← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
◊ᴺᵉˣᵃˡ ◊ᴸᵃᵗⁱⁿᵘᵐ ◊ᴱᶜᶜˡᵉˢⁱᵃˢᵗⁱᶜᵃˡ ◊ᴸᵉˢˢᵒⁿ²¹⁶ ◊multum
Welcome to Lesson 216 of the Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course. Today’s word is multum, “a lot, much.” It is the word Our Lord uses of the woman who washed his feet with her tears: remittuntur ei peccata multa, quoniam dilexit multum, “many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much” (Luke 7:47).
What does multum mean in Ecclesiastical Latin?
Multum is the neuter singular of the adjective multus, multa, multum, “much, many.” Used on its own it does two jobs. As a noun it means “a lot, a great deal”: cui multum datum est, “to whom much is given” (Luke 12:48). As an adverb it means “a lot, much, greatly”: dilexit multum, “she loved much” (Luke 7:47); multum valet, “it is worth a lot, it avails much” (James 5:16). The adjective itself agrees with its noun: multum fructum, “much fruit” (John 12:24); peccata multa, “many sins.”
How does Latin differ from English here?
English “a lot” is informal, and English “a lot of” is followed by a noun: “a lot of water,” “a lot of time.” Latin has no informal word here; multum is the ordinary word in every register, from the Gospel to canon law. Where English says “a lot of,” Latin has two ways. It can use the adjective in agreement: multa aqua, multum tempus. Or it can use the neuter multum as a noun with the genitive of the thing: multum aquae, “a lot of water,” multum temporis, “a lot of time.” This second way is used only in the nominative and accusative.
English “lot” has a second meaning: the lot that is cast to decide a question, and the lot or portion that falls to someone. Latin has a different word for this, sors, sortis, f. This lesson teaches multum, “a lot, much,” and Section E says a little about sors.
Etymology: multus is an old Latin word with no certain cognate in English. Its comparative and superlative come from a different root: plūs, “more,” and plūrimus, “most.” English “multitude,” “multiply” and “multiple” come from multus; “plural” and “plus” come from plūs.
Orthography: multum has no long vowels, so there are no macrons to mark: multus, multa, multum, multō. In the comparative and superlative the u is long: plūs, plūrimus, plūrimum.
Key Takeaways
✠ Multum is the neuter of multus, multa, multum, “much, many”
✠ As a noun it means “a lot, much”: cui multum datum est (Luke 12:48); with a genitive, multum aquae, “a lot of water”
✠ As an adverb it means “a lot, greatly”: dilexit multum (Luke 7:47)
✠ “Much more” is multō magis, with the ablative multō (Romans 5:9)
✠ The comparative and superlative are plūs, “more,” and plūrimum, “most, very much”
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
multum /ˈmul.tum/: two syllables, MUL-tum. In a word of two syllables the stress always falls on the first.
multa /ˈmul.ta/, multī /ˈmul.ti/, multō /ˈmul.to/, multōs /ˈmul.tos/: the stress stays on mul.
plūs /plus/, plūrimum /ˈplu.ri.mum/: in plūrimum the middle syllable ri is short, so the stress goes back to plu.
The l is a clear l, as in Italian “molto,” made with the tip of the tongue behind the teeth. Do not darken it to the English l of “bulk.” The u is a pure /u/, as in “put” said with rounded lips, never the sound of “cup.” Say “MOOL-toom.”
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
216.1a Multum a-lot ōrat he-prays
216.1b Multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ADV ōrat /ˈo.rat/ pray.3SG.PRES
216.2a Sānctī the-saints multum a-lot ōrant pray
216.2b Sānctī /ˈsaŋk.ti/ saint.NOM.M.PL multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ADV ōrant /ˈo.rant/ pray.3PL.PRES
216.3a Multum a-lot aquae of-water bibit he-drinks
216.3b Multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ACC.N.SG aquae /ˈa.kwe/ water.GEN.F.SG bibit /ˈbi.bit/ drink.3SG.PRES
216.4a Hodiē today multum a-lot labōrāmus we-work
216.4b Hodiē /ˈo.di.e/ today.ADV multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ADV labōrāmus /la.boˈra.mus/ work.1PL.PRES
216.5a Multum a-lot temporis of-time habēmus we-have
216.5b Multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ACC.N.SG temporis /ˈtem.po.ris/ time.GEN.N.SG habēmus /aˈbe.mus/ have.1PL.PRES
216.6a Sacerdōs the-priest multum a-lot temporis of-time in in ecclēsiā the-church agit spends
