← Latinum Institute Ecclesiastical Latin Reading Course
91.1 Hostis enemy urbem city oppugnat attacks
91.2 Vidēmus we see hostem enemy appropinquantem approaching
91.3 Magnus great hostium of enemies numerus number adest is present
91.4 Noster our exercitus army hostēs enemies vincit conquers
91.5 Hostī to enemy nūllam no fidem faith habēmus we have
91.6 Ab by hoste enemy vīctī conquered sumus we are
91.7 Fortēs brave virī men hostibus to enemies resistunt resist
91.8 Castra camp hostium of enemies inventa found sunt are
91.9 Hostēs enemies multī many terram land nostram our invādunt invade
91.10 Cum with hoste enemy pācem peace facimus we make
91.11 Hostium of enemies arma weapons cēpimus we captured
91.12 Dux leader hostēs enemies timēbat feared
91.13 Hostī to enemy resistere to resist dēbēmus we ought
91.14 Hostibus by enemies victī conquered fugiunt they flee
91.15 Hostis enemy novus new appropinquat approaches
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91.1 Hostis urbem oppugnat. The enemy attacks the city.
91.2 Vidēmus hostem appropinquantem. We see the enemy approaching.
91.3 Magnus hostium numerus adest. A great number of enemies is present.
91.4 Noster exercitus hostēs vincit. Our army conquers the enemies.
91.5 Hostī nūllam fidem habēmus. We have no faith in the enemy.
91.6 Ab hoste vīctī sumus. We have been conquered by the enemy.
91.7 Fortēs virī hostibus resistunt. Brave men resist the enemies.
91.8 Castra hostium inventa sunt. The camp of the enemies was found.
91.9 Hostēs multī terram nostram invādunt. Many enemies invade our land.
91.10 Cum hoste pācem facimus. We make peace with the enemy.
91.11 Hostium arma cēpimus. We captured the enemies' weapons.
91.12 Dux hostēs timēbat. The leader feared the enemies.
91.13 Hostī resistere dēbēmus. We ought to resist the enemy.
91.14 Hostibus victī fugiunt. Conquered by enemies, they flee.
91.15 Hostis novus appropinquat. A new enemy approaches.
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91.1 Hostis urbem oppugnat.
91.2 Vidēmus hostem appropinquantem.
91.3 Magnus hostium numerus adest.
91.4 Noster exercitus hostēs vincit.
91.5 Hostī nūllam fidem habēmus.
91.6 Ab hoste vīctī sumus.
91.7 Fortēs virī hostibus resistunt.
91.8 Castra hostium inventa sunt.
91.9 Hostēs multī terram nostram invādunt.
91.10 Cum hoste pācem facimus.
91.11 Hostium arma cēpimus.
91.12 Dux hostēs timēbat.
91.13 Hostī resistere dēbēmus.
91.14 Hostibus victī fugiunt.
91.15 Hostis novus appropinquat.
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For English speakers learning Latin, understanding "hostis" requires attention to several key points: -
Form and Gender: -
Third declension noun (i-stem) -
Can be either masculine or feminine -
Nominative singular: hostis -
Genitive singular: hostis -
Declension Pattern: Singular: -
Nominative: hostis -
Genitive: hostis -
Dative: hostī -
Accusative: hostem -
Ablative: hoste
Plural: -
Nominative: hostēs -
Genitive: hostium -
Dative: hostibus -
Accusative: hostēs -
Ablative: hostibus -
Common Uses: -
As subject (Hostis venit) -
As direct object (Hostem videō) -
In genitive constructions (arma hostium) -
With prepositions (ab hoste, cum hoste) -
As indirect object (hostī resistere) -
Special Constructions: -
Often used with military vocabulary -
Common in ablative absolute constructions -
Frequently appears with verbs of fearing, resisting -
Used in both literal and metaphorical senses
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For English speakers, understanding "hostis" requires cultural context: -
Historical Usage: -
Originally meant "stranger" or "foreigner" -
Evolved to mean "public enemy" -
Different from "inimīcus" (personal enemy) -
Important in legal and military contexts -
Christian Context: -
Used in religious texts for spiritual enemies -
Appears in prayers and liturgical texts -
Important in descriptions of spiritual warfare -
Used metaphorically for evil forces -
Legal Significance: -
"Hostis publicus" (public enemy) -
Important in Roman law -
Used in official declarations -
Part of military vocabulary -
Modern Connections: -
Root of English "hostile" -
Used in modern Latin documents -
Important in historical studies -
Continues in ecclesiastical Latin
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From Augustine's "Confessions" (Book X, Chapter 4):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Quis who est is ille that hostis enemy qui who temptat tempts et and resistit resists imperio command tuō your, cum when tū you sīs are deus God omnipotēns almighty et and crēātor creator omnium of all rērum things?
"Quis est ille hostis qui temptat et resistit imperio tuō, cum tū sīs deus omnipotēns et crēātor omnium rērum?"
Who is that enemy who tempts and resists your command, when you are the almighty God and creator of all things?
Augustine uses "hostis" here to describe spiritual opposition to God, showing how the term evolved from its military origins to religious usage.
