← Latin for Biologists and Gardeners — Botanical Latin
This lesson introduces the verb dīcō (to say, speak), a fundamental verb for expressing communication in Latin. The principal parts are: dīcō, dīcere, dīxī, dictum.
32.1 Magister The teacher discipulīs to the students vērum the truth dīcit. tells
32.2 Dē About flōribus flowers multā many things dīcis. you say
32.3 Verba Words sapientia wise fīliō to his son pater father dīcit. speaks
32.4 Carmina Poems pulchra beautiful poēta the poet dīcit. recites
32.5 Dē About arboribus trees antiquīs ancient nōs we dīcimus. speak
32.6 Dē About terrā the soil agricola the farmer mihi to me dīcit. tells
32.7 Discipulus The student magistrō to the teacher respōnsum the answer dīcit. gives
32.8 Vēritātem The truth tibi to you ego I dīcō. tell
32.9 Fīliae To his daughter mater mother fābulam a story dīcit. tells
32.10 Dē About hortīs gardens suīs his senex the old man dīcit. speaks
32.11 Dē About herbīs herbs medicīs medicinal vōs you all dīcitis. speak
32.12 Nōmina The names plantārum of plants botanicus the botanist dīcit. speaks
32.13 Exemplum An example clārum clear magister the teacher dīcit. gives
32.14 Carmina Songs dē about nātūrā nature puerī the boys dīcunt. sing
32.15 Remedia The remedies herbārum of herbs medicus the doctor dīcit. describes
32.1 Magister discipulīs vērum dīcit. The teacher tells the truth to the students.
32.2 Dē flōribus multā dīcis. You say many things about flowers.
32.3 Verba sapientia fīliō pater dīcit. Father speaks wise words to his son.
32.4 Carmina pulchra poēta dīcit. The poet recites beautiful poems.
32.5 Dē arboribus antiquīs nōs dīcimus. We speak about ancient trees.
32.6 Dē terrā agricola mihi dīcit. The farmer tells me about the soil.
32.7 Discipulus magistrō respōnsum dīcit. The student gives the answer to the teacher.
32.8 Vēritātem tibi ego dīcō. I tell you the truth.
32.9 Fīliae mater fābulam dīcit. Mother tells a story to her daughter.
32.10 Dē hortīs suīs senex dīcit. The old man speaks about his gardens.
32.11 Dē herbīs medicīs vōs dīcitis. You all speak about medicinal herbs.
32.12 Nōmina plantārum botanicus dīcit. The botanist speaks the names of plants.
32.13 Exemplum clārum magister dīcit. The teacher gives a clear example.
32.14 Carmina dē nātūrā puerī dīcunt. The boys sing songs about nature.
32.15 Remedia herbārum medicus dīcit. The doctor describes the remedies of herbs.
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32.1 Magister discipulīs vērum dīcit.
32.2 Dē flōribus multā dīcis.
32.3 Verba sapientia fīliō pater dīcit.
32.4 Carmina pulchra poēta dīcit.
32.5 Dē arboribus antiquīs nōs dīcimus.
32.6 Dē terrā agricola mihi dīcit.
32.7 Discipulus magistrō respōnsum dīcit.
32.8 Vēritātem tibi ego dīcō.
32.9 Fīliae mater fābulam dīcit.
32.10 Dē hortīs suīs senex dīcit.
32.11 Dē herbīs medicīs vōs dīcitis.
32.12 Nōmina plantārum botanicus dīcit.
32.13 Exemplum clārum magister dīcit.
32.14 Carmina dē nātūrā puerī dīcunt.
32.15 Remedia herbārum medicus dīcit.
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The verb dīcō is a third conjugation verb with the following present tense forms:
Singular: -
First person: dīcō (I say) -
Second person: dīcis (you say) -
Third person: dīcit (he/she/it says)
Plural: -
First person: dīcimus (we say) -
Second person: dīcitis (you all say) -
Third person: dīcunt (they say)
Key grammatical points: -
The indirect object (person spoken to) takes the dative case -
The direct object (thing said) takes the accusative case -
The preposition "dē" + ablative is used to express "about" or "concerning"
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For English speakers, understanding dīcō requires awareness of its broader usage in Latin. While English "say" and "tell" are often interchangeable, Latin dīcō has specific contexts: -
Formal speech and teaching -
Legal pronouncements -
Scientific descriptions -
Literary recitation
In botanical and scientific contexts, dīcō was particularly important for describing and classifying plants and natural phenomena.
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32.1 Magister the teacher discipulīs to the students vērum the truth dīcit. tells
32.2 Dē about flōribus flowers multā many things dīcis. you say
32.3 Verba words sapientia wise fīliō to his son pater father dīcit. speaks
32.4 Carmina poems pulchra beautiful poēta the poet dīcit. recites
32.5 Dē about arboribus trees antiquīs ancient nōs we dīcimus. speak
32.6 Dē about terrā the soil agricola the farmer mihi to me dīcit. tells
32.7 Discipulus the student magistrō to the teacher respōnsum the answer dīcit. gives
32.8 Vēritātem the truth tibi to you ego I dīcō. tell
32.9 Fīliae to her daughter mater mother fābulam a story dīcit. tells
32.10 Dē about hortīs gardens suīs his senex the old man dīcit. speaks
32.11 Dē about herbīs herbs medicīs medicinal vōs you all dīcitis. speak
32.12 Nōmina the names plantārum of plants botanicus the botanist dīcit. speaks
32.13 Exemplum an example clārum clear magister the teacher dīcit. gives
32.14 Carmina songs dē about nātūrā nature puerī the boys dīcunt. sing
32.15 Remedia the remedies herbārum of herbs medicus the doctor dīcit. describes
Theophrastus ā Graecīs auctōribus sōlus cum dīligentiā dē rōsā dīcit etiam quae in duodēnā folia numerantur.
