← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
72.1 At but puer boy nōn not respondet answers
72.2 Senex old man at but adhūc still fortis strong est is
72.3 At but ego I nihil nothing dē about hāc this rē matter sciō know
72.4 Magister teacher at but discipulus student nōn not audit listens
72.5 At but diēs day iam now brevis short est is
72.6 Mīles soldier at but timidus fearful nōn not est is
72.7 At but nōs we omnēs all labōrāre to work debēmus ought
72.8 Servus slave at but dominum master nōn not videt sees
72.9 At but vōs you omnēs all sapientēs wise estis are
72.10 Agricola farmer at but agrōs fields nōn not arat plows
72.11 At but ego I librum book meum my legere to read volō wish
72.12 Pater father at but fīlium son nōn not audit hears
72.13 At but nox night adhūc still longa long est is
72.14 Sacerdōs priest at but templum temple nōn not intrat enters
72.15 At but vōbīs to you vēritātem truth dīcere to tell dēbeō I ought
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72.1 At puer nōn respondet. But the boy does not answer.
72.2 Senex fortis est, at adhūc labōrat. The old man is strong, but he still works.
72.3 At ego nihil dē hāc rē sciō. But I know nothing about this matter.
72.4 Loquitur magister, at discipulus nōn audit. The teacher speaks, but the student does not listen.
72.5 At diēs iam brevis est. But the day is already short.
72.6 Fortis mīles est, at timidus nōn appāret. The soldier is brave, but does not appear fearful.
72.7 At nōs omnēs labōrāre debēmus. But we all ought to work.
72.8 Clāmat servus, at dominum nōn videt. The slave shouts, but does not see his master.
72.9 At vōs omnēs sapientēs estis. But you are all wise.
72.10 Tempus adest, at agricola agrōs nōn arat. The time is here, but the farmer does not plow the fields.
72.11 At ego librum meum legere volō. But I wish to read my book.
72.12 Vocat pater, at fīlium nōn audit. The father calls, but does not hear his son.
72.13 At nox adhūc longa est. But the night is still long.
72.14 Ōrat sacerdōs, at templum nōn intrat. The priest prays, but does not enter the temple.
72.15 At vōbīs vēritātem dīcere dēbeō. But I ought to tell you the truth.
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72.1 At puer nōn respondet.
72.2 Senex fortis est, at adhūc labōrat.
72.3 At ego nihil dē hāc rē sciō.
72.4 Loquitur magister, at discipulus nōn audit.
72.5 At diēs iam brevis est.
72.6 Fortis mīles est, at timidus nōn appāret.
72.7 At nōs omnēs labōrāre debēmus.
72.8 Clāmat servus, at dominum nōn videt.
72.9 At vōs omnēs sapientēs estis.
72.10 Tempus adest, at agricola agrōs nōn arat.
72.11 At ego librum meum legere volō.
72.12 Vocat pater, at fīlium nōn audit.
72.13 At nox adhūc longa est.
72.14 Ōrat sacerdōs, at templum nōn intrat.
72.15 At vōbīs vēritātem dīcere dēbeō.
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For English speakers learning Latin, "at" has several important features: -
Position in Sentence: -
Usually appears at the beginning of its clause -
Creates strong contrast with previous statement -
Can start new thought or argument -
Usage: -
Stronger contrast than "sed" -
Often implies emotional emphasis -
Cannot be combined with other conjunctions -
Frequently used with adversative meaning -
Common Patterns: -
With negatives (at nōn) -
In responses (at ego) -
In transitions (at nunc) -
In strong objections -
Special Uses: -
In rhetorical questions -
To introduce counter-arguments -
To mark dramatic turns in narrative -
To emphasize emotional reactions
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Understanding "at" requires cultural context: -
Rhetorical Tradition: -
Essential in Roman debate -
Used in formal arguments -
Part of educational training -
Common in political speeches -
Literary Usage: -
Dramatic effect in poetry -
Emphasis in historical narrative -
Common in letter writing -
Important in philosophical texts -
Christian Context: -
Used in theological arguments -
Found in biblical translations -
Important in sermons -
Present in liturgical texts -
Modern Relevance: -
Similar to English "but" -
Shows emotional emphasis -
Marks important transitions -
Indicates strong contrast
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From Augustine's "Confessions" (I.1):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Magnus great es, you are, Domine, O Lord, et and laudābilis praiseworthy valdē: greatly: māgna great virtūs strength tua your et and sapientiae of wisdom tuae your nōn not est is numerus. number. At But laudāre to praise tē you vult wishes homō, man, aliqua some portiō portion creātūrae of creation tuae. your.