216.6b Sacerdōs /saˈtʃer.dos/ priest.NOM.M.SG multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ACC.N.SG temporis /ˈtem.po.ris/ time.GEN.N.SG in /in/ in.PREP+ABL ecclēsiā /ekˈkle.si.a/ church.ABL.F.SG agit /ˈa.dʒit/ spend.3SG.PRES
216.7a Fidēlēs the-faithful multum a-lot pecūniae of-money pauperibus to-the-poor dedērunt gave
216.7b Fidēlēs /fiˈde.les/ faithful.NOM.M.PL multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ACC.N.SG pecūniae /peˈku.ni.e/ money.GEN.F.SG pauperibus /pauˈpe.ri.bus/ poor.DAT.M.PL dedērunt /deˈde.runt/ give.3PL.PERF
216.8a Multum a-lot dēbēmus we-owe Deō to-God quī who nōbīs to-us omnia all-things dedit gave
216.8b Multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ACC.N.SG dēbēmus /deˈbe.mus/ owe.1PL.PRES Deō /ˈde.o/ God.DAT.M.SG quī /kwi/ who.REL.NOM.M.SG nōbīs /ˈno.bis/ we.DAT.1PL omnia /ˈom.ni.a/ all.ACC.N.PL dedit /ˈde.dit/ give.3SG.PERF
216.9a Multum much enim for valet avails dēprecātiō the-prayer iūstī of-the-just-man assidua continual
216.9b Multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ADV enim /ˈe.nim/ for.CONJ valet /ˈva.let/ avail.3SG.PRES dēprecātiō /de.preˈka.tsi.o/ prayer.NOM.F.SG iūstī /ˈjus.ti/ just.GEN.M.SG assidua /asˈsi.du.a/ continual.NOM.F.SG
216.10a Dēsīderābilia to-be-desired super above aurum gold et and lapidem stone pretiōsum precious multum much
216.10b Dēsīderābilia /de.si.deˈra.bi.li.a/ desirable.NOM.N.PL super /ˈsu.per/ above.PREP+ACC aurum /ˈau.rum/ gold.ACC.N.SG et /et/ and.CONJ lapidem /ˈla.pi.dem/ stone.ACC.M.SG pretiōsum /pre.tsiˈo.sum/ precious.ACC.M.SG multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ACC.M.SG
216.11a Omnī to-every-one autem and cui to-whom multum much datum given est is multum much quaerētur will-be-required ab from eō him
216.11b Omnī /ˈom.ni/ every.DAT.M.SG autem /ˈau.tem/ and.CONJ cui /kui/ whom.REL.DAT.M.SG multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.NOM.N.SG datum /ˈda.tum/ give.PERF.PART.NOM.N.SG est /est/ be.3SG.PRES multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.NOM.N.SG quaerētur /kweˈre.tur/ require.3SG.FUT.PASS ab /ab/ from.PREP+ABL eō /ˈe.o/ he.ABL.M.SG
216.12a Quī he-who multum much nōn not abundāvit had-over et and quī he-who modicum little nōn not minōrāvit had-less
216.12b Quī /kwi/ who.REL.NOM.M.SG multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ACC.N.SG nōn /non/ not.ADV abundāvit /a.bunˈda.vit/ abound.3SG.PERF et /et/ and.CONJ quī /kwi/ who.REL.NOM.M.SG modicum /ˈmo.di.kum/ little.ACC.N.SG nōn /non/ not.ADV minōrāvit /mi.noˈra.vit/ lessen.3SG.PERF
216.13a Sēmināstis you-have-sown multum much et and intulistis you-have-brought-in parum little
216.13b Sēmināstis /se.miˈnas.tis/ sow.2PL.PERF multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ACC.N.SG et /et/ and.CONJ intulistis /in.tuˈlis.tis/ bring-in.2PL.PERF parum /ˈpa.rum/ little.ACC.N.SG
216.14a Nisi unless grānum the-grain frūmentī of-wheat cadēns falling in into terram the-ground mortuum dead fuerit shall-have-been ipsum itself sōlum alone manet remains sī if autem but mortuum dead fuerit it-shall-have-been multum much frūctum fruit affert it-brings-forth
216.14b Nisi /ˈni.si/ unless.CONJ grānum /ˈgra.num/ grain.NOM.N.SG frūmentī /fruˈmen.ti/ wheat.GEN.N.SG cadēns /ˈka.dens/ fall.PRES.PART.NOM.N.SG in /in/ into.PREP+ACC terram /ˈter.ram/ earth.ACC.F.SG mortuum /ˈmor.tu.um/ dead.NOM.N.SG fuerit /ˈfu.e.rit/ be.3SG.FUT.PERF ipsum /ˈip.sum/ itself.NOM.N.SG sōlum /ˈso.lum/ alone.NOM.N.SG manet /ˈma.net/ remain.3SG.PRES sī /si/ if.CONJ autem /ˈau.tem/ but.CONJ mortuum /ˈmor.tu.um/ dead.NOM.N.SG fuerit /ˈfu.e.rit/ be.3SG.FUT.PERF multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ACC.M.SG frūctum /ˈfruk.tum/ fruit.ACC.M.SG affert /ˈaf.fert/ bring.3SG.PRES
216.15a Multō by-much igitur therefore magis more nunc now iūstificātī justified in by sanguine the-blood ipsīus of-him salvī saved erimus we-shall-be ab from īrā wrath per through ipsum him
216.15b Multō /ˈmul.to/ much.ABL.N.SG igitur /ˈi.dʒi.tur/ therefore.CONJ magis /ˈma.dʒis/ more.ADV.COMP nunc /nunk/ now.ADV iūstificātī /jus.ti.fiˈka.ti/ justify.PERF.PART.NOM.M.PL in /in/ by.PREP+ABL sanguine /ˈsaŋ.gwi.ne/ blood.ABL.M.SG ipsīus /ipˈsi.us/ he.GEN.M.SG salvī /ˈsal.vi/ saved.NOM.M.PL erimus /ˈe.ri.mus/ be.1PL.FUT ab /ab/ from.PREP+ABL īrā /ˈi.ra/ wrath.ABL.F.SG per /per/ through.PREP+ACC ipsum /ˈip.sum/ he.ACC.M.SG
