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Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
Lesson 19
19 of 89 lessons

Lesson 19: Lectiō Ūndēvīcēsima: Dē Quālitātibus Physicīs On Physical Qualities

IĀNUAE LATĪNITĀTIS VESTIBULUM

Lectiō Ūndēvīcēsima: Dē Quālitātibus Physicīs

On Physical Qualities

Prōlogus: Ē Sepulchrō Comēniī

Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī.

Ā rēbus abstractīs—necessāriīs et ūtilibus—nunc ad quālitātēs physicās mundī prōgredimur. Hodiē discēmus dē silvīs et agrīs, dē mōtū et labōre, dē āciē et cibō.

From abstract things—necessary and useful—we now proceed to the physical qualities of the world. Today we shall learn about woods and fields, about motion and labor, about sharpness and food.

Mundus plēnus est contrāriōrum: dēnsum et rārum, celer et tardum, ācer et hebēs. Per haec contrāria, rērum nātūram intellegimus.

The world is full of contraries: dense and sparse, swift and slow, sharp and dull. Through these contraries, we understand the nature of things.

Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius

PARS PRĪMA: VESTIBULUM

Quālitātēs Physicae — Physical Qualities

Pars A: Textus Explicātus (Construed Text)

Silva A wood est is dēnsa thick vel or rāra. thin. Ager A field [est] [is] fēcundus fruitful aut or sterilis. barren. Mōtus Motion est is celer swift aut or tardus. slow. Cursor A runner [est] [is] alacer brisk aut or piger. sluggish. Operārius A workman [est] [is] gnāvus diligent aut or ignāvus. lazy. Secūris A hatchet est is acūta sharp vel or stupida blunt ((hebēs).dull). Cibus Food [est] [is] crūdus raw vel or coctus. cooked.

Pars B: Sententiae Alternantēs (Alternating Sentences)

Silva est dēnsa vel rāra. A wood is thick or thin.

Ager est fēcundus aut sterilis. A field is fruitful or barren.

Mōtus est celer aut tardus. Motion is swift or slow.

Cursor est alacer aut piger. A runner is brisk or sluggish.

Operārius est gnāvus aut ignāvus. A workman is diligent or lazy.

Secūris est acūta vel stupida (hebēs). A hatchet is sharp or blunt (dull).

Cibus est crūdus vel coctus. Food is raw or cooked.

Pars C: Textus Latīnus Sōlus (Latin Text Only)

Silva est dēnsa vel rāra. Ager est fēcundus aut sterilis. Mōtus est celer aut tardus. Cursor est alacer aut piger. Operārius est gnāvus aut ignāvus. Secūris est acūta vel stupida (hebēs). Cibus est crūdus vel coctus.

Pars D: Nōtae Grammaticae (Grammatical Notes)

I. Third Declension Adjectives: celer, alacer, ācer

Several adjectives in this lesson belong to the third declension:

Nominative Genitive Meaning Type celer, celeris, celere celeris swift 3-termination alacer, alacris, alacre alacris brisk, lively 3-termination ācer, ācris, ācre ācris sharp, keen 3-termination hebēs, hebetis hebetis dull, blunt 1-termination

Note: celer and alacer retain the -e- in the masculine nominative singular but drop it elsewhere: celeris, celerī, celerem...

II. The gnāvus / ignāvus Pair

Once again we see the negative prefix in-: -

gnāvus, -a, -um = diligent, industrious, active -

ignāvus, -a, -um = lazy, idle, inactive

The root gnāvus comes from the same Indo-European root as English “know” — the diligent person is one who knows what to do.

Note: The older spelling nāvus also exists; gnāvus preserves the archaic initial g-.

III. Perfect Passive Participle: coctus

coctus, -a, -um = “cooked” is the perfect passive participle of coquō, coquere, coxī, coctum (”to cook”): -

cibus crūdus = raw food (uncooked) -

cibus coctus = cooked food (having been cooked)

This participle functions as an adjective, agreeing with the noun it modifies.

IV. Synonyms for “Dull/Blunt”

Comenius gives two words: -

stupidus, -a, -um — originally “struck senseless,” hence “dull, blunt” -

hebēs, hebetis — “blunt, dull” (of edges or minds)

Both can describe either physical dullness (a blunt blade) or mental dullness (a dull mind).

