← Latin for Biologists and Gardeners — Botanical Latin
The preposition "per" takes the accusative case and indicates movement through space or time, or means/agency.
29.1 Mīles the soldier per through silvam the forest ambulat. walks
29.2 Per through templum the temple sacerdōs the priest lentē slowly prōcēdit. proceeds
29.3 Puer the boy pilam the ball per through fenestram the window iacit. throws
29.4 Aqua water per through tubōs the pipes fluit. flows
29.5 Nāvis the ship per through undās the waves nāvigat. sails
29.6 Vigilēs the guards per throughout noctem the night urbem the city custōdiunt. protect
29.7 Lūx light per through fenestram the window intrat. enters
29.8 Mercātor the merchant per through forēs the doors mercem merchandise portat. carries
29.9 Nūntius the messenger epistulam the letter per by means of servum a slave mittit. sends
29.10 Vēritās truth per through tempus time patet. becomes clear
29.11 Per through montēs the mountains viātor the traveler iter his journey facit. makes
29.12 Avis the bird per through āerem the air volat. flies
29.13 Cervus the deer per through agrōs the fields currit. runs
29.14 Fāma rumor per throughout urbem the city volat. flies
29.15 Per through nebulam the fog nāvigātor the navigator stellās the stars quaerit. seeks
29.1 Mīles per silvam ambulat. The soldier walks through the forest.
29.2 Per templum sacerdōs lentē prōcēdit. The priest proceeds slowly through the temple.
29.3 Puer pilam per fenestram iacit. The boy throws the ball through the window.
29.4 Aqua per tubōs fluit. Water flows through the pipes.
29.5 Nāvis per undās nāvigat. The ship sails through the waves.
29.6 Vigilēs per noctem urbem custōdiunt. The guards protect the city throughout the night.
29.7 Lūx per fenestram intrat. Light enters through the window.
29.8 Mercātor per forēs mercem portat. The merchant carries merchandise through the doors.
29.9 Nūntius epistulam per servum mittit. The messenger sends the letter by means of a slave.
29.10 Vēritās per tempus patet. Truth becomes clear through time.
29.11 Per montēs viātor iter facit. The traveler makes his journey through the mountains.
29.12 Avis per āerem volat. The bird flies through the air.
29.13 Cervus per agrōs currit. The deer runs through the fields.
29.14 Fāma per urbem volat. Rumor flies throughout the city.
29.15 Per nebulam nāvigātor stellās quaerit. Through the fog the navigator seeks the stars.
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29.1 Mīles per silvam ambulat.
29.2 Per templum sacerdōs lentē prōcēdit.
29.3 Puer pilam per fenestram iacit.
29.4 Aqua per tubōs fluit.
29.5 Nāvis per undās nāvigat.
29.6 Vigilēs per noctem urbem custōdiunt.
29.7 Lūx per fenestram intrat.
29.8 Mercātor per forēs mercem portat.
29.9 Nūntius epistulam per servum mittit.
29.10 Vēritās per tempus patet.
29.11 Per montēs viātor iter facit.
29.12 Avis per āerem volat.
29.13 Cervus per agrōs currit.
29.14 Fāma per urbem volat.
29.15 Per nebulam nāvigātor stellās quaerit.
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For English speakers, the preposition "per" is important to understand because it has several key uses: -
Physical Movement Through Space: -
Always takes the accusative case -
Indicates movement through or across something -
Similar to English "through" or "across" -
Examples: per silvam (through the forest), per undās (through the waves) -
Extension Through Time: -
Shows duration throughout a period -
Example: per noctem (throughout the night) -
Agency or Means: -
Indicates "by means of" or "through the agency of" -
Example: per servum (by means of a slave)
Key Points for English Speakers: -
Unlike English "through," per never uses other cases besides accusative -
Word order is flexible - per phrase can come first or within sentence -
Can't be used like English "through" meaning "finished" -
Often pairs with motion verbs
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Understanding "per" requires knowing how Romans conceived of movement and agency: -
Roman Architecture: -
Many spaces designed for movement through them -
Temples, forums had designated paths -
Public buildings had specific entrance/exit routes -
Roman Daily Life: -
Movement through city spaces was regulated -
Messengers and slaves acted as agents -
Time was measured throughout day and night -
Modern Connections: -
Similar to English "through" in physical sense -
Different from "through" meaning "finished" -
Helps understand Roman spatial concepts
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29.16 Rādīx the root per through terram the earth crēscit grows et and aquam water quaerit. seeks.
29.17 Per through cortīcem the bark suci of sap ad to rāmōs the branches ascendunt. rise.
29.18 Vītis the vine per through pergulam the arbor serpēns creeping crēscit. grows.
29.19 Sēmina seeds per through ventum the wind ad to novās new terrās lands volant. fly.
29.20 Per throughout tōtam the entire aestātem summer rosa the rose flōrēs flowers fert. bears.
29.21 Rādīculae rootlets per through saxōrum of rocks rīmās the cracks penetrant. penetrate.
29.22 Per through foliōrum of leaves porōs the pores aer air intrat. enters.
29.23 Fungus fungus per through lignum wood mo
Per tot discrimina rērum Through so many dangerous circumstances
Virgil uses "per" to emphasize the journey's difficulties, showing physical and metaphorical movement through challenges.