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
216.1 Multum ōrat. → “He prays a lot.”
216.2 Sānctī multum ōrant. → “The saints pray a lot.”
216.3 Multum aquae bibit. → “He drinks a lot of water.”
216.4 Hodiē multum labōrāmus. → “Today we are working a lot.”
216.5 Multum temporis habēmus. → “We have a lot of time.”
216.6 Sacerdōs multum temporis in ecclēsiā agit. → “The priest spends a lot of time in the church.”
216.7 Fidēlēs multum pecūniae pauperibus dedērunt. → “The faithful gave a lot of money to the poor.”
216.8 Multum dēbēmus Deō, quī nōbīs omnia dedit. → “We owe a great deal to God, who has given us all things.”
216.9 Multum enim valet dēprecātiō iūstī assidua. → “For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much.” (James 5:16, second half)
216.10 Dēsīderābilia super aurum et lapidem pretiōsum multum. → “More to be desired than gold and much precious stone.” (Psalm 18:11, first half)
216.11 Omnī autem cui multum datum est, multum quaerētur ab eō. → “And unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required.” (Luke 12:48)
216.12 Quī multum, nōn abundāvit: et quī modicum, nōn minōrāvit. → “He that had much had nothing over, and he that had little had no less.” (2 Corinthians 8:15)
216.13 Sēmināstis multum, et intulistis parum. → “You have sown much, and brought in little.” (Aggeus 1:6, first half)
216.14 Nisi grānum frūmentī cadēns in terram mortuum fuerit, ipsum sōlum manet: sī autem mortuum fuerit, multum frūctum affert. → “Unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, itself remaineth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” (John 12:24)
216.15 Multō igitur magis nunc iūstificātī in sanguine ipsīus, salvī erimus ab īrā per ipsum. → “Much more therefore, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from wrath through him.” (Romans 5:9)
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
216.1 Multum ōrat.
216.2 Sānctī multum ōrant.
216.3 Multum aquae bibit.
216.4 Hodiē multum labōrāmus.
216.5 Multum temporis habēmus.
216.6 Sacerdōs multum temporis in ecclēsiā agit.
216.7 Fidēlēs multum pecūniae pauperibus dedērunt.
216.8 Multum dēbēmus Deō, quī nōbīs omnia dedit.
216.9 Multum enim valet dēprecātiō iūstī assidua.
216.10 Dēsīderābilia super aurum et lapidem pretiōsum multum.
216.11 Omnī autem cui multum datum est, multum quaerētur ab eō.
216.12 Quī multum, nōn abundāvit: et quī modicum, nōn minōrāvit.
216.13 Sēmināstis multum, et intulistis parum.
216.14 Nisi grānum frūmentī cadēns in terram mortuum fuerit, ipsum sōlum manet: sī autem mortuum fuerit, multum frūctum affert.
216.15 Multō igitur magis nunc iūstificātī in sanguine ipsīus, salvī erimus ab īrā per ipsum.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
These are the grammar rules for multum in Ecclesiastical Latin:
1. The adjective multus
Multum is a form of the adjective multus, multa, multum, “much” (singular), “many” (plural). It declines like bonus, bona, bonum.
Singular, masculine: multus (NOM), multī (GEN), multō (DAT), multum (ACC), multō (ABL)
Singular, feminine: multa, multae, multae, multam, multā
Singular, neuter: multum, multī, multō, multum, multō
Plural, masculine: multī, multōrum, multīs, multōs, multīs
Plural, feminine: multae, multārum, multīs, multās, multīs
Plural, neuter: multa, multōrum, multīs, multa, multīs
As an adjective it agrees with its noun: multum frūctum (216.14), lapidem pretiōsum multum (216.10), both masculine accusative singular; peccāta multa, “many sins” (Section F), neuter plural; multī dīvitēs (216.21), masculine plural. In the singular it means “much”; in the plural, “many.”
2. Multum as a noun: “a lot, much”
The neuter singular multum is used on its own as a noun, “a lot, much, a great deal.” It can be the subject (multum datum est, 216.11) or the object (multum dēbēmus, 216.8; sēmināstis multum, 216.13).
The thing of which there is a lot goes into the genitive (the partitive genitive): multum aquae, “a lot of water” (216.3); multum temporis, “a lot of time” (216.5, 216.6); multum pecūniae, “a lot of money” (216.7).
This construction is used only where multum is nominative or accusative. In the other cases use the adjective in agreement: cum multā pecūniā, “with a lot of money,” not cum multō pecūniae.
3. Multum as an adverb: “a lot, greatly”
The same form multum is also an adverb, going with a verb: multum ōrat (216.1), multum labōrāmus (216.4), dīlēxit multum (Section F). In multum valet (216.9) it is adverbial too: “it is strong a great deal, it avails much.” Whether multum is a noun or an adverb, the English is the same: “a lot, much.”
4. Multō with comparatives: “much more”
With a comparative, Latin uses the ablative multō, “by much” (the ablative of the degree of difference): multō magis, “much more” (216.15); multō magis dīves, “much richer” (216.30). English says “much more,” but Latin says “more by much.” Multum magis is not the regular form.
5. Comparison: plūs and plūrimum
Multus has no comparative of its own. Its place is taken by another word.
Positive: multum, “much”; multī, “many”
Comparative: plūs, plūris (neuter noun), “more”; plūrēs, plūra (plural adjective), “more, several”
Superlative: plūrimum, “most, very much”; plūrimī, -ae, -a, “very many”
Plūs, like multum, takes the genitive: plūs pecūniae, “more money.” With a noun of comparison it takes the ablative or quam: plūs omnibus, “more than all” (216.23, from Mark 12:43). In the Gospel the Lord says to Martha: turbaris erga plurima, “thou art troubled about many things” (Luke 10:41).
6. Multum against parum and modicum
Multum is paired with words for “little”: parum, “too little, little” (216.13, 216.20), and modicum, “a little” (216.12). Parum is an adverb or neuter noun and also takes the genitive: parum temporis, “too little time.”
