← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
70.1 Neque and not pater father neque nor māter mother dormiunt sleep
70.2 Servus slave neque neither legere to read neque nor scrībere to write potest is able
70.3 Puer boy neque not respondet answers neque nor audit listens
70.4 Neque neither aurum gold neque nor argentum silver habēmus we have
70.5 Mīles soldier neque not cibum food neque nor aquam water invēnit finds
70.6 Rēx king neque neither bonus good neque nor sapiēns wise erat was
70.7 Magistra teacher neque neither laudat praises neque nor culpat blames discipulōs pupils
70.8 Neque and not ego I neque nor tū you linguam language intellegimus understand
70.9 Agricola farmer neque neither arat plows neque nor serit sows hodiē today
70.10 Fēmina woman neque neither cantat sings neque nor saltat dances
70.11 Neque neither templum temple neque nor forum forum vidēmus we see
70.12 Pastor shepherd neque neither ovēs sheep neque nor agnōs lambs numerat counts
70.13 Sacerdōs priest neque neither ōrat prays neque nor sacrificat sacrifices
70.14 Neque neither verbīs with words neque nor factīs with deeds placet pleases
70.15 Canis dog neque neither latrat barks neque nor mordet bites
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70.1 Neque pater neque māter dormiunt. Neither father nor mother sleeps.
70.2 Servus neque legere neque scrībere potest. The slave can neither read nor write.
70.3 Puer neque respondet neque audit. The boy neither answers nor listens.
70.4 Neque aurum neque argentum habēmus. We have neither gold nor silver.
70.5 Mīles neque cibum neque aquam invēnit. The soldier finds neither food nor water.
70.6 Rēx neque bonus neque sapiēns erat. The king was neither good nor wise.
70.7 Magistra neque laudat neque culpat discipulōs. The teacher neither praises nor blames the pupils.
70.8 Neque ego neque tū linguam intellegimus. Neither I nor you understand the language.
70.9 Agricola neque arat neque serit hodiē. The farmer neither plows nor sows today.
70.10 Fēmina neque cantat neque saltat. The woman neither sings nor dances.
70.11 Neque templum neque forum vidēmus. We see neither the temple nor the forum.
70.12 Pastor neque ovēs neque agnōs numerat. The shepherd counts neither the sheep nor the lambs.
70.13 Sacerdōs neque ōrat neque sacrificat. The priest neither prays nor sacrifices.
70.14 Neque verbīs neque factīs placet. He pleases neither with words nor with deeds.
70.15 Canis neque latrat neque mordet. The dog neither barks nor bites.
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70.1 Neque pater neque māter dormiunt.
70.2 Servus neque legere neque scrībere potest.
70.3 Puer neque respondet neque audit.
70.4 Neque aurum neque argentum habēmus.
70.5 Mīles neque cibum neque aquam invēnit.
70.6 Rēx neque bonus neque sapiēns erat.
70.7 Magistra neque laudat neque culpat discipulōs.
70.8 Neque ego neque tū linguam intellegimus.
70.9 Agricola neque arat neque serit hodiē.
70.10 Fēmina neque cantat neque saltat.
70.11 Neque templum neque forum vidēmus.
70.12 Pastor neque ovēs neque agnōs numerat.
70.13 Sacerdōs neque ōrat neque sacrificat.
70.14 Neque verbīs neque factīs placet.
70.15 Canis neque latrat neque mordet.
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For English speakers learning Latin, understanding "neque" (and its shortened form "nec") requires attention to several key points: -
Basic Function: -
Works as a coordinating conjunction -
Means "and not" or "nor" -
Often used in pairs: "neque... neque..." (neither... nor...) -
Can connect words, phrases, or clauses -
Usage Patterns: -
Correlative pairs: "neque X neque Y" = "neither X nor Y" -
Single use: "neque X" = "and not X" -
Can replace "et nōn" in many contexts -
Often begins clauses for emphasis -
Important Rules: -
Unlike English, Latin uses double negatives -
Verb agrees with total number of subjects -
Can be used with any person or tense -
Position is flexible within sentence -
Common Constructions: -
With infinitives -
With nouns in any case -
With adjectives -
With other conjunctions
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For English speakers, understanding "neque" requires cultural context: -
In Classical Rhetoric: -
Essential for balanced phrases -
Used in formal arguments -
Common in political speeches -
Important for legal language -
In Medieval Latin: -
Frequent in theological texts -
Used in philosophical arguments -
Common in church documents -
Important in monastic rules -
In Literary Style: -
Creates parallel structures -
Builds dramatic tension -
Emphasizes contrasts -
Marks formal register -
Modern Relevance: -
Legal documents still use similar structures -
Helps understand formal English -
Important for reading ancient texts -
Used in academic writing
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From Augustine's "Confessions" (I.6):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Quid what enim for est is illud that quod which volō I wish dīcere to say, Domine, Lord, nisi except quia that nesciō I do not know unde whence vēnerim I came huc, here, in into istam this dīcam shall I say mortālem mortal vītam life an or morientem dying vītam? life? Nesciō I do not know.
"Quid enim est illud quod volō dīcere, Domine, nisi quia nesciō unde vēnerim huc, in istam dīcam mortālem vītam an morientem vītam? Nesciō."