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"per" takes accusative "discrimina" -
"tot" modifies "discrimina" -
"rērum" is genitive plural showing type of dangers -
Classic example of per with abstract meaning
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This is an excellent series of botanical observations using per/through constructions. Here are the key patterns:
Each sentence follows: Per + Accusative = "through/via" - per terram = through the earth - per cortīcem = through the bark - per ventum = through the wind
| Reference | English Translation | |-----------|-------------------| | 29.16 | Root grows through earth and seeks water | | 29.17 | Sap rises through bark to branches | | 29.18 | Vine growing through a trellis creeps upward | | 29.19 | Seeds fly through wind to new lands | | 29.20 | Throughout summer, rose bears flowers | | 29.21 | Rootlets penetrate through rocks' cracks | | 29.22 | Air enters through leaves' pores | | 29.23 | Fungus grows through dead wood | | 29.24 | Throughout spring new buds emerge | | 29.25 | Sap flows through vessels to buds | | 29.26 | Nutrients move through the pith | | 29.27 | Parasite penetrates through plant bark | | 29.28 | Throughout winter, bulbs sleep under earth | | 29.29 | Moss creeps across damp rock | | 29.30 | Throughout autumn leaves change colors |
- Temporal uses: per aestātem (throughout summer), per autumnum (throughout autumn) - Passive constructions: moventur (are moved) - Plant-specific vocabulary: germinā, lympha, gemmae, bulbī
29.16 Rādīx per terram crēscit et aquam quaerit. The root grows through the earth and seeks water.
29.17 Per cortīcem suci ad rāmōs ascendunt. Through the bark, sap rises to the branches.
29.18 Vītis per pergulam serpēns crēscit. The vine grows creeping through the arbor.
29.19 Sēmina per ventum ad novās terrās volant. Seeds fly through the wind to new lands.
29.20 Per tōtam aestātem rosa flōrēs fert. Throughout the entire summer, the rose bears flowers.
29.21 Rādīculae per saxōrum rīmās penetrant. Rootlets penetrate through the cracks of rocks.
29.22 Per foliōrum porōs aer intrat. Air enters through the pores of leaves.
29.23 Fungus per lignum mortuum crēscit. The fungus grows through dead wood.
29.24 Per vēr nova germina prōdeunt. Throughout spring, new buds emerge.
29.25 Lympha per vāsa ad gemmās fluit. Sap flows through vessels to the buds.
29.26 Per medullam nūtrīmenta moventur. Nutrients move through the pith.
29.27 Parasīta per plantae cortīcem penetrat. The parasite penetrates through the plant's bark.
29.28 Per hiemem bulbī sub terrā dormiunt. Throughout winter, bulbs sleep under the earth.
29.29 Muscus per saxum ūmidum serpit. Moss creeps across the damp rock.
29.30 Per autumnum folia colōrēs mūtant. Throughout autumn, leaves change colors.
29.16 Rādīx per terram crēscit et aquam quaerit.
29.17 Per cortīcem suci ad rāmōs ascendunt.
29.18 Vītis per pergulam serpēns crēscit.
29.19 Sēmina per ventum ad novās terrās volant.
29.20 Per tōtam aestātem rosa flōrēs fert.
29.21 Rādīculae per saxōrum rīmās penetrant.
29.22 Per foliōrum porōs aer intrat.
29.23 Fungus per lignum mortuum crēscit.
29.24 Per vēr nova germina prōdeunt.
29.25 Lympha per vāsa ad gemmās fluit.
29.26 Per medullam nūtrīmenta moventur.
29.27 Parasīta per plantae cortīcem penetrat.
29.28 Per hiemem bulbī sub terrā dormiunt.
29.29 Muscus per saxum ūmidum serpit.
29.30 Per autumnum folia colōrēs mūtant.
In botanical Latin, "per" is especially important for describing: -
Physical Movement: -
Growth through materials -
Fluid movement through plant tissues -
Root penetration through soil -
Temporal Extensions: -
Seasonal changes (per hiemem, per vēr) -
Growth periods (per tōtam aestātem) -
Natural cycles -
Technical Vocabulary: -
Anatomical terms (medulla, cortex, vāsa) -
Process descriptions (penetrāre, serpere) -
Growth patterns (crēscere, prōdīre) -
Special Constructions in Botanical Latin: -
Per + accusative of duration (seasonal descriptions) -
Per + anatomical terms (describing plant structures) -
Per + process terms (describing plant functions) -
Word Order in Scientific Description: -
Per phrases often begin sentences for emphasis -
Technical terms follow logical sequence -
Movement descriptions follow physical path
Key Points for Botanists: -
Per is essential for describing plant processes -
Always use accusative case after per -
Combine with precise technical vocabulary -
Useful for both spatial and temporal descriptions
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