7. Other forms in the examples
Quī multum (216.12): a relative clause with its verb left out, “he who (gathered) much.” Saint Paul is quoting the manna of Exodus 16:18. Abundāvit, “had more than enough,” and minōrāvit, “had less,” are intransitive.
Fuerit (216.14) is future perfect: “if it shall have died.” English uses the present: “if it die.”
Quaerētur (216.11) is future passive of quaerō, “seek, require”: “will be required.”
Ipsīus (216.15) is the genitive of ipse: “of him, of his own.”
8. Related words
multitūdō, multitūdinis, f.: a multitude, a crowd
multiplicō, -āre: multiply
permultum: very much
complūrēs, -a: several, a good many
parum: too little, little
sors, sortis, f.: a lot (cast), a share (see Section E)
Common Mistakes
✠ Do not use the partitive genitive outside the nominative and accusative: cum multā pecūniā, not cum multō pecūniae.
✠ For “a lot of people” the normal Latin is multī (hominēs), the adjective in the plural, not multum hominum.
✠ Do not write multum magis for “much more”: it is multō magis.
✠ Do not use multum for the lot that is cast: that is sors (cecidit sors super Mathiam, Acts 1:26).
✠ Do not look for a comparative “multior”: “more” is plūs, plūrēs.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Much and Little in the Gospel
The Gospel weighs much and little against each other, and rarely in the way the world does. The rich fool says to his soul: Anima, habes multa bona posita in annos plurimos: requiesce, comede, bibe, epulare, “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years: take thy rest; eat, drink, make good cheer” (Luke 12:19). That night his soul is required of him. In the Temple, multi divites jactabant multa, “many that were rich cast in much” (Mark 12:41); but the poor widow who put in two mites plus omnibus misit, “cast in more than all” (Mark 12:43). And of the sinful woman the Lord says: remittuntur ei peccata multa, quoniam dilexit multum (Luke 7:47). The measure that counts is love.
Saint James puts the same measure on prayer: multum enim valet deprecatio justi assidua (James 5:16). The verse comes in the Epistle’s teaching on the anointing of the sick and on confessing sins to one another, and it is often quoted for the power of intercessory prayer.
To Whom Much Is Given
Omni autem cui multum datum est, multum quaeretur ab eo (Luke 12:48) closes the parable of the faithful and unfaithful servants. It is one of the most quoted sentences of the Gospel, and in Christian moral teaching it stands for the principle that gifts bring responsibility: the more grace, knowledge or office one has received, the more one will be asked to give account of.
Sors: the Other “Lot”
When the Apostles had to choose a successor to Judas, they cast lots: Et dederunt sortes eis, et cecidit sors super Mathiam, et annumeratus est cum undecim Apostolis, “And they gave them lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles” (Acts 1:26). The Latin for this “lot” is sors, sortis, f., not multum.
The word has a place in the history of the clergy. The Greek for “lot” is κλῆρος (klēros), from which come clērus, clēricus and English “clergy.” Saint Jerome explains it to the young priest Nepotian: si enim κλῆρος Graece “sors” Latine appellatur, propterea vocantur clerici vel quia de sorte sunt Domini vel quia Dominus ipse sors, id est pars, clericorum est, “for if κλῆρος in Greek is called ‘lot’ in Latin, they are called clerics either because they are of the Lord’s lot, or because the Lord himself is the lot, that is, the portion, of clerics” (Letter 52). Jerome has in mind the Psalm: Dominus pars haereditatis meae, et calicis mei: tu es qui restitues haereditatem meam mihi, “The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: it is thou that wilt restore my inheritance to me” (Psalm 15:5).
Frequency and Register
Multus is one of the commonest adjectives in Latin, and multum, noun and adverb, is common in every period. In the Vulgate the adjective is far more frequent than the neuter used alone; the plural multī, “many,” is everywhere in the Gospels (Multi enim sunt vocati, pauci vero electi, Matthew 22:14). Where English uses the informal “a lot,” Latin has no lower register: multum serves in Scripture, in the Fathers and in papal Latin alike. For emphasis Latin uses permultum, plūrimum or multō with a comparative.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
From the Vulgate: Luke 7:47–48 (Clementine text) — The Woman Who Loved Much
Part F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
F.1a Propter because-of quod which dico I-say tibi to-you
F.1b Propter /ˈprop.ter/ because-of.PREP+ACC quod /kwod/ which.REL.ACC.N.SG dico /ˈdi.ko/ say.1SG.PRES tibi /ˈti.bi/ you.DAT.2SG
F.2a remittuntur are-forgiven ei to-her peccata sins multa many
F.2b remittuntur /re.mitˈtun.tur/ forgive.3PL.PRES.PASS ei /ˈe.i/ she.DAT.F.SG peccata /pekˈka.ta/ sin.NOM.N.PL multa /ˈmul.ta/ many.NOM.N.PL
F.3a quoniam because dilexit she-loved multum much
F.3b quoniam /ˈkwo.ni.am/ because.CONJ dilexit /diˈlek.sit/ love.3SG.PERF multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ADV
F.4a Cui to-whom autem but minus less dimittitur is-forgiven minus less diligit he-loves
F.4b Cui /kui/ whom.REL.DAT.M.SG autem /ˈau.tem/ but.CONJ minus /ˈmi.nus/ less.ADV.COMP dimittitur /diˈmit.ti.tur/ forgive.3SG.PRES.PASS minus /ˈmi.nus/ less.ADV.COMP diligit /ˈdi.li.dʒit/ love.3SG.PRES
F.5a Dixit he-said autem and ad to illam her Remittuntur are-forgiven tibi to-you peccata sins
F.5b Dixit /ˈdik.sit/ say.3SG.PERF autem /ˈau.tem/ and.CONJ ad /ad/ to.PREP+ACC illam /ˈil.lam/ she.ACC.F.SG Remittuntur /re.mitˈtun.tur/ forgive.3PL.PRES.PASS tibi /ˈti.bi/ you.DAT.2SG peccata /pekˈka.ta/ sin.NOM.N.PL
Part F-B: Text with Translation
Propter quod dico tibi: remittuntur ei peccata multa, quoniam dilexit multum. Cui autem minus dimittitur, minus diligit. Dixit autem ad illam: Remittuntur tibi peccata. → “Wherefore I say to thee: Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much. But to whom less is forgiven, he loveth less. And he said to her: Thy sins are forgiven thee.” (Douay-Rheims)
Part F-C: Latin Text Only
Propter quod dico tibi: remittuntur ei peccata multa, quoniam dilexit multum. Cui autem minus dimittitur, minus diligit. Dixit autem ad illam: Remittuntur tibi peccata.
