← Latin for Biologists and Gardeners — Botanical Latin
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71.1 Domus house mea my parva small sed but pulchra beautiful est is
71.2 In in domō house magnā large habitāmus we live
71.3 Pater father domum house novam new aedificat builds
71.4 Ad to domum house meam my amīcī friends veniunt come
71.5 Ante before domum house hortus garden est is
71.6 Ex from domō house exīre to go out volō I want
71.7 Domūs of house fenestrae windows magnae large sunt are
71.8 Domum homeward properāmus we hurry quod because pluit it rains
71.9 Rūrī in country domum house pulchram beautiful habēbāmus we had
71.10 Domūs of house tēctum roof reparāre to repair necesse necessary est is
71.11 Domī at home manēre to remain hodiē today dēbeō I ought
71.12 Nōn not longē far ā from domō house meā my schola school est is
71.13 Domōs houses antīquās ancient in in urbe city vidēre to see possumus we can
71.14 Domūs house vestrae your ōstium door apertum open est is
71.15 Domibus to houses nostrīs our flōrēs flowers plantāmus we plant
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71.1 Domus mea parva sed pulchra est. My house is small but beautiful.
71.2 In domō magnā habitāmus. We live in a large house.
71.3 Pater domum novam aedificat. Father is building a new house.
71.4 Ad domum meam amīcī veniunt. Friends come to my house.
71.5 Ante domum hortus est. There is a garden in front of the house.
71.6 Ex domō exīre volō. I want to go out from the house.
71.7 Domūs fenestrae magnae sunt. The windows of the house are large.
71.8 Domum properāmus quod pluit. We hurry home because it's raining.
71.9 Rūrī domum pulchram habēbāmus. We had a beautiful house in the country.
71.10 Domūs tēctum reparāre necesse est. It is necessary to repair the roof of the house.
71.11 Domī manēre hodiē dēbeō. I ought to remain at home today.
71.12 Nōn longē ā domō meā schola est. The school is not far from my house.
71.13 Domōs antīquās in urbe vidēre possumus. We can see ancient houses in the city.
71.14 Domūs vestrae ōstium apertum est. The door of your house is open.
71.15 Domibus nostrīs flōrēs plantāmus. We plant flowers at our houses.
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71.1 Domus mea parva sed pulchra est.
71.2 In domō magnā habitāmus.
71.3 Pater domum novam aedificat.
71.4 Ad domum meam amīcī veniunt.
71.5 Ante domum hortus est.
71.6 Ex domō exīre volō.
71.7 Domūs fenestrae magnae sunt.
71.8 Domum properāmus quod pluit.
71.9 Rūrī domum pulchram habēbāmus.
71.10 Domūs tēctum reparāre necesse est.
71.11 Domī manēre hodiē dēbeō.
71.12 Nōn longē ā domō meā schola est.
71.13 Domōs antīquās in urbe vidēre possumus.
71.14 Domūs vestrae ōstium apertum est.
71.15 Domibus nostrīs flōrēs plantāmus.
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For English speakers, the noun "domus" presents several important grammatical features: -
Declension Pattern: -
"Domus" is primarily a 4th declension noun (ending in -us in nominative singular) -
However, it has some forms that follow the 2nd declension pattern -
This makes it a "mixed declension" noun - one of the few in Latin -
Case Forms: -
Nominative singular: domus -
Genitive singular: domūs (4th decl.) or domī (2nd decl.) -
Dative singular: domuī or domō -
Accusative singular: domum -
Ablative singular: domō or domū -
Locative singular: domī ("at home") -
Nominative plural: domūs -
Genitive plural: domuum or domōrum -
Dative/Ablative plural: domibus -
Accusative plural: domōs or domūs -
Special Uses: -
Locative case: "domī" means "at home" (seen in 71.11) -
Accusative of direction: "domum" can mean "homeward/to home" without a preposition (71.8) -
Ablative of place from which: "domō" can mean "from home" (although in 71.6 it uses "ex") -
Gender: -
Feminine noun, despite ending in -us (which typically indicates masculine in 2nd declension) -
English Connections: -
Root of English words like "domestic," "domicile" -
Similar to "dome" (architectural feature)
This mixed declension pattern makes "domus" challenging but important for Latin students to master.
