← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
Today we study the noun "rēs, reī" (feminine), meaning "thing, matter, affair." This important word forms many common phrases like rēs pūblica (republic/commonwealth) and rēs familiāris (family property/estate).
36.1 haec this rēs thing magna great est is
36.2 illam that rem thing videō I see in in forō the forum
36.3 multae many rēs things in in templō the temple sunt are
36.4 dē about hāc this rē thing loquitur he speaks
36.5 rēs things novae new semper always accidunt happen
36.6 rēs affairs pūblicae public difficilēs difficult sunt are
36.7 eius his rēs property familiāris family magna great est is
36.8 ad to rem the matter venī I came
36.9 rēs matters mīlitārēs military tractāmus we handle
36.10 propter because of hanc this rem thing laetus happy sum I am
36.11 omnēs all rēs things parātae prepared sunt are
36.12 bonae good reī for the thing studet he strives
36.13 multās many rēs things gessimus we accomplished
36.14 in in omnī every rē matter cōnsulimus we deliberate
36.15 rēs affairs domesticae domestic curāmus we manage
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36.1 Haec rēs magna est. This thing is great.
36.2 Illam rem in forō videō. I see that thing in the forum.
36.3 Multae rēs in templō sunt. Many things are in the temple.
36.4 Dē hāc rē loquitur. He speaks about this matter.
36.5 Rēs novae semper accidunt. New things always happen.
36.6 Rēs pūblicae difficilēs sunt. Public affairs are difficult.
36.7 Eius rēs familiāris magna est. His family property is great.
36.8 Ad rem venī. I came to the point.
36.9 Rēs mīlitārēs tractāmus. We handle military matters.
36.10 Propter hanc rem laetus sum. I am happy because of this thing.
36.11 Omnēs rēs parātae sunt. All things are prepared.
36.12 Bonae reī studet. He strives for the good thing.
36.13 Multās rēs gessimus. We accomplished many things.
36.14 In omnī rē cōnsulimus. We deliberate in every matter.
36.15 Rēs domesticae curāmus. We manage domestic affairs.
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36.1 Haec rēs magna est.
36.2 Illam rem in forō videō.
36.3 Multae rēs in templō sunt.
36.4 Dē hāc rē loquitur.
36.5 Rēs novae semper accidunt.
36.6 Rēs pūblicae difficilēs sunt.
36.7 Eius rēs familiāris magna est.
36.8 Ad rem venī.
36.9 Rēs mīlitārēs tractāmus.
36.10 Propter hanc rem laetus sum.
36.11 Omnēs rēs parātae sunt.
36.12 Bonae reī studet.
36.13 Multās rēs gessimus.
36.14 In omnī rē cōnsulimus.
36.15 Rēs domesticae curāmus.
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"Rēs" is a fifth declension noun with these important features for English speakers: -
Forms: -
Nominative singular: rēs -
Genitive singular: reī -
Dative singular: reī -
Accusative singular: rem -
Ablative singular: rē -
Nominative plural: rēs -
Genitive plural: rērum -
Dative plural: rēbus -
Accusative plural: rēs -
Ablative plural: rēbus -
Key Points: -
It's feminine gender (like most 5th declension nouns) -
The stem vowel "ē" changes to "e" in certain cases -
Nominative and accusative plural look identical to nominative singular -
Often used in fixed phrases with adjectives -
Common Uses: -
Abstract concepts -
Concrete objects -
Situations or circumstances -
Events or happenings -
Property or possessions -
Affairs or matters
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For English speakers, understanding "rēs" requires grasping several cultural concepts: -
Roman Practicality: -
Romans valued concrete terminology -
"Rēs" reflects their practical approach to describing the world -
Used in both everyday and formal contexts -
Legal Language: -
Important in Roman law -
Used in property descriptions -
Critical in political terminology (rēs pūblica) -
Modern Connections: -
English "real" (from rēs) -
"Republic" (from rēs pūblica) -
Legal terms like "res judicata" -
Cultural Impact: -
Central to Roman thought -
Shapes Western legal tradition -
Influences modern terminology
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Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Cicero's "Dē Rē Pūblicā":
Est is igitur therefore rēs thing pūblica public rēs affair populī of the people
Est igitur rēs pūblica rēs populī. Therefore the republic is the affair of the people.
Cicero's definition became fundamental to Western political thought. He uses "rēs" twice to emphasize the public nature of government.