Part F-D: Grammar and Literary Commentary
The setting. Our Lord is at table in the house of Simon the Pharisee. A woman of the city, a sinner, has washed his feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, kissed them and anointed them (Luke 7:37–38). Simon thinks that a prophet would know what kind of woman she is. Jesus answers with the parable of the two debtors and then turns to the woman (7:44–46): Simon gave him no water, no kiss, no oil; she gave all three.
Propter quod. “On account of which, wherefore”: propter takes the accusative, and quod is the neuter relative referring to all that has just been said.
Peccata multa … dilexit multum. The same word twice, in two uses. Multa is the adjective, neuter plural, agreeing with peccata: “many sins.” Multum is the adverb with dilexit: “she loved much.” The repetition makes the measure plain: much sin, much love.
Quoniam. “Because.” The verse has long been discussed: is her love the cause of the forgiveness, or the sign of it? The parable just before (7:41–43) makes love follow forgiveness (the debtor forgiven more loves more), and the next sentence says the same: cui autem minus dimittitur, minus diligit. The Gospel sets her love and her forgiveness side by side, and the reader is meant to see them together.
Minus … minus. Minus is the comparative adverb of parum, the opposite of plūs: “less … less.” The sentence is balanced as a proverb is.
Remittuntur and dimittitur. Two compounds of mittō, “send,” both meaning “forgive, let go.” They are present passive: “are forgiven,” “is forgiven.” The dative ei, tibi gives the person who is forgiven: literally “the sins are let go for her.” Remittuntur tibi peccata (7:48) is close to the words of absolution, and the verb remittō and the noun remissiō are the ordinary Church words for the forgiveness of sins (in remissionem peccatorum, in the words of consecration).
The text. This is the Clementine Vulgate as printed at drbo.org. It is printed without macrons, as it stands in the Vulgate.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
A short informational text, composed for this lesson, on what the Gospel teaches about much and little. It is a pedagogical text, not a quotation; it retells Luke 12:16–21, Mark 12:41–44 and Luke 7:47, and 216.28 echoes Luke 12:48 (216.11).
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
216.16a In in Evangeliō the-Gospel Dominus the-Lord saepe often docet teaches quid what sit is multum a-lot et and quid what parum little
216.16b In /in/ in.PREP+ABL Evangeliō /e.vanˈdʒe.li.o/ gospel.ABL.N.SG Dominus /ˈdo.mi.nus/ lord.NOM.M.SG saepe /ˈse.pe/ often.ADV docet /ˈdo.tʃet/ teach.3SG.PRES quid /kwid/ what.INTERROG.NOM.N.SG sit /sit/ be.3SG.PRES.SUBJ multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.NOM.N.SG et /et/ and.CONJ quid /kwid/ what.INTERROG.NOM.N.SG parum /ˈpa.rum/ little.NOM.N.SG
216.17a Homō a-man quīdam certain dīves rich multum a-lot frūmentī of-grain habēbat had
216.17b Homō /ˈo.mo/ man.NOM.M.SG quīdam /ˈkwi.dam/ certain.NOM.M.SG dīves /ˈdi.ves/ rich.NOM.M.SG multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ACC.N.SG frūmentī /fruˈmen.ti/ grain.GEN.N.SG habēbat /aˈbe.bat/ have.3SG.IMPERF
216.18a Ager the-field eius of-him multōs many frūctūs crops attulerat had-brought-forth
216.18b Ager /ˈa.dʒer/ field.NOM.M.SG eius /ˈe.jus/ he.GEN.M.SG multōs /ˈmul.tos/ many.ACC.M.PL frūctūs /ˈfruk.tus/ fruit.ACC.M.PL attulerat /atˈtu.le.rat/ bring.3SG.PLUPERF
216.19a Dīxit he-said animae to-the-soul suae his-own Anima soul habēs you-have multa many bona goods in for annōs years plūrimōs very-many
216.19b Dīxit /ˈdik.sit/ say.3SG.PERF animae /ˈa.ni.me/ soul.DAT.F.SG suae /ˈsu.e/ his-own.REFL.DAT.F.SG Anima /ˈa.ni.ma/ soul.VOC.F.SG habēs /ˈa.bes/ have.2SG.PRES multa /ˈmul.ta/ many.ACC.N.PL bona /ˈbo.na/ good.ACC.N.PL in /in/ for.PREP+ACC annōs /ˈan.nos/ year.ACC.M.PL plūrimōs /ˈplu.ri.mos/ very-many.SUPERL.ACC.M.PL
216.20a Sed but Deus God eum him stultum a-fool vocāvit called quia because multum a-lot sibi for-himself parum little Deō for-God thēsaurizāverat he-had-stored-up
216.20b Sed /sed/ but.CONJ Deus /ˈde.us/ God.NOM.M.SG eum /ˈe.um/ he.ACC.M.SG stultum /ˈstul.tum/ foolish.ACC.M.SG vocāvit /voˈka.vit/ call.3SG.PERF quia /ˈkwi.a/ because.CONJ multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ACC.N.SG sibi /ˈsi.bi/ himself.REFL.DAT.3SG parum /ˈpa.rum/ little.ACC.N.SG Deō /ˈde.o/ God.DAT.M.SG thēsaurizāverat /te.sau.riˈdza.ve.rat/ store-up.3SG.PLUPERF