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"hostis" as subject complement -
Relative clause with "qui" -
Present tense verbs for ongoing action -
Subjunctive "sīs" in cum clause -
Rhetorical question structure
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91.16 Vidēte see fratres brothers quōmodo how hostis enemy antiquus ancient circuit circles quaerēns seeking quem whom dēvoret he may devour
91.17 Adversus against hostem enemy noster our gladius sword est is orātiō prayer fidēlis faithful
91.18 Hostis enemy animārum of souls nostrārum our semper always vigil watchful est is
91.19 Contra against hostēs enemies spīritālēs spiritual pugna battle cōtīdiāna daily est is
91.20 Hostium of enemies invisibilium invisible multitūdō multitude nōs us circumdat surrounds
91.21 Hostī to enemy diabolicō diabolical resistite resist fortēs strong in in fide faith
91.22 Deus God nōs us ab from hoste enemy malignō evil dēfendit defends
91.23 Hostēs enemies salūtis of salvation nostrae our superāre to overcome dēbēmus we ought
91.24 Hostibus by enemies temptātī tempted ad to Christum Christ fugimus we flee
91.25 Victōria victory contrā against hostem enemy per through crucem cross venit comes
91.26 Hostēs enemies tenebrārum of darkness lūcem light Chrīstī of Christ fugiunt flee
91.27 Hostī to enemy antīquō ancient nōn not crēdite believe fratres brothers
91.28 Sanctī saints contrā against hostēs enemies immortālēs immortal pugnant fight
91.29 Hostibus from enemies infernī of hell nōs us līberā free Domine Lord
91.30 Magnus great hostis enemy est is mundus world sed but maior greater est is Christus Christ
91.16 Vidēte, fratres, quōmodo hostis antiquus circuit quaerēns quem dēvoret. See, brothers, how the ancient enemy circles about seeking whom he may devour.
91.17 Adversus hostem noster gladius est orātiō fidēlis. Against the enemy, our sword is faithful prayer.
91.18 Hostis animārum nostrārum semper vigil est. The enemy of our souls is always watchful.
91.19 Contra hostēs spīritālēs pugna cōtīdiāna est. Against spiritual enemies, the battle is daily.
91.20 Hostium invisibilium multitūdō nōs circumdat. A multitude of invisible enemies surrounds us.
91.21 Hostī diabolicō resistite fortēs in fide. Resist the diabolical enemy, being strong in faith.
91.22 Deus nōs ab hoste malignō dēfendit. God defends us from the evil enemy.
91.23 Hostēs salūtis nostrae superāre dēbēmus. We ought to overcome the enemies of our salvation.
91.24 Hostibus temptātī ad Christum fugimus. Tempted by enemies, we flee to Christ.
91.25 Victōria contrā hostem per crucem venit. Victory against the enemy comes through the cross.
91.26 Hostēs tenebrārum lūcem Chrīstī fugiunt. The enemies of darkness flee the light of Christ.
91.27 Hostī antīquō nōn crēdite, fratres. Do not believe the ancient enemy, brothers.
91.28 Sanctī contrā hostēs immortālēs pugnant. The saints fight against immortal enemies.
91.29 Hostibus infernī nōs līberā, Domine. Free us from the enemies of hell, O Lord.
91.30 Magnus hostis est mundus, sed maior est Christus. The world is a great enemy, but Christ is greater.
91.16 Vidēte, fratres, quōmodo hostis antiquus circuit quaerēns quem dēvoret.
91.17 Adversus hostem noster gladius est orātiō fidēlis.
91.18 Hostis animārum nostrārum semper vigil est.
91.19 Contra hostēs spīritālēs pugna cōtīdiāna est.
91.20 Hostium invisibilium multitūdō nōs circumdat.
91.21 Hostī diabolicō resistite fortēs in fide.
91.22 Deus nōs ab hoste malignō dēfendit.
91.23 Hostēs salūtis nostrae superāre dēbēmus.
91.24 Hostibus temptātī ad Christum fugimus.
91.25 Victōria contrā hostem per crucem venit.
91.26 Hostēs tenebrārum lūcem Chrīstī fugiunt.
91.27 Hostī antīquō nōn crēdite, fratres.
91.28 Sanctī contrā hostēs immortālēs pugnant.
91.29 Hostibus infernī nōs līberā, Domine.
91.30 Magnus hostis est mundus, sed maior est Christus.
The Christian homily section demonstrates several important grammatical features: -
Imperative Forms: -
"vidēte" (plural imperative) -
"resistite" (plural imperative) -
"līberā" (singular imperative) -
Used for direct exhortation to congregation -
Uses of "hostis" in Religious Context: -
With religious adjectives (antiquus, malignus, diabolicus) -
In metaphorical phrases (hostis animārum) -
With spiritual warfare vocabulary -
In prayer formulas -
Case Usage: -
Nominative for subjects (hostis antiquus) -
Accusative with prepositions (contrā hostem) -
Genitive for possession (hostium invisibilium) -
Dative of reference (hostī resistite) -
Ablative with prepositions (ab hoste) -
Special Christian Latin Features: -
Biblical allusions -
Liturgical formulas -
Spiritual metaphors -
Prayer language -
Word Order Patterns: -
Vocatives (fratres) typically set off by commas -
Modifiers both before and after hostis -
Varied for emphasis and style -
Following liturgical patterns
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