← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
15.1 Puer the boy sē himself laudat praises
15.2 Puella the girl sibi for herself librum book emit buys
15.3 Magister the teacher discipulōs students suī of himself docet teaches
15.4 Mīles the soldier sē himself armīs with weapons dēfendit defends
15.5 Servus the slave sibi for himself cēnam dinner parat prepares
15.6 Fēmina the woman sēsē herself in in speculō mirror videt sees
15.7 Pater father fīliō to son suī of himself pecūniam money dat gives
15.8 Senātor the senator sē himself laudibus with praises extollit exalts
15.9 Mercātor the merchant sibi for himself novam new tabernām shop aedificat builds
15.10 Poēta the poet dē about sē himself carmen poem scrībit writes
15.11 Agricola the farmer sibi for himself vīllam villa emit buys
15.12 Rex the king sē himself corōnā with crown ōrnat adorns
15.13 Sacerdōs the priest sēsē himself ad for deōs the gods vovet dedicates
15.14 Cīvis the citizen sibi for himself novum new nōmen name sūmit takes
15.15 Discipulus the student sē himself studiō to study dēdit gives
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15.1 Puer sē laudat. The boy praises himself.
15.2 Puella sibi librum emit. The girl buys a book for herself.
15.3 Magister discipulōs suī docet. The teacher teaches students about himself.
15.4 Mīles sē armīs dēfendit. The soldier defends himself with weapons.
15.5 Servus sibi cēnam parat. The slave prepares dinner for himself.
15.6 Fēmina sēsē in speculō videt. The woman sees herself in the mirror.
15.7 Pater fīliō suī pecūniam dat. Father gives money of himself to his son.
15.8 Senātor sē laudibus extollit. The senator exalts himself with praises.
15.9 Mercātor sibi novam tabernām aedificat. The merchant builds a new shop for himself.
15.10 Poēta dē sē carmen scrībit. The poet writes a poem about himself.
15.11 Agricola sibi vīllam emit. The farmer buys a villa for himself.
15.12 Rex sē corōnā ōrnat. The king adorns himself with a crown.
15.13 Sacerdōs sēsē ad deōs vovet. The priest dedicates himself to the gods.
15.14 Cīvis sibi novum nōmen sūmit. The citizen takes a new name for himself.
15.15 Discipulus sē studiō dēdit. The student gives himself to study.
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15.1 Puer sē laudat.
15.2 Puella sibi librum emit.
15.3 Magister discipulōs suī docet.
15.4 Mīles sē armīs dēfendit.
15.5 Servus sibi cēnam parat.
15.6 Fēmina sēsē in speculō videt.
15.7 Pater fīliō suī pecūniam dat.
15.8 Senātor sē laudibus extollit.
15.9 Mercātor sibi novam tabernām aedificat.
15.10 Poēta dē sē carmen scrībit.
15.11 Agricola sibi vīllam emit.
15.12 Rex sē corōnā ōrnat.
15.13 Sacerdōs sēsē ad deōs vovet.
15.14 Cīvis sibi novum nōmen sūmit.
15.15 Discipulus sē studiō dēdit.
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For English speakers, the reflexive pronoun "sui sibi sē/sēsē" can be challenging because English uses different forms ("himself," "herself," "itself," "themselves") based on the gender and number of the subject. In Latin, the same forms are used regardless of the subject's gender or number.
Key points for English speakers: -
Forms and Cases: -
Genitive: suī (of himself/herself/itself/themselves) -
Dative: sibi (to/for himself/herself/itself/themselves) -
Accusative: sē or sēsē (himself/herself/itself/themselves as direct object) -
Ablative: sē or sēsē (by/with/from himself/herself/itself/themselves) -
No nominative form exists (since the subject cannot be reflexive) -
Usage: -
Refers back to the subject of the clause -
Cannot be used as a subject -
Sēsē is an emphatic form of sē (meaning is the same) -
Often used with prepositions (dē sē, ad sē, etc.) -
Common Constructions: -
With direct objects (sē laudat - praises himself) -
With indirect objects (sibi emit - buys for himself) -
With prepositions (dē sē scrībit - writes about himself) -
Key Differences from English: -
Same form regardless of gender -
Same form for singular and plural -
No distinction between "himself," "herself," "itself," "themselves"
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For English speakers, understanding the cultural context of reflexive pronouns in Latin requires considering several aspects: -
Roman Self-Perception: -
Romans placed great emphasis on self-reflection -
Actions done to or for oneself were carefully distinguished -
Personal responsibility and agency were important concepts -
Literary Usage: -
Reflexive pronouns common in philosophical writings -
Used in personal narratives and autobiographical works -
Important in religious and devotional texts -
Social Context: -
Different social classes used reflexive constructions differently -
Formal vs informal usage patterns -
Role in political and public speech -
Modern Relevance: -
Similar to "self-" compounds in English -
Important for understanding personal narratives -
Key to reading Roman philosophical texts
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Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Cicero's "De Amicitia" (On Friendship):
Nēmō no one est is quī who sē himself ipse himself amet loves
Nēmō est quī sē ipse amet. There is no one who loves himself.
