrīs fields pluvia the rain dat gives.
27.27 Sēmina seeds terrīs to lands novīs new ventus the wind dat gives.
27.28 Cūram care cotīdiānam daily plantīs to the plants hortulānus the gardener dat gives.
27.29 Colōrēs colors variōs various flōribus to the flowers nātūra nature dat gives.
27.30 Nōmina names rēbus to things nātūrālibus natural homō man dat gives.
Tū mihi quodcumque hoc rēgnī dās. You give to me whatever this is of kingdom.
This line shows Juno speaking to Aeolus, demonstrating the relationship between giving and power in Roman thought. The verb "dās" emphasizes the personal nature of the gift.
-
"dās" is present tense, second person singular -
"mihi" is dative of indirect object -
"quodcumque hoc rēgnī" is a complex object phrase -
Word order emphasizes the personal relationship (tū mihi)
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
27.1 Pater the father fīliō to his son librum a book dat. gives
27.2 Praemium a reward discipulō to the student magister the teacher dat. gives
27.3 Amīcō to his friend pecūniam money Mārcus Marcus dat. gives
27.4 Nautae the sailors puerīs to the boys cibum food dant. give
27.5 Corōnam a crown deae to the goddess rēgīna the queen dat. gives
27.6 Frūmentum grain agricola the farmer mercātōrī to the merchant dat. gives
27.7 Mīlitibus to the soldiers cōnsul the consul honōrem honor dat. gives
27.8 Aquam water equīs to the horses virī the men dant. give
27.9 Flōrem a flower mātrī to her mother puella the girl dat. gives
27.10 Victimam a sacrifice deīs to the gods sacerdōs the priest dat. gives
27.11 Epistulam a letter tibi to you dō. I give
27.12 Cōnsilium advice mihi to me dās. you give
27.13 Auxilium help vōbīs to you damus. we give
27.14 Spem hope nōbīs to us datis. you give
27.15 Panem bread pauperibus to the poor dīvitēs the rich dant. give
agrīs, terrīs, flōribus - Adjectives agree with their nouns: multōs, suāvem, novīs, minōribus, variōs, nātūrālibus
"The [subject] gives [direct object] to [indirect object]"
Example 27.26: "Rain gives life to dry fields" ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
27.16 Multōs frūctūs arbor nōbīs dat. The tree gives us many fruits.
27.17 Odōrem suāvem flōrēs rosārum dant. Rose flowers give a sweet fragrance.
27.18 Plantīs nūtrīmenta terra dat. The earth gives nutrients to plants.
27.19 Nectar flōribus apēs dant. Bees give nectar to flowers.
27.20 Lūcem herbīs sōl dat. The sun gives light to the herbs.
27.21 Hortō aquam agricola dat. The farmer gives water to the garden.
27.22 Vīrēs arborī radīcēs dant. The roots give strength to the tree.
27.23 Plantīs minōribus umbram folia dant. The leaves give shade to smaller plants.
27.24 Novīs plantīs nōmina botānicus dat. The botanist gives names to new plants.
27.25 Ūvās autumnō vītis dat. The vine gives grapes in autumn.
27.26 Vītam siccīs agrīs pluvia dat. The rain gives life to dry fields.
27.27 Sēmina terrīs novīs ventus dat. The wind gives seeds to new lands.
27.28 Cūram cotīdiānam plantīs hortulānus dat. The gardener gives daily care to the plants.
27.29 Colōrēs variōs flōribus nātūra dat. Nature gives various colors to flowers.
27.30 Nōmina rēbus nātūrālibus homō dat. Man gives names to natural things.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
27.16 Multōs frūctūs arbor nōbīs dat.
27.17 Odōrem suāvem flōrēs rosārum dant.
27.18 Plantīs nūtrīmenta terra dat.
27.19 Nectar flōribus apēs dant.
27.20 Lūcem herbīs sōl dat.
27.21 Hortō aquam agricola dat.
27.22 Vīrēs arborī radīcēs dant.
27.23 Plantīs minōribus umbram folia dant.
27.24 Novīs plantīs nōmina botānicus dat.
27.25 Ūvās autumnō vītis dat.
27.26 Vītam siccīs agrīs pluvia dat.
27.27 Sēmina terrīs novīs ventus dat.
27.28 Cūram cotīdiānam plantīs hortulānus dat.
27.29 Colōrēs variōs flōribus nātūra dat.
27.30 Nōmina rēbus nātūrālibus homō dat.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The use of "dō" in botanical and biological Latin has several special characteristics worth noting for English speakers: -
Natural Processes -
Often describes natural processes and relationships -
Frequently used with inanimate subjects (trees, sun, earth) -
Describes biological functions in active voice where English might use passive -
Technical Vocabulary -
Used with specialized botanical terms -
Often appears in taxonomic descriptions -
Common in scientific naming conventions -
Special Constructions in Scientific Latin -
Frequent use with abstract nouns (nūtrīmenta, vītam, cūram) -
Technical dative constructions -
Time expressions (autumnō = "in autumn") -
Word Order in Scientific Writing -
More standardized than literary Latin -
Often follows subject-object-verb pattern -
Technical terms usually placed together -
Common Botanical Phrases -
dat flōrēs (produces flowers) -
dat frūctūs (bears fruit) -
dat sēmina (produces seeds) -
dat colōrēs (shows colors) -
Usage in Scientific Descriptions -
Present tense for describing typical characteristics -
Perfect tense for specific observations -
Future participle for predicted developments
This specialized use of "dō" in botanical Latin helps create precise scientific descriptions while maintaining connection to classical Latin forms.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
---