V. Vocabula Nova (New Vocabulary)

Latīnē Ānglicē Pars Ōrātiōnis silva, -ae wood, forest noun, f., 1st decl. dēnsus, -a, -um thick, dense adjective, 1st/2nd decl. rārus, -a, -um thin, sparse, rare adjective, 1st/2nd decl. ager, agrī field noun, m., 2nd decl. fēcundus, -a, -um fruitful, fertile adjective, 1st/2nd decl. sterilis, -e barren, sterile adjective, 3rd decl. mōtus, -ūs motion, movement noun, m., 4th decl. celer, celeris, celere swift, fast adjective, 3rd decl. tardus, -a, -um slow adjective, 1st/2nd decl. cursor, cursōris runner noun, m., 3rd decl. alacer, alacris, alacre brisk, lively, eager adjective, 3rd decl. piger, pigra, pigrum sluggish, lazy adjective, 1st/2nd decl. operārius, -iī workman, laborer noun, m., 2nd decl. gnāvus, -a, -um diligent, industrious adjective, 1st/2nd decl. ignāvus, -a, -um lazy, idle adjective, 1st/2nd decl. secūris, -is axe, hatchet noun, f., 3rd decl. acūtus, -a, -um sharp, pointed adjective, 1st/2nd decl. stupidus, -a, -um dull, blunt adjective, 1st/2nd decl. hebēs, hebetis dull, blunt adjective, 3rd decl. cibus, -ī food noun, m., 2nd decl. crūdus, -a, -um raw, uncooked adjective, 1st/2nd decl. coctus, -a, -um cooked participle/adjective

PARS SECUNDA: FĀBULA

Duo Agricolae — Two Farmers

Pars A: Textus Explicātus (Construed Text)

Duo Two agricolae farmers erant were vīcīnī. neighbors. Prīmus The first agricola farmer erat was gnāvus. diligent. Secundus The second agricola farmer erat was ignāvus. lazy.

Prīmō On the first vēre, spring, gnāvus the diligent one agricola farmer agrum his field arāvit. plowed. Ignāvus The lazy one autem however dormīvit. slept.

“Cūr “Why tam so celeriter swiftly labōrās?” do you work?” interrogāvit asked ignāvus. the lazy one.

“Quia “Because tempus time est is opportūnum,” opportune,” respondit replied gnāvus. the diligent one. “Terra “The earth nunc now est is mollis. soft. Sī If tardius more slowly arāverō, I shall have plowed, terra the earth erit will be dūra.” hard.”

Ignāvus The lazy one rīsit. laughed. “Semper “Always festīnās!” you hurry!” inquit. he said. “Ego “I mālo prefer quiēscere.” to rest.”

Aestāte, In summer, ager the field gnāvī of the diligent one erat was fēcundus. fruitful. Frūmentum Grain altum tall et and dēnsum thick crēscēbat. was growing. Ager The field ignāvī of the lazy one autem however erat was sterilis. barren. Herbae Weeds rārae sparse sōlum only crēscēbant. were growing.

“Cūr “Why ager field tuus your tam so fēcundus fruitful est?” is?” interrogāvit asked ignāvus. the lazy one.

“Quia “Because ego I gnāvus diligent fuī, was, tū you ignāvus,” lazy,” respondit replied alter. the other. “Mōtus “Motion meus my erat was celer, swift, mōtus motion tuus your erat was tardus. slow. Ego I alacer brisk eram, I was, tū you piger.” sluggish.”

Autumnō, In autumn, gnāvus the diligent one mēssem a harvest magnam great habuit. had. Ignāvus The lazy one nihil nothing habuit. had.

Hieme, In winter, gnāvus the diligent one cibum food coctum cooked edēbat. was eating. Ignāvus The lazy one cibum food crūdum raw quaerēbat was seeking in in silvīs the woods dēnsīs. thick.

“Nunc “Now intellegō,” I understand,” inquit said ignāvus. the lazy one. “Operārius “A workman gnāvus diligent in in aestāte summer labōrat, works, ut so that in in hieme winter quiēscat. he may rest. Operārius A workman ignāvus lazy in in aestāte summer quiēscit, rests, ut so that in in hieme winter labōret.” he may work.”

Gnāvus The diligent one respondit: replied: “Nōn “Not sōlum only labōret, may he work, sed but etiam also famē from hunger pereat!” may he perish!”

Ab From illō that diē, day, ignāvus the lazy one factus made est was gnāvior. more diligent. Nōn Not tam so gnāvus diligent quam as vīcīnus his neighbor suus, his, sed but gnāvior more diligent quam than anteā. before.