This quote demonstrates the use of the reflexive pronoun in philosophical context. Cicero uses it to discuss self-love and its relationship to friendship. The reflexive sē is emphasized by ipse.
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sē is accusative singular reflexive pronoun -
ipse intensifies sē -
amet is present subjunctive in relative clause -
quī introduces characteristic relative clause
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15.16 Monachus the monk sē himself Deō to God dēvovet devotes
15.17 Peccātor the sinner sē himself culpat blames
15.18 Sacerdōs the priest sē himself cruce with the cross sīgnat signs
15.19 Fidēlis the faithful one sibi for himself vēniam pardon petit seeks
15.20 Virgo the virgin sēsē herself Chrīstō to Christ dēdicat dedicates
15.21 Martyr the martyr sē himself prō for fidē faith dat gives
15.22 Epīscopus the bishop sibi for himself gregem flock cūrat cares for
15.23 Abbās the abbot sē himself orātiōnī to prayer trādit gives over
15.24 Paenitēns the penitent sē himself flāgellō with a whip castīgat chastises
15.25 Religiōsus the religious man sibi for himself cellam cell parat prepares
15.26 Conversa the convert sē herself baptismō for baptism offert offers
15.27 Sanctus the saint sēsē himself vigiliīs to vigils mācerat mortifies
15.28 Novīcius the novice sibi for himself regulam rule scrībit writes
15.29 Presbyter the priest sē himself ante before altāre altar prōsternit prostrates
15.30 Eremīta the hermit sē himself in in sōlitūdine solitude inclūdit encloses
15.16 Monachus sē Deō dēvovet. The monk devotes himself to God.
15.17 Peccātor sē culpat. The sinner blames himself.
15.18 Sacerdōs sē cruce sīgnat. The priest signs himself with the cross.
15.19 Fidēlis sibi vēniam petit. The faithful one seeks pardon for himself.
15.20 Virgo sēsē Chrīstō dēdicat. The virgin dedicates herself to Christ.
15.21 Martyr sē prō fidē dat. The martyr gives himself for the faith.
15.22 Epīscopus sibi gregem cūrat. The bishop cares for the flock for himself.
15.23 Abbās sē orātiōnī trādit. The abbot gives himself over to prayer.
15.24 Paenitēns sē flāgellō castīgat. The penitent chastises himself with a whip.
15.25 Religiōsus sibi cellam parat. The religious man prepares a cell for himself.
15.26 Conversa sē baptismō offert. The convert offers herself for baptism.
15.27 Sanctus sēsē vigiliīs mācerat. The saint mortifies himself with vigils.
15.28 Novīcius sibi regulam scrībit. The novice writes a rule for himself.
15.29 Presbyter sē ante altāre prōsternit. The priest prostrates himself before the altar.
15.30 Eremīta sē in sōlitūdine inclūdit. The hermit encloses himself in solitude.
15.16 Monachus sē Deō dēvovet.
15.17 Peccātor sē culpat.
15.18 Sacerdōs sē cruce sīgnat.
15.19 Fidēlis sibi vēniam petit.
15.20 Virgo sēsē Chrīstō dēdicat.
15.21 Martyr sē prō fidē dat.
15.22 Epīscopus sibi gregem cūrat.
15.23 Abbās sē orātiōnī trādit.
15.24 Paenitēns sē flāgellō castīgat.
15.25 Religiōsus sibi cellam parat.
15.26 Conversa sē baptismō offert.
15.27 Sanctus sēsē vigiliīs mācerat.
15.28 Novīcius sibi regulam scrībit.
15.29 Presbyter sē ante altāre prōsternit.
15.30 Eremīta sē in sōlitūdine inclūdit.
The Christian genre section demonstrates specific uses of reflexive pronouns in religious contexts: -
Common Verb Patterns: -
Verbs of dedication (dēvovēre, dēdicāre) -
Verbs of self-mortification (mācerāre, castīgāre) -
Verbs of religious gesture (prōsternere, sīgnāre) -
Verbs of spiritual offering (offerre, dare) -
Case Usage in Religious Context: -
Dative of advantage (sibi) for personal spiritual benefit -
Accusative (sē/sēsē) with verbs of dedication -
Ablative constructions with instruments of devotion (cruce, flāgellō) -
Specific Christian Constructions: -
sē + dative of deity (Deō, Chrīstō) -
sē + ablative of means (baptismō, vigiliīs) -
sē + prepositional phrases (ante altāre, in sōlitūdine) -
Intensification: -
Use of sēsē in particularly emphatic religious contexts -
Combination with religious vocabulary -
Placement for rhetorical effect -
Medieval Variations: -
Christian Latin adaptations -
Monastic usage patterns -
Liturgical formulas
This section shows how the reflexive pronoun adapts to specifically Christian contexts, often carrying deeper spiritual significance than in classical usage.
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