← Latin for Biologists and Gardeners — Botanical Latin
Today's lesson focuses on the verb faciō (to make, do), one of the most frequent and versatile verbs in Latin. This third conjugation verb is important for expressing actions of creating, making, and doing.
30.16 Sub Under microscopiō the microscope novam a new speciem species prōtozōōrum of protozoans scientificus the scientist videt sees.
30.17 In In preparātiōne the preparation cellulārum of cells nucleus the nucleus sē itself dīvidentem dividing vidēmus we see.
30.18 Chromatophora Chloroplasts virentia green perītus the expert in in cellulīs the cells algārum of algae videt sees.
30.19 Per Through microscopium the microscope electronieum electronic structūrās structures minūtissimās the tiniest vidēre to see possumus we are able.
30.20 In In cultūrā the culture bacteriārum of bacteria colōniās colonies crescentēs growing biologus the biologist videt sees.
30.21 Cellulās Cells plantārum of plants vīvās living discipulī the students prīmum for the first time vidēbant were seeing.
30.22 In In aquā the water stagnante stagnant multōs many microorganismōs microorganisms moventēs moving vidēmus we see.
30.23 Membrānam The membrane cellulārem cellular scientist the scientist per through microscopium the microscope potēns powerful videt sees.
30.24 Leucocytōs White blood cells bacteriās bacteria dēvorantēs devouring in in preparātiōne the preparation sanguinis of blood vidī I saw.
30.25 Sub Under lente the lens maximā highest power chrōmosōmata chromosomes in in nūcleō the nucleus vidēre to see possumus we are able.
30.26 Vacuolās Vacuoles in in cytōplasmāte the cytoplasm cellulārum of cells vidētisne do you see?
30.27 Structūrās Structures intrācellulārēs intracellular per through microscopium the microscope cōnfocāle confocal spectābilēs visible vidēmus we see.
30.28 In In cultūrā the culture fungōrum of fungi hyphās hyphae crescentēs growing vidēre to see licet it is possible.
30.29 Motūs The movements ciliōrum of cilia in in paramēciō the paramecium vīvō living scientificus the scientist videt sees.
30.30 Ultratenuēs Ultrathin cellulārum of cells sectiōnēs sections sub under microscopiō the microscope electronicō electronic vidēmus we see.
31.1 Pulchrum hortum agricola facit. The farmer makes a beautiful garden.
31.2 Bonum labōrem puer facit. The boy does good work.
31.3 Quid hodiē facis? What are you doing today?
31.4 Studium dīligēns discipulī faciunt. The students do diligent study.
31.5 Librōs novōs magister facit. The teacher makes new books.
31.6 Nāvem magnam nautae faciunt. The sailors make a large ship.
31.7 Cūr hoc facis? Why do you do this?
31.8 Cēnam bonam soror facit. Sister makes a good dinner.
31.9 Iter longum amīcī faciunt. The friends make a long journey.
31.10 Vestēs pulchrās mater facit. Mother makes beautiful clothes.
31.11 Pecūniam multam mercātor facit. The merchant makes much money.
31.12 Lēgēs novās cōnsul facit. The consul makes new laws.
31.13 Carmina pulchra poēta facit. The poet makes beautiful poems.
31.14 Opus magnum servī faciunt. The slaves do great work.
31.15 Pācem cum hostibus rēx facit. The king makes peace with the enemies.
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31.1 Pulchrum hortum agricola facit.
31.2 Bonum labōrem puer facit.
31.3 Quid hodiē facis?
31.4 Studium dīligēns discipulī faciunt.
31.5 Librōs novōs magister facit.
31.6 Nāvem magnam nautae faciunt.
31.7 Cūr hoc facis?
31.8 Cēnam bonam soror facit.
31.9 Iter longum amīcī faciunt.
31.10 Vestēs pulchrās mater facit.
31.11 Pecūniam multam mercātor facit.
31.12 Lēgēs novās cōnsul facit.
31.13 Carmina pulchra poēta facit.
31.14 Opus magnum servī faciunt.
31.15 Pācem cum hostibus rēx facit.
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The verb faciō is a third conjugation verb with the following principal parts: -
faciō (present) -
facere (infinitive) -
fēcī (perfect) -
factum (supine)
Present tense forms used in our examples: -
faciō - I make/do -
facis - you make/do -
facit - he/she/it makes/does -
facimus - we make/do -
facitis - you (pl.) make/do -
faciunt - they make/do
Key grammatical points: -
Faciō takes a direct object in the accusative case -
Can be used with both concrete objects (hortum, nāvem) and abstract concepts (pācem, studium) -
Often appears with adjectives modifying the direct object -
Common in questions (quid facis? cūr facis?)