216.21a In in templō the-Temple multī many dīvitēs rich-men multa a-lot in into gazophylacium the-treasury iactābant were-throwing
216.21b In /in/ in.PREP+ABL templō /ˈtem.plo/ temple.ABL.N.SG multī /ˈmul.ti/ many.NOM.M.PL dīvitēs /ˈdi.vi.tes/ rich.NOM.M.PL multa /ˈmul.ta/ much.ACC.N.PL in /in/ into.PREP+ACC gazophylacium /ga.dzo.fiˈla.tʃi.um/ treasury.ACC.N.SG iactābant /jakˈta.bant/ throw.3PL.IMPERF
216.22a Vidua a-widow autem but pauper poor duo two minūta mites tantum only mīsit put-in
216.22b Vidua /ˈvi.du.a/ widow.NOM.F.SG autem /ˈau.tem/ but.CONJ pauper /ˈpau.per/ poor.NOM.F.SG duo /ˈdu.o/ two.ACC.N.PL minūta /miˈnu.ta/ mite.ACC.N.PL tantum /ˈtan.tum/ only.ADV mīsit /ˈmi.sit/ put.3SG.PERF
216.23a Dominus the-Lord tamen yet dīxit said eam her plūs more omnibus than-all mīsisse to-have-put-in
216.23b Dominus /ˈdo.mi.nus/ lord.NOM.M.SG tamen /ˈta.men/ yet.ADV dīxit /ˈdik.sit/ say.3SG.PERF eam /ˈe.am/ she.ACC.F.SG plūs /plus/ more.ACC.N.SG.COMP omnibus /ˈom.ni.bus/ all.ABL.M.PL mīsisse /miˈsis.se/ put.PERF.INF
216.24a Illī they enim for multum a-lot ex out-of abundantiā abundance dederant had-given haec she autem but omnia everything ex out-of inopiā the-want suā her-own
216.24b Illī /ˈil.li/ they.NOM.M.PL enim /ˈe.nim/ for.CONJ multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ACC.N.SG ex /eks/ out-of.PREP+ABL abundantiā /a.bunˈdan.tsi.a/ abundance.ABL.F.SG dederant /ˈde.de.rant/ give.3PL.PLUPERF haec /ek/ this.NOM.F.SG autem /ˈau.tem/ but.CONJ omnia /ˈom.ni.a/ all.ACC.N.PL ex /eks/ out-of.PREP+ABL inopiā /iˈno.pi.a/ want.ABL.F.SG suā /ˈsu.a/ her-own.REFL.ABL.F.SG
216.25a Apud with Deum God nōn not multum a-lot pecūniae of-money sed but multum a-lot amōris of-love valet counts
216.25b Apud /ˈa.pud/ with.PREP+ACC Deum /ˈde.um/ God.ACC.M.SG nōn /non/ not.ADV multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.NOM.N.SG pecūniae /peˈku.ni.e/ money.GEN.F.SG sed /sed/ but.CONJ multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.NOM.N.SG amōris /aˈmo.ris/ love.GEN.M.SG valet /ˈva.let/ avail.3SG.PRES
216.26a Peccātrīx the-sinful-woman quoque also multum much dīlēxit loved et and eī to-her peccāta sins multa many remissa forgiven sunt were
216.26b Peccātrīx /pekˈka.triks/ sinner.NOM.F.SG quoque /ˈkwo.kwe/ also.ADV multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ADV dīlēxit /diˈlek.sit/ love.3SG.PERF et /et/ and.CONJ eī /ˈe.i/ she.DAT.F.SG peccāta /pekˈka.ta/ sin.NOM.N.PL multa /ˈmul.ta/ many.NOM.N.PL remissa /reˈmis.sa/ forgive.PERF.PART.NOM.N.PL sunt /sunt/ be.3PL.PRES
216.27a Nōbīs to-us autem and multum a-lot datum given est has-been fidēs faith baptismus baptism Eucharistia the-Eucharist
216.27b Nōbīs /ˈno.bis/ we.DAT.1PL autem /ˈau.tem/ and.CONJ multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.NOM.N.SG datum /ˈda.tum/ give.PERF.PART.NOM.N.SG est /est/ be.3SG.PRES fidēs /ˈfi.des/ faith.NOM.F.SG baptismus /bapˈtis.mus/ baptism.NOM.M.SG Eucharistia /eu.kaˈris.ti.a/ Eucharist.NOM.F.SG
216.28a Itaque therefore multum a-lot ā from nōbīs us quaerētur will-be-required
216.28b Itaque /ˈi.ta.kwe/ therefore.CONJ multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.NOM.N.SG ā /a/ from.PREP+ABL nōbīs /ˈno.bis/ we.ABL.1PL quaerētur /kweˈre.tur/ require.3SG.FUT.PASS
216.29a Nōlī do-not cupere desire multum a-lot habēre to-have sed but cupe desire multum a-lot amāre to-love
216.29b Nōlī /ˈno.li/ not-want.IMP.2SG cupere /ˈku.pe.re/ desire.PRES.INF multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ACC.N.SG habēre /aˈbe.re/ have.PRES.INF sed /sed/ but.CONJ cupe /ˈku.pe/ desire.IMP.2SG multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ADV amāre /aˈma.re/ love.PRES.INF
216.30a Quī he-who enim for multum much amat loves multō by-much magis more dīves rich est is quam than quī he-who multum much possidet possesses
216.30b Quī /kwi/ who.REL.NOM.M.SG enim /ˈe.nim/ for.CONJ multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ADV amat /ˈa.mat/ love.3SG.PRES multō /ˈmul.to/ much.ABL.N.SG magis /ˈma.dʒis/ more.ADV.COMP dīves /ˈdi.ves/ rich.NOM.M.SG est /est/ be.3SG.PRES quam /kwam/ than.CONJ quī /kwi/ who.REL.NOM.M.SG multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ACC.N.SG possidet /ˈpos.si.det/ possess.3SG.PRES
Part B: Natural Sentences
216.16 In Evangeliō Dominus saepe docet quid sit multum et quid parum. → “In the Gospel the Lord often teaches what is much and what is little.”
