← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
This lesson introduces the adjective māgnus -a -um (great, large), one of the most common and useful Latin adjectives. We'll see how it modifies nouns in different cases and genders while reviewing previously learned vocabulary.
23.1 Māgnus great vir man in in forō forum stat stands
23.2 Dominus the lord māgnam great glōriam glory habet has
23.3 Māgnum great templum temple in in urbe city est is
23.4 Ad to māgnam great portam gate ambulō I walk
23.5 Māgnā with great cum with virtūte courage pugnat he fights
23.6 Fīlius son māgnī of the great ducis leader venit comes
23.7 Māgnae great urbēs cities pulchrae beautiful sunt are
23.8 Puer boy māgnōs great librōs books legit reads
23.9 Deus God māgna great opera works facit does
23.10 Māgnī great rēgēs kings populum people regunt rule
23.11 In in māgnō great templō temple ōrāmus we pray
23.12 Māgnae great spēs hopes in in cordibus hearts sunt are
23.13 Servī slaves māgnā with great cūrā care labōrant work
23.14 Māgnō with great gaudiō joy cantant they sing
23.15 Ad to māgnum great mare sea nāvigant they sail
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23.1 Māgnus vir in forō stat. A great man stands in the forum.
23.2 Dominus māgnam glōriam habet. The lord has great glory.
23.3 Māgnum templum in urbe est. A great temple is in the city.
23.4 Ad māgnam portam ambulō. I walk to the great gate.
23.5 Māgnā cum virtūte pugnat. He fights with great courage.
23.6 Fīlius māgnī ducis venit. The son of the great leader comes.
23.7 Māgnae urbēs pulchrae sunt. The great cities are beautiful.
23.8 Puer māgnōs librōs legit. The boy reads great books.
23.9 Deus māgna opera facit. God does great works.
23.10 Māgnī rēgēs populum regunt. Great kings rule the people.
23.11 In māgnō templō ōrāmus. We pray in the great temple.
23.12 Māgnae spēs in cordibus sunt. Great hopes are in (our) hearts.
23.13 Servī māgnā cūrā labōrant. The slaves work with great care.
23.14 Māgnō gaudiō cantant. They sing with great joy.
23.15 Ad māgnum mare nāvigant. They sail to the great sea.
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23.1 Māgnus vir in forō stat.
23.2 Dominus māgnam glōriam habet.
23.3 Māgnum templum in urbe est.
23.4 Ad māgnam portam ambulō.
23.5 Māgnā cum virtūte pugnat.
23.6 Fīlius māgnī ducis venit.
23.7 Māgnae urbēs pulchrae sunt.
23.8 Puer māgnōs librōs legit.
23.9 Deus māgna opera facit.
23.10 Māgnī rēgēs populum regunt.
23.11 In māgnō templō ōrāmus.
23.12 Māgnae spēs in cordibus sunt.
23.13 Servī māgnā cūrā labōrant.
23.14 Māgnō gaudiō cantant.
23.15 Ad māgnum mare nāvigant.
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For English speakers learning Latin, understanding māgnus requires grasping several key concepts: -
Adjective Agreement -
Māgnus changes its ending to match the noun it describes in: -
Gender (masculine, feminine, neuter) -
Number (singular, plural) -
Case (nominative, genitive, dative, accusative, ablative) -
Forms of māgnus: Singular: -
Masculine: māgnus (nom.), māgnī (gen.), māgnō (dat.), māgnum (acc.), māgnō (abl.) -
Feminine: māgna (nom.), māgnae (gen.), māgnae (dat.), māgnam (acc.), māgnā (abl.) -
Neuter: māgnum (nom.), māgnī (gen.), māgnō (dat.), māgnum (acc.), māgnō (abl.)
Plural: -
Masculine: māgnī (nom.), māgnōrum (gen.), māgnīs (dat.), māgnōs (acc.), māgnīs (abl.) -
Feminine: māgnae (nom.), māgnārum (gen.), māgnīs (dat.), māgnās (acc.), māgnīs (abl.) -
Neuter: māgna (nom.), māgnōrum (gen.), māgnīs (dat.), māgna (acc.), māgnīs (abl.) -
Position in Sentences: -
Usually placed before or after its noun -
Can be separated from its noun for emphasis -
Must agree even when separated -
Common Uses: -
Direct description (māgnus vir - great man) -
With ablative of manner (māgnā cūrā - with great care) -
In prepositional phrases (in māgnō templō - in the great temple)
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For English speakers, understanding māgnus requires cultural context: -
Religious Usage: -
Frequently used to describe God's attributes -
Applied to religious buildings and ceremonies -
Important in Christian Latin texts -
Social Context: -
Used for important people (māgnus rēx - great king) -
Indicated social status and importance -
Different from English "great" in some contexts -
Physical vs. Metaphorical: -
Describes both physical size and importance -
Used for abstract concepts (māgna glōria) -
Important in Medieval Latin literature -
Modern Connections: -
Root of English words like "magnify," "magnitude" -
Similar to "grand" in Romance languages -
Still used in scientific terminology
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Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Gregory the Great's Dialogues:
Māgnus great Pater Father Benedictus Benedict māgna great opera works in in virtūte power Deī of God fēcit did
Māgnus Pater Benedictus māgna opera in virtūte Deī fēcit. The great Father Benedict did great works in the power of God.