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For English speakers, understanding faciō requires grasping several cultural concepts: -
Roman Productivity: -
Romans valued practical accomplishment -
Making and doing were central to Roman identity -
Different social classes had different expected tasks -
Semantic Range: -
Broader than English "make" or "do" -
Used in many idiomatic expressions -
Important in political and legal contexts -
Historical Importance: -
Key verb in Roman technical writing -
Essential for understanding Roman engineering texts -
Common in military and administrative documents
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From Pliny's Natural History (18.8):
31.16 Vēre In spring planta the plant novōs new rāmōs branches facit. makes.
31.17 In In hortō the garden arbor the tree flōrēs flowers pulchrōs beautiful facit. makes.
31.18 Aestāte In summer herba the herb sēmen seeds multum many facit. makes.
31.19 Ad to aquam water rādīcēs the roots longae long viam their way faciunt. make.
31.20 Autumnō In autumn vītis the vine ūvās grapes dulcēs sweet facit. makes.
31.21 In In silvā the forest ūmidā damp fungī the mushrooms colōniam a colony faciunt. make.
31.22 Rosa The rose spīnās thorns ācrēs sharp ad for dēfēnsiōnem defense facit. makes.
31.23 Autumnō In autumn quercus the oak glandēs acorns multās many facit. makes.
31.24 Sub Under terrā the earth līlium the lily bulbōs bulbs novōs new facit. makes.
31.25 Super On saxō the rock muscus the moss stratum a layer virīde green facit. makes.
31.26 In On mūrō the wall hēdera the ivy umbram shade dēnsam thick facit. makes.
31.27 Aestāte In summer pīnus the pine resīnam resin odōram fragrant facit. makes.
31.28 In In aquā water algae the algae oxigenium oxygen faciunt. make.
31.29 Orchidea The orchid radicēs roots aeriās aerial facit. makes.
31.30 Cactus The cactus flōrem a flower nocturnum nocturnal facit. makes.
Maiōrēs fertillissimum in agrō oculum dominī esse dixērunt. Our ancestors said that the master's eye was the most fertile thing in the field.
This passage reflects Roman agricultural wisdom and the importance of personal oversight in farming. The metaphor of the "eye of the master" emphasizes direct supervision.
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Indirect statement construction with esse -
Superlative adjective fertillissimum -
Genitive of possession dominī
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These sentences follow a consistent pattern describing what various plants produce or create (facit/faciunt = makes/make).
Subject + Object + Temporal/Locational Phrase + facit/faciunt
| Passage | Plant | Product | When/Where | |---------|-------|---------|-----------| | 31.16 | Planta | novōs rāmōs (new branches) | vēre (in spring) | | 31.17 | Arbor | pulchrōs flōrēs (beautiful flowers) | in hortō (in garden) | | 31.18 | Herba | multum sēmen (much seed) | aestāte (in summer) | | 31.19 | Rādīcēs | viam ad aquam (way to water) | — | | 31.20 | Vītis | dulcēs ūvās (sweet grapes) | autumnō (in autumn) | | 31.21 | Fungī | colōniam (colony) | in silvā ūmidā (in damp forest) | | 31.22 | Rosa | ācrēs spīnās (sharp thorns) | ad dēfēnsiōnem (for defense) | | 31.23 | Quercus | multās glandēs (many acorns) | autumnō (in autumn) | | 31.24 | Līlium | novōs bulbōs (new bulbs) | sub terrā (under earth) | | 31.25 | Muscus | stratum virīde (green layer) | super saxō (on rock) | | 31.26 | Hēdera | umbram dēnsam (thick shade) | in mūrō (on wall) | | 31.27 | Pīnus | resīnam odōram (fragrant resin) | aestāte (in summer) | | 31.28 | Algae | oxigenium (oxygen) | in aquā (in water) | | 31.29 | Orchidea | radicēs aeriās (aerial roots) | — | | 31.30 | Cactus | flōrem nocturnum (nocturnal flower) | — |
- Plural subjects (31.19, 31.21, 31.28) use faciunt - Singular subjects use facit - Adjectives agree with their nouns in case, number, and gender - Seasonal references appear frequently (spring, summer, autumn)