Sīc Thus discimus: we learn: Nātūra Nature ipsa itself docet teaches quī who sit may be gnāvus, diligent, quī who ignāvus. lazy. Ager A field fēcundus fruitful aut or sterilis barren vēritātem the truth ostendit. shows.

Pars B: Sententiae Alternantēs (Alternating Sentences)

Duo agricolae erant vīcīnī. Prīmus agricola erat gnāvus. Secundus agricola erat ignāvus. Two farmers were neighbors. The first farmer was diligent. The second farmer was lazy.

Prīmō vēre, gnāvus agricola agrum arāvit. Ignāvus autem dormīvit. In the first spring, the diligent farmer plowed his field. The lazy one, however, slept.

“Cūr tam celeriter labōrās?” interrogāvit ignāvus. “Why do you work so swiftly?” asked the lazy one.

“Quia tempus est opportūnum,” respondit gnāvus. “Terra nunc est mollis. Sī tardius arāverō, terra erit dūra.” “Because the time is opportune,” replied the diligent one. “The earth is now soft. If I shall have plowed more slowly, the earth will be hard.”

Ignāvus rīsit. “Semper festīnās!” inquit. “Ego mālo quiēscere.” The lazy one laughed. “You always hurry!” he said. “I prefer to rest.”

Aestāte, ager gnāvī erat fēcundus. Frūmentum altum et dēnsum crēscēbat. In summer, the field of the diligent one was fruitful. Tall and thick grain was growing.

Ager ignāvī autem erat sterilis. Herbae rārae sōlum crēscēbant. The field of the lazy one, however, was barren. Only sparse weeds were growing.

“Cūr ager tuus tam fēcundus est?” interrogāvit ignāvus. “Why is your field so fruitful?” asked the lazy one.

“Quia ego gnāvus fuī, tū ignāvus,” respondit alter. “Because I was diligent, you lazy,” replied the other.

“Mōtus meus erat celer, mōtus tuus erat tardus. Ego alacer eram, tū piger.” “My motion was swift, your motion was slow. I was brisk, you sluggish.”

Autumnō, gnāvus mēssem magnam habuit. Ignāvus nihil habuit. In autumn, the diligent one had a great harvest. The lazy one had nothing.

Hieme, gnāvus cibum coctum edēbat. Ignāvus cibum crūdum quaerēbat in silvīs dēnsīs. In winter, the diligent one was eating cooked food. The lazy one was seeking raw food in thick woods.

“Nunc intellegō,” inquit ignāvus. “Operārius gnāvus in aestāte labōrat, ut in hieme quiēscat. Operārius ignāvus in aestāte quiēscit, ut in hieme labōret.” “Now I understand,” said the lazy one. “A diligent workman works in summer, so that he may rest in winter. A lazy workman rests in summer, so that he may work in winter.”

Gnāvus respondit: “Nōn sōlum labōret, sed etiam famē pereat!” The diligent one replied: “Not only may he work, but also may he perish from hunger!”

Ab illō diē, ignāvus factus est gnāvior. Nōn tam gnāvus quam vīcīnus suus, sed gnāvior quam anteā. From that day, the lazy one became more diligent. Not as diligent as his neighbor, but more diligent than before.

Sīc discimus: Nātūra ipsa docet quī sit gnāvus, quī ignāvus. Ager fēcundus aut sterilis vēritātem ostendit. Thus we learn: Nature itself teaches who may be diligent, who lazy. A fruitful or barren field shows the truth.

Pars C: Textus Latīnus Sōlus (Latin Text Only)

Duo agricolae erant vīcīnī. Prīmus agricola erat gnāvus. Secundus agricola erat ignāvus.

Prīmō vēre, gnāvus agricola agrum arāvit. Ignāvus autem dormīvit.

“Cūr tam celeriter labōrās?” interrogāvit ignāvus.

“Quia tempus est opportūnum,” respondit gnāvus. “Terra nunc est mollis. Sī tardius arāverō, terra erit dūra.”

Ignāvus rīsit. “Semper festīnās!” inquit. “Ego mālo quiēscere.”

Aestāte, ager gnāvī erat fēcundus. Frūmentum altum et dēnsum crēscēbat. Ager ignāvī autem erat sterilis. Herbae rārae sōlum crēscēbant.

“Cūr ager tuus tam fēcundus est?” interrogāvit ignāvus.