This passage exemplifies medieval Latin's use of māgnus in religious context, describing both the person (Benedict) and his works as great, emphasizing divine power.
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Māgnus modifies Pater (nominative masculine singular) -
Māgna modifies opera (accusative neuter plural) -
Shows typical medieval Latin word order -
Uses ablative of means (virtūte)
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23.16 Māgnus great Deus God noster our in in caelīs heavens regnat reigns
23.17 Māgnam great misericordiam mercy tuam your laudāmus we praise
23.18 Māgnā with great vōce voice sanctum holy nōmen name cantāmus we sing
23.19 Pater Father māgnae of great potestātis power nōs us salvat saves
23.20 Ad to māgnum great altāre altar sacerdōs priest venit comes
23.21 Māgnō with great amōre love Chrīstus Christ nōs us redēmit redeemed
23.22 Māgna great mystēria mysteries fidēī of faith celebrāmus we celebrate
23.23 Māgnae great grātiae graces dē from caelō heaven dēscendunt descend
23.24 Spīritus Spirit Sanctus Holy māgnā with great virtūte power venit comes
23.25 In in māgnō great silentiō silence Deum God adōrāmus we adore
23.26 Māgnum great opus work redemptiōnis of redemption laudāmus we praise
23.27 Māgna great gaudia joys cordis of heart cantāmus we sing
23.28 Ad to māgnam great glōriam glory Deī of God orāmus we pray
23.29 Māgnī great angelī angels in in caelīs heavens cantant sing
23.30 Māgnum great est is nōmen name Domini of the Lord nostrī our
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23.16 Māgnus Deus noster in caelīs regnat. Our great God reigns in the heavens.
23.17 Māgnam misericordiam tuam laudāmus. We praise your great mercy.
23.18 Māgnā vōce sanctum nōmen cantāmus. With great voice we sing the holy name.
23.19 Pater māgnae potestātis nōs salvat. The Father of great power saves us.
23.20 Ad māgnum altāre sacerdōs venit. The priest comes to the great altar.
23.21 Māgnō amōre Chrīstus nōs redēmit. Christ redeemed us with great love.
23.22 Māgna mystēria fidēī celebrāmus. We celebrate the great mysteries of faith.
23.23 Māgnae grātiae dē caelō dēscendunt. Great graces descend from heaven.
23.24 Spīritus Sanctus māgnā virtūte venit. The Holy Spirit comes with great power.
23.25 In māgnō silentiō Deum adōrāmus. In great silence we adore God.
23.26 Māgnum opus redemptiōnis laudāmus. We praise the great work of redemption.
23.27 Māgna gaudia cordis cantāmus. We sing the great joys of the heart.
23.28 Ad māgnam glōriam Deī orāmus. We pray to the great glory of God.
23.29 Māgnī angelī in caelīs cantant. Great angels sing in the heavens.
23.30 Māgnum est nōmen Domini nostrī. Great is the name of our Lord.
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23.16 Māgnus Deus noster in caelīs regnat.
23.17 Māgnam misericordiam tuam laudāmus.
23.18 Māgnā vōce sanctum nōmen cantāmus.
23.19 Pater māgnae potestātis nōs salvat.
23.20 Ad māgnum altāre sacerdōs venit.
23.21 Māgnō amōre Chrīstus nōs redēmit.
23.22 Māgna mystēria fidēī celebrāmus.
23.23 Māgnae grātiae dē caelō dēscendunt.
23.24 Spīritus Sanctus māgnā virtūte venit.
23.25 In māgnō silentiō Deum adōrāmus.
23.26 Māgnum opus redemptiōnis laudāmus.
23.27 Māgna gaudia cordis cantāmus.
23.28 Ad māgnam glōriam Deī orāmus.
23.29 Māgnī angelī in caelīs cantant.
23.30 Māgnum est nōmen Domini nostrī.
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In Christian hymns, māgnus takes on special significance and shows several important grammatical patterns: -
Religious Usage Patterns: -
Often modifies divine attributes (māgna potestās) -
Used with abstract nouns (māgna mystēria) -
Frequently appears in ablative of manner (māgnā virtūte) -
Case Functions in Hymns: -
Nominative for direct praise (māgnus Deus) -
Accusative for objects of worship (māgnam glōriam) -
Ablative for manner of worship (māgnā vōce) -
Genitive for divine attributes (māgnae potestātis) -
Word Order in Hymns: -
Often places māgnus first for emphasis -
Sometimes separates māgnus from its noun for poetic effect -
Uses traditional hymnic patterns -
Special Features: -
Coordination with other adjectives (sanctus, pius) -
Use in fixed phrases (māgnum opus) -
Employment in liturgical formulas
These examples show how māgnus adapts to the elevated style of Christian Latin while maintaining standard grammar rules.
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