216.17 Homō quīdam dīves multum frūmentī habēbat. → “A certain rich man had a lot of grain.”
216.18 Ager eius multōs frūctūs attulerat. → “His field had brought forth many crops.”
216.19 Dīxit animae suae: “Anima, habēs multa bona in annōs plūrimōs.” → “He said to his soul: ‘Soul, you have many goods for very many years.’”
216.20 Sed Deus eum stultum vocāvit, quia multum sibi, parum Deō thēsaurizāverat. → “But God called him a fool, because he had stored up a lot for himself and little for God.”
216.21 In templō multī dīvitēs multa in gazophylacium iactābant. → “In the Temple many rich men were throwing a lot into the treasury.”
216.22 Vidua autem pauper duo minūta tantum mīsit. → “But a poor widow put in only two mites.”
216.23 Dominus tamen dīxit eam plūs omnibus mīsisse. → “Yet the Lord said that she had put in more than all of them.”
216.24 Illī enim multum ex abundantiā dederant, haec autem omnia ex inopiā suā. → “For they had given a lot out of their abundance, but she gave everything out of her want.”
216.25 Apud Deum nōn multum pecūniae, sed multum amōris valet. → “With God it is not a lot of money but a lot of love that counts.”
216.26 Peccātrīx quoque multum dīlēxit, et eī peccāta multa remissa sunt. → “The sinful woman, too, loved much, and her many sins were forgiven.”
216.27 Nōbīs autem multum datum est: fidēs, baptismus, Eucharistia. → “And a lot has been given to us: faith, baptism, the Eucharist.”
216.28 Itaque multum ā nōbīs quaerētur. → “Therefore a lot will be required of us.”
216.29 Nōlī cupere multum habēre, sed cupe multum amāre. → “Do not desire to have a lot, but desire to love a lot.”
216.30 Quī enim multum amat, multō magis dīves est quam quī multum possidet. → “For the one who loves much is far richer than the one who owns much.”
Part C: Latin Text Only
In Evangeliō Dominus saepe docet quid sit multum et quid parum. Homō quīdam dīves multum frūmentī habēbat. Ager eius multōs frūctūs attulerat. Dīxit animae suae: “Anima, habēs multa bona in annōs plūrimōs.” Sed Deus eum stultum vocāvit, quia multum sibi, parum Deō thēsaurizāverat. In templō multī dīvitēs multa in gazophylacium iactābant. Vidua autem pauper duo minūta tantum mīsit. Dominus tamen dīxit eam plūs omnibus mīsisse. Illī enim multum ex abundantiā dederant, haec autem omnia ex inopiā suā. Apud Deum nōn multum pecūniae, sed multum amōris valet. Peccātrīx quoque multum dīlēxit, et eī peccāta multa remissa sunt. Nōbīs autem multum datum est: fidēs, baptismus, Eucharistia. Itaque multum ā nōbīs quaerētur. Nōlī cupere multum habēre, sed cupe multum amāre. Quī enim multum amat, multō magis dīves est quam quī multum possidet.
Part D: Grammar and Genre Notes
An informational text sets out what a source teaches, in order, one point to a sentence. Here three Gospel passages are summarised, and the text closes with what follows for the reader.
The forms of multus. The text shows the word in every use this lesson teaches.
The neuter noun multum, nominative or accusative: quid sit multum (216.16), multum sibi (216.20), multum datum est (216.27), multum quaerētur (216.28), multum possidet (216.30).
The neuter noun with a partitive genitive: multum frūmentī (216.17), multum pecūniae and multum amōris (216.25).
The adverb multum: multum dīlēxit (216.26), multum amāre (216.29), multum amat (216.30).
The adjective in agreement: multōs frūctūs (216.18), multa bona (216.19), multī dīvitēs (216.21), peccāta multa (216.26). In 216.21 multa stands alone as a neuter plural noun, “many things, a lot,” as in Mark 12:41.
The comparative and superlative: plūs omnibus (216.23), “more than all,” with the ablative of comparison; plūrimōs (216.19), “very many”; and multō magis (216.30), “much more.”