“Quia ego gnāvus fuī, tū ignāvus,” respondit alter. “Mōtus meus erat celer, mōtus tuus erat tardus. Ego alacer eram, tū piger.”

Autumnō, gnāvus mēssem magnam habuit. Ignāvus nihil habuit.

Hieme, gnāvus cibum coctum edēbat. Ignāvus cibum crūdum quaerēbat in silvīs dēnsīs.

“Nunc intellegō,” inquit ignāvus. “Operārius gnāvus in aestāte labōrat, ut in hieme quiēscat. Operārius ignāvus in aestāte quiēscit, ut in hieme labōret.”

Gnāvus respondit: “Nōn sōlum labōret, sed etiam famē pereat!”

Ab illō diē, ignāvus factus est gnāvior. Nōn tam gnāvus quam vīcīnus suus, sed gnāvior quam anteā.

Sīc discimus: Nātūra ipsa docet quī sit gnāvus, quī ignāvus. Ager fēcundus aut sterilis vēritātem ostendit.

Pars D: Nōtae Fābulae (Notes on the Fable)

Moral Theme

This fable illustrates the Comenian principle that nature teaches. The consequences of diligence and laziness are not abstract moral lessons but observable physical results: a fruitful or barren field.

Grammar Highlights

Future Perfect: Sī tardius arāverō — “If I shall have plowed more slowly” (future perfect indicative in the protasis of a future more vivid condition)

Purpose Clause: ut in hieme quiēscat — “so that he may rest in winter” (subjunctive after ut)

Comparative: gnāvior quam anteā — “more diligent than before” (comparative adjective + quam)

Substantive Adjective: gnāvus and ignāvus used as nouns (”the diligent one,” “the lazy one”)

PARS TERTIA: COLLOQUIUM

Magister et Discipulus — Teacher and Student

Pars A: Textus Explicātus (Construed Text)

DISCIPULUS: Magister, Master, cūr why “celer” “celer” et and “tardus” “tardus” dīversās different dēclīnātiōnēs declensions habent? have?

COMĒNIUS: Quia Because Latīna Latin lingua tongue ita thus ēvolūta developed est. is. “Celer” “Celer” est is tertiae of the third dēclīnātiōnis: declension: celer, celer, celeris, celeris, celere. celere. “Tardus” “Tardus” autem however est is prīmae of the first et and secundae: second: tardus, tardus, tarda, tarda, tardum. tardum.

DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo How haec these discernō? do I discern?

COMĒNIUS: Per Through ūsum! use! “Celer” “Celer” et and “alacer” “alacer” et and “ācer” “acer” sunt are similēs: similar: omnēs all in in “-er” “-er” terminant, end, omnēs all tertiae of the third dēclīnātiōnis declension sunt. are.

DISCIPULUS: Et And “piger”? “piger”? “Piger” “Piger” quoque also in in “-er” “-er” terminat! ends!

COMĒNIUS: Bene Well observās! you observe! Sed But “piger” “piger” est is prīmae of the first et and secundae second dēclīnātiōnis: declension: piger, piger, pigra, pigra, pigrum. pigrum. Sīcut Just as “niger”: “niger”: niger, niger, nigra, nigra, nigrum. nigrum.

DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo How ergō therefore discernō do I discern “celer” “celer” ā from “piger”? “piger”?

COMĒNIUS: Spectā Look at fōrmam the form fēminīnam. feminine. “Celeris” “Celeris” —tertiae —of the third dēclīnātiōnis. declension. “Pigra” “Pigra” —prīmae —of the first dēclīnātiōnis. declension. Fēminīnum The feminine vēritātem the truth ostendit. shows.

DISCIPULUS: Intellegō! I understand! Et And quid what dē about “hebēs”? “hebes”?

COMĒNIUS: “Hebēs” “Hebes” est is tertiae of the third dēclīnātiōnis declension quoque, also, sed but ūnīus of one terminatiōnis ending sōlum: only: hebēs, hebes, hebēs, hebes, hebēs hebes —idem —the same in in omnibus all generibus. genders.

DISCIPULUS: “Secūris “A hatchet hebēs” blunt” —quod —which genus? gender?

COMĒNIUS: “Secūris” “Secūris” est is fēminīna. feminine. Ergō Therefore “secūris “a hatchet hebēs” blunt” —fēminīnum. —feminine. Sed But “hebēs” “hebes” eādem the same fōrmā form manet. remains.