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For English speakers, understanding "domus" requires cultural and historical context: -
Roman Domestic Architecture: -
The typical Roman domus was designed around an atrium (central hall) -
Often had an impluvium (pool for collecting rainwater) in the atrium -
Included a peristylium (garden courtyard surrounded by columns) -
Multiple rooms arranged around these central spaces -
Usually had one story in early periods, sometimes two later -
Social Significance: -
Symbol of family status and wealth -
Public spaces (atrium) for meeting clients during morning salutatio -
Private areas (cubicula, triclinium) for family use -
Decoration reflected owner's status and taste -
In wealthy homes, walls adorned with frescoes and floors with mosaics -
Urban vs. Rural: -
Urban domus: built on city blocks, often shared walls with neighbors -
Villa rustica: country estate for agriculture and leisure -
Villa urbana: suburban residence combining features of both -
Modern Relevance: -
Archaeological sites (Pompeii, Herculaneum) preserve domus layouts -
Influences modern architecture (atrium houses, courtyard designs) -
Domestic terminology in Romance languages derives from Latin terms -
Contrast with modern housing expectations (privacy, space allocation) -
Botanical Connections: -
Roman houses often included gardens (hortī) -
Peristyle gardens featured both ornamental and culinary plants -
House design incorporated natural elements (sunlight, airflow, water) -
Plants selected for both beauty and practical use
Understanding the Roman domus helps English speakers grasp Latin texts about domestic life and architecture, particularly in botanical contexts.
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Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Pliny the Elder's "Naturalis Historia" (19.19):
Hortos gardens villae of villa iungendos to be joined non not est is dubium, doubtful, riguosque and watered maxime especially habendos, to be had, si if contingat, it is possible, profluo flowing amne; by stream; si if minus, not, e from puteo well rota wheel organisve or machines pneumaticis pneumatic tollente, raising, non not hauriente, drawing, rigandos. to be watered.
"Hortos villae iungendos non est dubium, riguosque maxime habendos, si contingat, profluo amne; si minus, e puteo rota organisve pneumaticis tollente, non hauriente, rigandos."
There is no doubt that gardens should be attached to the villa, and they should especially be kept watered, if possible, by a flowing stream; if not, they should be watered from a well using a wheel or pneumatic machines that lift the water rather than draw it up.
Pliny's passage illustrates the Roman approach to garden design and water management. Key points: -
Integration of gardens with domestic architecture (hortos villae iungendos) -
Emphasis on proper irrigation (riguosque maxime habendos) -
Hierarchy of water sources: -
Natural streams preferred (profluo amne) -
Mechanical alternatives when streams unavailable -
Technical knowledge of hydraulics (water lifting vs. drawing) -
Practical advice presented in authoritative tone
The passage reflects Roman pragmatism in combining aesthetics with function in domestic garden spaces.
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Gerundives: "iungendos," "habendos," "rigandos" - expressing necessity or obligation -
Conditional clauses: "si contingat" and "si minus" - presenting alternatives -
Ablative of means: "profluo amne," "rota organisve pneumaticis" - indicating method -
Present participles: "tollente," "hauriente" - describing function of machines -
Impersonal construction: "non est dubium" - expressing certainty -
Chiastic structure: "non hauriente, rigandos" frames the sentence end
The sentence structure moves from general principle to specific implementation, using subordinate clauses to present alternatives in a logical progression.
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71.16 Multae many plantae plants circum around domum house crēscunt grow
71.17 Botānicī botanists domibus in houses suīs their hortōs gardens experimentālēs experimental saepe often habent have
71.18 Hedera ivy parietēs walls domūs of house ascendit climbs
71.19 Rosa rose rubra red ad at ōstium door domūs of house flōret blooms
71.20 Domum house umbrōsam shady propter because of arbōrēs trees altās tall habēmus we have
71.21 Fenestrās windows domūs of house meae my vītis vine ornāvit has adorned
71.22 Domī at home herbās herbs medicinālēs medicinal in in vāsīs pots colō I cultivate
71.23 Avēs birds in in tēctō roof domūs of house nidōs nests faciunt make
71.24 Prope near domum house nostram our quercus oak antīqua ancient stat stands
71.25 Māiōrēs ancestors nostrī our domōs houses lignō with wood aedificābant built
71.26 Inter between domūs houses urbānās urban paucae few plantae plants inveniūntur are found
71.27 Domibus to houses rūsticīs rustic hortī gardens ōlitōriī vegetable adiacent adjoin
71.28 Fungi fungi post after pluviam rain prope near domum house crēscunt grow
71.29 Līlia lilies alba white domūs of house vestibulum entrance decorant decorate
71.30 Rādīcēs roots arbōris of tree fundamenta foundations domūs of house interdum sometimes laedunt damage
71.16 Multae plantae circum domum crēscunt. Many plants grow around the house.
71.17 Botānicī domibus suīs hortōs experimentālēs saepe habent. Botanists often have experimental gardens at their houses.