31.16 Vēre planta novōs rāmōs facit. In spring the plant makes new branches.
31.17 In hortō arbor flōrēs pulchrōs facit. In the garden the tree makes beautiful flowers.
31.18 Aestāte herba sēmen multum facit. In summer the herb makes many seeds.
31.19 Ad aquam rādīcēs longae viam faciunt. The long roots make their way to water.
31.20 Autumnō vītis ūvās dulcēs facit. In autumn the vine makes sweet grapes.
31.21 In silvā ūmidā fungī colōniam faciunt. In the damp forest the mushrooms make a colony.
31.22 Rosa spīnās ācrēs ad dēfēnsiōnem facit. The rose makes sharp thorns for defense.
31.23 Autumnō quercus glandēs multās facit. In autumn the oak makes many acorns.
31.24 Sub terrā līlium bulbōs novōs facit. Under the earth the lily makes new bulbs.
31.25 Super saxō muscus stratum virīde facit. On the rock the moss makes a green layer.
31.26 In mūrō hēdera umbram dēnsam facit. On the wall the ivy makes thick shade.
31.27 Aestāte pīnus resīnam odōram facit. In summer the pine makes fragrant resin.
31.28 In aquā algae oxigenium faciunt. In water the algae make oxygen.
31.29 Orchidea radicēs aeriās facit. The orchid makes aerial roots.
31.30 Cactus flōrem nocturnum facit. The cactus makes a nocturnal flower.
31.16 Vēre planta novōs rāmōs facit.
31.17 In hortō arbor flōrēs pulchrōs facit.
31.18 Aestāte herba sēmen multum facit.
31.19 Ad aquam rādīcēs longae viam faciunt.
31.20 Autumnō vītis ūvās dulcēs facit.
31.21 In silvā ūmidā fungī colōniam faciunt.
31.22 Rosa spīnās ācrēs ad dēfēnsiōnem facit.
31.23 Autumnō quercus glandēs multās facit.
31.24 Sub terrā līlium bulbōs novōs facit.
31.25 Super saxō muscus stratum virīde facit.
31.26 In mūrō hēdera umbram dēnsam facit.
31.27 Aestāte pīnus resīnam odōram facit.
31.28 In aquā algae oxigenium faciunt.
31.29 Orchidea radicēs aeriās facit.
31.30 Cactus flōrem nocturnum facit.
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Botanical Terminology: -
Technical terms are often used with faciō to describe plant processes -
Many botanical nouns maintain their Greek or Latin scientific forms -
Temporal ablatives (vēre, aestāte, autumnō) indicate seasonal timing -
Specialized Vocabulary: -
Plant parts: rāmōs, flōrēs, sēmen, rādīcēs, spīnās -
Growth processes: described using concrete objects with faciō -
Environmental terms: in silvā, sub terrā, super saxō -
Grammar Patterns in Botanical Latin: -
Subject (plant) + Object (what it produces) + facit/faciunt -
Frequent use of temporal and locative expressions -
Adjectives often describe qualities important for identification -
Prepositions indicate location of growth or plant features -
Scientific Context: -
Sentences structured to describe observable phenomena -
Focus on reproductive and growth processes -
Emphasis on specific plant characteristics -
Use of precise descriptive adjectives -
Usage Notes for Botanical Writers: -
Faciō commonly describes natural processes -
Present tense indicates typical or recurring actions -
Word order emphasizes important botanical features -
Technical accuracy maintained while using classical grammar
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