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First "rēs": nominative singular (subject) -
Second "rēs": nominative singular (predicate nominative) -
"populī": genitive singular showing possession -
"pūblica": feminine adjective agreeing with "rēs"
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36.16 rēs things dīvīnae divine mentēs minds nostrās our elevant lift up
36.17 dē about rēbus things caelestibus heavenly meditāmur we meditate
36.18 omnēs all rēs things ā by Deō God creātae created sunt are
36.19 rēs matters sacrae sacred magnā with great cūrā care tractandae to be handled sunt are
36.20 in in rēbus matters fidēī of faith certī certain sumus we are
36.21 propter because of hanc this rem thing grātiās thanks Deō to God agimus we give
36.22 rēs affairs ecclēsiae of the church bene well administrantur are administered
36.23 ad to rēs things spirituālēs spiritual animōs minds convertimus we turn
36.24 haec this rēs matter in in librīs books sacrīs sacred scrīpta written est is
36.25 rēs things aeternae eternal semper always manent remain
36.26 prō for rēbus things dīvīnīs divine ōrāmus we pray
36.27 rēs affairs monasteriī of the monastery cūrāmus we care for
36.28 dē about rēbus matters angelōrum of angels scrībit he writes
36.29 illae those rēs things mīrābilēs wonderful ā by sanctīs saints factae done sunt are
36.30 rēs things temporālēs temporal relinquimus we leave behind
36.16 Rēs dīvīnae mentēs nostrās elevant. Divine things lift up our minds.
36.17 Dē rēbus caelestibus meditāmur. We meditate on heavenly things.
36.18 Omnēs rēs ā Deō creātae sunt. All things are created by God.
36.19 Rēs sacrae magnā cūrā tractandae sunt. Sacred matters must be handled with great care.
36.20 In rēbus fidēī certī sumus. We are certain in matters of faith.
36.21 Propter hanc rem grātiās Deō agimus. Because of this thing we give thanks to God.
36.22 Rēs ecclēsiae bene administrantur. The affairs of the church are well administered.
36.23 Ad rēs spirituālēs animōs convertimus. We turn our minds to spiritual things.
36.24 Haec rēs in librīs sacrīs scrīpta est. This matter is written in the sacred books.
36.25 Rēs aeternae semper manent. Eternal things always remain.
36.26 Prō rēbus dīvīnīs ōrāmus. We pray for divine things.
36.27 Rēs monasteriī cūrāmus. We care for the affairs of the monastery.
36.28 Dē rēbus angelōrum scrībit. He writes about matters of angels.
36.29 Illae rēs mīrābilēs ā sanctīs factae sunt. Those wonderful things were done by the saints.
36.30 Rēs temporālēs relinquimus. We leave behind temporal things.
36.16 Rēs dīvīnae mentēs nostrās elevant.
36.17 Dē rēbus caelestibus meditāmur.
36.18 Omnēs rēs ā Deō creātae sunt.
36.19 Rēs sacrae magnā cūrā tractandae sunt.
36.20 In rēbus fidēī certī sumus.
36.21 Propter hanc rem grātiās Deō agimus.
36.22 Rēs ecclēsiae bene administrantur.
36.23 Ad rēs spirituālēs animōs convertimus.
36.24 Haec rēs in librīs sacrīs scrīpta est.
36.25 Rēs aeternae semper manent.
36.26 Prō rēbus dīvīnīs ōrāmus.
36.27 Rēs monasteriī cūrāmus.
36.28 Dē rēbus angelōrum scrībit.
36.29 Illae rēs mīrābilēs ā sanctīs factae sunt.
36.30 Rēs temporālēs relinquimus.
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Religious Adjectives with Rēs: -
dīvīnae (divine) -
sacrae (sacred) -
caelestēs (heavenly) -
aeternae (eternal) -
temporālēs (temporal) -
spirituālēs (spiritual) -
mīrābilēs (wonderful) -
Common Case Uses in Religious Context: -
Ablative with dē for topics of meditation/writing -
Ablative with ā/ab for divine agency -
Accusative with ad for spiritual goals -
Genitive for possession by religious institutions -
Verb Forms Commonly Used: -
Passive periphrastic: tractandae sunt (must be handled) -
Perfect passive: creātae sunt (were created) -
Present active: meditāmur (we meditate) -
Present passive: administrantur (are administered) -
Religious Vocabulary Patterns: -
Abstract concepts: rēs dīvīnae, rēs aeternae -
Institutional matters: rēs ecclēsiae, rēs monasteriī -
Spiritual practices: rēs sacrae, rēs spirituālēs -
Special Theological Uses: -
Contrast between rēs temporālēs and rēs aeternae -
Use with sanctī (saints) and angelī (angels) -
Reference to sacred texts and divine acts -
Expression of religious duties and obligations -
Word Order in Religious Texts: -
Often more formal than secular Latin -
Tendency to place sacred terms in emphatic positions -
Use of chiasmus and other rhetorical devices -
Placement of rēs to emphasize divine vs. worldly matters
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