For what is it that I wish to say, Lord, except that I do not know whence I came here, into this life - shall I call it mortal life or dying life? I do not know.
Augustine uses repetition and questioning to express uncertainty about existence. The passage shows: -
Direct address to God -
Philosophical questioning -
Careful word choice -
Personal reflection
-
Deliberative questions with subjunctive -
Complex sentence structure -
Use of relative clauses -
Rhetorical devices
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70.16 Neque neither timor fear neque nor dolor sorrow nōs us ā from Deō God separat separates
70.17 Anima soul mea my neque neither pacem peace neque nor requiem rest invenit finds sine without Dominō the Lord
70.18 Neque neither caelum heaven neque nor terra earth sine without glōriā glory Deī of God sunt are
70.19 Crēdentēs believers neque neither mortem death neque nor damnātiōnem damnation timent fear
70.20 Neque neither angeli angels neque nor hominēs men mystēria mysteries Deī of God comprehendunt understand
70.21 Sanctī saints neque neither laudem praise neque nor honōrem honor quaerunt seek
70.22 Neque neither dīvitiās riches neque nor potestātem power in in caelō heaven dēsīderāmus we desire
70.23 Pastor shepherd bonus good neque neither ovēs sheep neque nor agnōs lambs relinquit abandons
70.24 Neque neither māne morning neque nor vesperī evening ōrāre to pray cessant they cease
70.25 Spīritus spirit neque neither fallit deceives neque nor fallitur is deceived
70.26 Neque neither peccāta sins neque nor tentātiōnēs temptations vincunt conquer nōs us
70.27 Fīdelis faithful one neque neither dubitat doubts neque nor timet fears
70.28 Neque neither vita life neque nor mors death sine without Deō God est is
70.29 Monachī monks neque neither famam fame neque nor fortūnam fortune petunt seek
70.30 Neque neither verbum word neque nor opus work sine without grātiā grace proficit profits
70.16 Neque timor neque dolor nōs ā Deō separat. Neither fear nor sorrow separates us from God.
70.17 Anima mea neque pacem neque requiem invenit sine Dominō. My soul finds neither peace nor rest without the Lord.
70.18 Neque caelum neque terra sine glōriā Deī sunt. Neither heaven nor earth are without God's glory.
70.19 Crēdentēs neque mortem neque damnātiōnem timent. Believers fear neither death nor damnation.
70.20 Neque angeli neque hominēs mystēria Deī comprehendunt. Neither angels nor men comprehend the mysteries of God.
70.21 Sanctī neque laudem neque honōrem quaerunt. Saints seek neither praise nor honor.
70.22 Neque dīvitiās neque potestātem in caelō dēsīderāmus. We desire neither riches nor power in heaven.
70.23 Pastor bonus neque ovēs neque agnōs relinquit. The good shepherd abandons neither sheep nor lambs.
70.24 Neque māne neque vesperī ōrāre cessant. They cease praying neither morning nor evening.
70.25 Spīritus neque fallit neque fallitur. The Spirit neither deceives nor is deceived.
70.26 Neque peccāta neque tentātiōnēs vincunt nōs. Neither sins nor temptations conquer us.
70.27 Fīdelis neque dubitat neque timet. The faithful one neither doubts nor fears.
70.28 Neque vita neque mors sine Deō est. Neither life nor death is without God.
70.29 Monachī neque famam neque fortūnam petunt. Monks seek neither fame nor fortune.
70.30 Neque verbum neque opus sine grātiā proficit. Neither word nor work profits without grace.
70.16 Neque timor neque dolor nōs ā Deō separat.
70.17 Anima mea neque pacem neque requiem invenit sine Dominō.
70.18 Neque caelum neque terra sine glōriā Deī sunt.
70.19 Crēdentēs neque mortem neque damnātiōnem timent.
70.20 Neque angeli neque hominēs mystēria Deī comprehendunt.
70.21 Sanctī neque laudem neque honōrem quaerunt.
70.22 Neque dīvitiās neque potestātem in caelō dēsīderāmus.
70.23 Pastor bonus neque ovēs neque agnōs relinquit.
70.24 Neque māne neque vesperī ōrāre cessant.
70.25 Spīritus neque fallit neque fallitur.
70.26 Neque peccāta neque tentātiōnēs vincunt nōs.
70.27 Fīdelis neque dubitat neque timet.
70.28 Neque vita neque mors sine Deō est.
70.29 Monachī neque famam neque fortūnam petunt.
70.30 Neque verbum neque opus sine grātiā proficit.
In Christian prayer texts, "neque" exhibits several specific patterns worth noting: -
Theological Contrasts: -
Pairs of opposite concepts: vita/mors, caelum/terra -
Abstract spiritual concepts: peccāta/tentātiōnēs -
Divine attributes: fallit/fallitur -
Temporal markers: māne/vesperī -
Syntactical Features: -
Often begins sentences for emphasis -
Frequently pairs related theological concepts -
Usually maintains verb agreement with multiple subjects -
Shows flexibility in word order for emphasis -
Common Patterns in Religious Texts: -
With abstract nouns (virtues, vices) -
With concrete religious terms -
In statements of doctrine -
In expressions of devotion -
Special Uses: -
In negative theological statements -
In expressions of divine attributes -
In statements of spiritual truth -
In descriptions of religious life
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