Magnus es, Domine, et laudābilis valdē: māgna virtūs tua et sapientiae tuae nōn est numerus. At laudāre tē vult homō, aliqua portiō creātūrae tuae.
Great are you, O Lord, and greatly to be praised: great is your power and of your wisdom there is no number. But man desires to praise you, some portion of your creation.
Augustine uses "at" to contrast human limitation with divine greatness. The word marks the transition from God's infinite nature to human finitude.
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"at" introduces contrast between divine and human -
Vocative "Domine" shows direct address -
Complex sentence structure with parallel phrases -
Use of abstract nouns (virtūs, sapientia)
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72.16 Orāmus we pray tē, you, Domine, O Lord, at but peccātōrēs sinners sumus we are
72.17 Servus servant tuus your sum, I am, at but miserēre have mercy meī on me
72.18 At but tū, you, Deus, O God, semper always bonus good es are
72.19 Spērāmus we hope in in tē, you, at but fidēs faith nostra our parva small est is
72.20 At but nunc now ad to tē you vertimur we turn
72.21 Sancta holy Marīa Mary ōrat, prays, at but nōs we peccāmus sin
72.22 At but tū you salvātor savior mundi of world es are
72.23 Angeli angels cantant, sing, at but nōs we tacēmus are silent
72.24 At but grātiam grace tuam your quaerimus we seek
72.25 Magnus great es, you are, at but humilis humble venīs you come
72.26 At but in in tenebrīs darkness lūmen light tuum your vidēmus we see
72.27 Crēdimus, we believe, at but adiuvā help nōs us
72.28 At but tū you sōlus alone sanctus holy es are
72.29 Peccāvimus, we have sinned, at but ignōsce forgive nōbīs us
72.30 At but in in caelō heaven pāx peace vēra true est is
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72.16 Orāmus tē, Domine, at peccātōrēs sumus. We pray to you, O Lord, but we are sinners.
72.17 Servus tuus sum, at miserēre meī. I am your servant, but have mercy on me.
72.18 At tū, Deus, semper bonus es. But you, O God, are always good.
72.19 Spērāmus in tē, at fidēs nostra parva est. We hope in you, but our faith is small.
72.20 At nunc ad tē vertimur. But now we turn to you.
72.21 Sancta Marīa ōrat, at nōs peccāmus. Holy Mary prays, but we sin.
72.22 At tū salvātor mundi es. But you are the savior of the world.
72.23 Angeli cantant, at nōs tacēmus. Angels sing, but we are silent.
72.24 At grātiam tuam quaerimus. But we seek your grace.
72.25 Magnus es, at humilis venīs. You are great, but you come humbly.
72.26 At in tenebrīs lūmen tuum vidēmus. But in darkness we see your light.
72.27 Crēdimus, at adiuvā nōs. We believe, but help us.
72.28 At tū sōlus sanctus es. But you alone are holy.
72.29 Peccāvimus, at ignōsce nōbīs. We have sinned, but forgive us.
72.30 At in caelō pāx vēra est. But in heaven there is true peace.
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72.16 Orāmus tē, Domine, at peccātōrēs sumus.
72.17 Servus tuus sum, at miserēre meī.
72.18 At tū, Deus, semper bonus es.
72.19 Spērāmus in tē, at fidēs nostra parva est.
72.20 At nunc ad tē vertimur.
72.21 Sancta Marīa ōrat, at nōs peccāmus.
72.22 At tū salvātor mundi es.
72.23 Angelī cantant, at nōs tacēmus.
72.24 At grātiam tuam quaerimus.
72.25 Magnus es, at humilis venīs.
72.26 At in tenebrīs lūmen tuum vidēmus.
72.27 Crēdimus, at adiuvā nōs.
72.28 At tū sōlus sanctus es.
72.29 Peccāvimus, at ignōsce nōbīs.
72.30 At in caelō pāx vēra est.
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In Christian prayer contexts, "at" takes on special significance in several grammatical constructions: -
Contrasts between Divine and Human: -
Human weakness vs. Divine strength -
Human sin vs. Divine mercy -
Human limitation vs. Divine power Example: "Peccātōrēs sumus, at tū salvātor es" -
Prayer Formulas: -
Often begins petitions -
Marks transition in prayer -
Introduces new requests Example: "At miserēre meī" -
Common Patterns in Religious Text: -
With imperatives (at adiuvā) -
With vocatives (at tū, Deus) -
In confessional statements Example: "At ignōsce nōbīs" -
Special Uses: -
To express spiritual contrast -
In penitential formulas -
To mark divine intervention Example: "At grātiam tuam quaerimus"
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