Multum and parum. The text pairs them, as the Gospel does: multum sibi, parum Deō (216.20). Parum is the neuter noun “little,” the object of thēsaurizāverat like multum. The dative sibi, Deō says for whom the store was laid up; compare Luke 12:21, qui sibi thesaurizat, et non est in Deum dives.
Quid sit (216.16) is an indirect question, so its verb is subjunctive: “what is (a lot).”
Dīxit eam … mīsisse (216.23) is the accusative and infinitive of reported speech: “he said that she had put in.” Mark himself (12:43) gives the words directly, with quoniam.
Illī … haec (216.24): “those … this one,” that is, “they … she.” Ex abundantiā and ex inopiā are the two sources of the gifts.
Nōlī cupere (216.29) is the regular Latin prohibition, nōlī with the infinitive: “do not desire.” Cupe is the plain imperative of cupiō.
Valet (216.25), “is strong, counts,” takes up James 5:16 (216.9): multum valet.
The genre. The text is plain and orderly: three short accounts from the Gospel (the rich fool, the widow, the sinful woman), then two sentences on what has been given to us, and a closing contrast between having a lot and loving a lot.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
C and g. Before a, o, u and consonants, c is /k/ and g is /g/: modicum /ˈmo.di.kum/, cadēns /ˈka.dens/, grānum /ˈgra.num/, Eucharistia /eu.kaˈris.ti.a/. Before e, i, ae and oe, c is /tʃ/ and g is /dʒ/: docet /ˈdo.tʃet/, sacerdōs /saˈtʃer.dos/, gazophylacium /ga.dzo.fiˈla.tʃi.um/, agit /ˈa.dʒit/, ager /ˈa.dʒer/, igitur /ˈi.dʒi.tur/, magis /ˈma.dʒis/, diligit /ˈdi.li.dʒit/, Evangeliō /e.vanˈdʒe.li.o/.
Cc before a, o, u is a long /kk/: peccāta /pekˈka.ta/, peccātrīx /pekˈka.triks/; ecclēsiā /ekˈkle.si.a/ (cc before l).
Ch is /k/: Eucharistia.
Ti before a vowel is /tsi/: dēprecātiō /de.preˈka.tsi.o/, pretiōsum /pre.tsiˈo.sum/, abundantiā /a.bunˈdan.tsi.a/. After s it stays /ti/: Eucharistia.
Z is /dz/: gazophylacium, thēsaurizāverat /te.sau.riˈdza.ve.rat/. Y is /i/: gazophylacium. Th is /t/: thēsaurizāverat.
X is /ks/: dīxit /ˈdik.sit/, dīlēxit /diˈlek.sit/, ex /eks/, peccātrīx.
H is silent: habēmus /aˈbe.mus/, hodiē /ˈo.di.e/, homō /ˈo.mo/, haec /ek/.
Ae is /e/: aquae /ˈa.kwe/, pecūniae /peˈku.ni.e/, saepe /ˈse.pe/, quaerētur /kweˈre.tur/, animae /ˈa.ni.me/. Au and eu are diphthongs: aurum /ˈau.rum/, pauper /ˈpau.per/, Eucharistia /eu.kaˈris.ti.a/.
N before c, g or q is /ŋ/: sānctī /ˈsaŋk.ti/, sanguine /ˈsaŋ.gwi.ne/. Gu before a vowel is /gw/: sanguine.
I at the start of a word before a vowel, or between vowels, is the consonant /j/: iūstī /ˈjus.ti/, iūstificātī, iactābant /jakˈta.bant/, eius /ˈe.jus/.
L. The l of multum is always a clear l, as in Italian, never the dark English l.
S. Between vowels it is written /s/ in this lesson, as in Lessons 213–215 (nisi /ˈni.si/, pretiōsum /pre.tsiˈo.sum/, mīsit /ˈmi.sit/); many Italian-trained singers and priests voice it to /z/; both are heard.
Stress. In words of three or more syllables the stress falls on the next-to-last syllable if it is long (labōrāmus /la.boˈra.mus/, quaerētur /kweˈre.tur/, iūstificātī /jus.ti.fiˈka.ti/), otherwise on the one before it (plūrimum /ˈplu.ri.mum/, temporis /ˈtem.po.ris/, possidet /ˈpos.si.det/). A syllable closed by two consonants counts as long: baptismus /bapˈtis.mus/, intulistis /in.tuˈlis.tis/, remittuntur /re.mitˈtun.tur/.
Macrons. This lesson marks long vowels in Sections A–D and in the Genre Section. Multum has none. Evangelium, a Greek word (εὐαγγέλιον), is left unmarked, because the dictionaries do not agree on the length of its first vowel. The citations in Sections E and F are printed without macrons, as they stand in the Clementine Vulgate.
Affert. The Vulgate writes affert (John 12:24), with the prefix ad- assimilated to the f; some editions print adfert. Both are the same word, /ˈaf.fert/.
I and j. This course writes iactābant, eius, iūstī with i. Many printed Vulgates use j (jactabant, ejus, justi), as the citations in Section E do. The sound is the same.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
◊ᴺᵉˣᵃˡ ◊ᴸᵃᵗⁱⁿᵘᵐ ◊ᴱᶜᶜˡᵉˢⁱᵃˢᵗⁱᶜᵃˡ ◊ᴸᵉˢˢᵒⁿ²¹⁶ ◊multum ◊ᶜᵒᵐᵖˡᵉᵗᵉ
---
Course Index: [latinum.substack.com/p/index](https://latinum.substack.com/p/index)