Among Greek authors, Theophrastus alone speaks carefully about the rose, including those that are counted as having twelve petals.
This passage comes from Pliny's discussion of roses in Book XXI of his Natural History. It demonstrates the use of dīcō in botanical writing, specifically in the context of citing scientific authorities. Pliny frequently references Theophrastus, considered the father of botany, and here notes his unique detailed discussion of rose varieties.
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dīcit is third person singular present indicating a timeless statement -
ā Graecīs auctōribus is ablative of agent with preposition ā/ab -
cum dīligentiā is an ablative of manner showing how the action is performed -
in duodēnā folia uses in + accusative to express the number reached -
sōlus emphasizes Theophrastus's unique contribution
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These sentences follow a consistent pattern: Subject + dē/in + Ablative + Object (Accusative) + dīcit/dīcunt
Verbs of Speaking: - dīcit = he/she says (3rd sing.) - dīcunt = they say (3rd pl.)
Common Structure: - Subject (Nominative) - dē + Ablative = "about" - Direct object (Accusative) - Descriptive adjectives
| Latin | English | |-------|---------| | botanicus | botanist | | plantam novam | new plant | | in silvā | in the forest | | generibus | genera/kinds | | folia | leaves | | flores | flowers | | herbae medicinales | medicinal herbs | | tempus plantandī | time of planting | | vires plantārum | powers of plants | | methodum colendī | method of cultivation | | cūra flōrum | care of flowers | | vim herbae | power of herb | | nōmina Latīna | Latin names | | nātūra | nature | | partes flōris | parts of flower | | herbae silvestres | wild herbs | | plantae medicae | medicinal plants |
"The [person] says/speaks [about the thing] [object/description]"
These appear to be from a botanical/medicinal Latin text emphasizing specialized vocabulary. ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
32.16 Plantam novam in silvā inventam esse botanicus dīcit. The botanist says that a new plant has been found in the forest.
32.17 Dē generibus plantārum multa Linnaeus dīcit. Linnaeus says many things about the genera of plants.
32.18 Magistrī discipulīs dē fōliīs et flōribus dīcunt. The teachers speak to the students about leaves and flowers.
32.19 Proprietātēs herbārum medicārum scientificus dīcit. The scientist describes the properties of medicinal herbs.
32.20 Dē temporibus plantandī agricola dīcit. The farmer speaks about planting times.
32.21 Auctōrēs antiquī multa dē vīribus plantārum dīcunt. Ancient authors say many things about the powers of plants.
32.22 Methodum colendī novam perītus dīcit. The expert describes a new method of cultivation.
32.23 Hortulānus mihi dē cūrā flōrum dīcit. The gardener speaks to me about the care of flowers.
32.24 Vim herbae aegrotō medicus dīcit. The doctor explains the power of the herb to the sick person.
32.25 Nōmina plantārum Latīna discipulī dīcunt. The students recite the Latin names of plants.
32.26 Philosophus nātūram simplicium medicāmentōrum dīcit. The philosopher explains the nature of simple medicines.
32.27 Magister partēs flōris singulās dīcit. The teacher names the individual parts of the flower.
32.28 Virtūtēs herbārum silvestrium senex dīcit. The old man describes the virtues of wild herbs.
32.29 Differentiās inter speciēs botanicus dīcit. The botanist explains the differences between species.
32.30 Scrīptor in librō suō dē plantīs medicīs multa dīcit. The writer says many things about medicinal plants in his book.
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32.16 Plantam novam in silvā inventam esse botanicus dīcit.
32.17 Dē generibus plantārum multa Linnaeus dīcit.
32.18 Magistrī discipulīs dē fōliīs et flōribus dīcunt.
32.19 Proprietātēs herbārum medicārum scientificus dīcit.
32.20 Dē temporibus plantandī agricola dīcit.
32.21 Auctōrēs antiquī multa dē vīribus plantārum dīcunt.
32.22 Methodum colendī novam perītus dīcit.
32.23 Hortulānus mihi dē cūrā flōrum dīcit.
32.24 Vim herbae aegrotō medicus dīcit.
32.25 Nōmina plantārum Latīna discipulī dīcunt.
32.26 Philosophus nātūram simplicium medicāmentōrum dīcit.
32.27 Magister partēs flōris singulās dīcit.
32.28 Virtūtēs herbārum silvestrium senex dīcit.
32.29 Differentiās inter speciēs botanicus dīcit.
32.30 Scrīptor in librō suō dē plantīs medicīs multa dīcit.
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In botanical and medical Latin texts, the verb dīcō takes on specialized meanings: -
Technical Usage: -
Describing plant characteristics -
Explaining medicinal properties -
Naming taxonomic classifications -
Citing botanical authorities -
Common Constructions: -
dē + ablative for discussing topics (dē herbīs) -
Indirect statement with esse for reporting discoveries -
Dative of recipient (aegrotō) with accusative of thing explained -
Use of technical vocabulary (speciēs, genera, proprietātēs) -
Word Order Patterns: -
Technical object often precedes dīcō -
Subject placement varies for emphasis -
Complex phrases with multiple modifiers -
Temporal and locative phrases generally precede the main clause -
Special Features: -
Technical and scientific vocabulary -
Precise botanical terminology -
Medical and pharmaceutical context -
Academic and scholarly register
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