71.18 Hedera parietēs domūs ascendit. Ivy climbs the walls of the house.
71.19 Rosa rubra ad ōstium domūs flōret. A red rose blooms at the door of the house.
71.20 Domum umbrōsam propter arbōrēs altās habēmus. We have a shady house because of the tall trees.
71.21 Fenestrās domūs meae vītis ornāvit. A vine has adorned the windows of my house.
71.22 Domī herbās medicinālēs in vāsīs colō. At home I cultivate medicinal herbs in pots.
71.23 Avēs in tēctō domūs nidōs faciunt. Birds make nests on the roof of the house.
71.24 Prope domum nostram quercus antīqua stat. An ancient oak stands near our house.
71.25 Māiōrēs nostrī domōs lignō aedificābant. Our ancestors built houses with wood.
71.26 Inter domūs urbānās paucae plantae inveniūntur. Few plants are found between urban houses.
71.27 Domibus rūsticīs hortī ōlitōriī adiacent. Vegetable gardens adjoin rustic houses.
71.28 Fungi post pluviam prope domum crēscunt. Fungi grow near the house after rain.
71.29 Līlia alba domūs vestibulum decorant. White lilies decorate the entrance of the house.
71.30 Rādīcēs arbōris fundamenta domūs interdum laedunt. The roots of the tree sometimes damage the foundations of the house.
71.16 Multae plantae circum domum crēscunt.
71.17 Botānicī domibus suīs hortōs experimentālēs saepe habent.
71.18 Hedera parietēs domūs ascendit.
71.19 Rosa rubra ad ōstium domūs flōret.
71.20 Domum umbrōsam propter arbōrēs altās habēmus.
71.21 Fenestrās domūs meae vītis ornāvit.
71.22 Domī herbās medicinālēs in vāsīs colō.
71.23 Avēs in tēctō domūs nidōs faciunt.
71.24 Prope domum nostram quercus antīqua stat.
71.25 Māiōrēs nostrī domōs lignō aedificābant.
71.26 Inter domūs urbānās paucae plantae inveniūntur.
71.27 Domibus rūsticīs hortī ōlitōriī adiacent.
71.28 Fungi post pluviam prope domum crēscunt.
71.29 Līlia alba domūs vestibulum decorant.
71.30 Rādīcēs arbōris fundamenta domūs interdum laedunt.
This botanical section demonstrates several key grammatical features related to "domus" in scientific contexts: -
Case Usage in Botanical Descriptions: -
Genitive (domūs) to show possession or relationship: "parietēs domūs" (walls of the house) - 71.18 -
Accusative (domum) as direct object: "domum umbrōsam habēmus" (we have a shady house) - 71.20 -
Ablative of place (domibus) with adjective: "domibus rūsticīs" (at rustic houses) - 71.27 -
Locative (domī): "domī herbās medicinālēs colō" (at home I cultivate medicinal herbs) - 71.22 -
Botanical Terminology: -
Plants named with house references: "hedera" (ivy) as house covering - 71.18 -
Domestic cultivation vocabulary: "colō" (I cultivate) - 71.22 -
Architectural-botanical interface: "vestibulum" (entrance) with "līlia" (lilies) - 71.29 -
Syntactical Patterns: -
Prepositional phrases with domus: "circum domum" (around the house) - 71.16 -
House as location marker: "prope domum" (near the house) - 71.28 -
Domus as object of environmental effect: "propter arbōrēs" (because of trees) - 71.20 -
Adjectival Agreement: -
"domum umbrōsam" (shady house) - feminine accusative singular - 71.20 -
"domūs urbānās" (urban houses) - feminine accusative plural - 71.26 -
"domibus rūsticīs" (rustic houses) - feminine ablative plural - 71.27 -
Botanical-Architectural Relationships: -
Plants as agents: "hedera ascendit" (ivy climbs) - 71.18 -
Plants as decoration: "līlia decorant" (lilies decorate) - 71.29 -
Plant structures affecting buildings: "rādīcēs laedunt" (roots damage) - 71.30
These examples show how botanical Latin frequently refers to human habitations when describing plant locations, behaviors, and interactions with the built environment.
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