DISCIPULUS: Nunc Now dē about “coctus” “coctus” interrogō. I ask. Estne Is it adiectīvum an adjective an or participium? a participle?

COMĒNIUS: Utrumque! Both! “Coctus” “Coctus” est is participium a participle perfectum perfect passīvum passive verbī of the verb “coquō.” “coquo.” Sed But ūtitur it is used ut as adiectīvum: an adjective: “cibus “food coctus” cooked” = = “cibus “food quī which coctus cooked est.” is.”

DISCIPULUS: Ergō Therefore participia participles possunt are able fierī to become adiectīva? adjectives?

COMĒNIUS: Ita! Yes! Multa Many adiectīva adjectives Latīna Latin ōlim once participia participles erant. were. Haec This est is pars part pulchra beautiful linguae of the language Latīnae. Latin.

Pars B: Sententiae Alternantēs (Alternating Sentences)

DISCIPULUS: Magister, cūr “celer” et “tardus” dīversās dēclīnātiōnēs habent? STUDENT: Master, why do “celer” and “tardus” have different declensions?

COMĒNIUS: Quia Latīna lingua ita ēvolūta est. “Celer” est tertiae dēclīnātiōnis: celer, celeris, celere. “Tardus” autem est prīmae et secundae: tardus, tarda, tardum. COMENIUS: Because the Latin language developed thus. “Celer” is of the third declension: celer, celeris, celere. “Tardus,” however, is of the first and second: tardus, tarda, tardum.

DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo haec discernō? STUDENT: How do I discern these?

COMĒNIUS: Per ūsum! “Celer” et “alacer” et “ācer” sunt similēs: omnēs in “-er” terminant, omnēs tertiae dēclīnātiōnis sunt. COMENIUS: Through use! “Celer” and “alacer” and “acer” are similar: all end in “-er,” all are of the third declension.

DISCIPULUS: Et “piger”? “Piger” quoque in “-er” terminat! STUDENT: And “piger”? “Piger” also ends in “-er”!

COMĒNIUS: Bene observās! Sed “piger” est prīmae et secundae dēclīnātiōnis: piger, pigra, pigrum. Sīcut “niger”: niger, nigra, nigrum. COMENIUS: You observe well! But “piger” is of the first and second declension: piger, pigra, pigrum. Just like “niger”: niger, nigra, nigrum.

DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo ergō discernō “celer” ā “piger”? STUDENT: How therefore do I discern “celer” from “piger”?

COMĒNIUS: Spectā fōrmam fēminīnam. “Celeris”—tertiae dēclīnātiōnis. “Pigra”—prīmae dēclīnātiōnis. Fēminīnum vēritātem ostendit. COMENIUS: Look at the feminine form. “Celeris”—of the third declension. “Pigra”—of the first declension. The feminine shows the truth.

DISCIPULUS: Intellegō! Et quid dē “hebēs”? STUDENT: I understand! And what about “hebes”?

COMĒNIUS: “Hebēs” est tertiae dēclīnātiōnis quoque, sed ūnīus terminatiōnis sōlum: hebēs, hebēs, hebēs—idem in omnibus generibus. COMENIUS: “Hebes” is of the third declension also, but of one ending only: hebes, hebes, hebes—the same in all genders.

DISCIPULUS: “Secūris hebēs”—quod genus? STUDENT: “A blunt hatchet”—which gender?

COMĒNIUS: “Secūris” est fēminīna. Ergō “secūris hebēs”—fēminīnum. Sed “hebēs” eādem fōrmā manet. COMENIUS: “Secūris” is feminine. Therefore “a blunt hatchet”—feminine. But “hebes” remains the same form.

DISCIPULUS: Nunc dē “coctus” interrogō. Estne adiectīvum an participium? STUDENT: Now I ask about “coctus.” Is it an adjective or a participle?

COMĒNIUS: Utrumque! “Coctus” est participium perfectum passīvum verbī “coquō.” Sed ūtitur ut adiectīvum: “cibus coctus” = “cibus quī coctus est.” COMENIUS: Both! “Coctus” is the perfect passive participle of the verb “coquo.” But it is used as an adjective: “cooked food” = “food which has been cooked.”

DISCIPULUS: Ergō participia possunt fierī adiectīva? STUDENT: Therefore participles can become adjectives?

COMĒNIUS: Ita! Multa adiectīva Latīna ōlim participia erant. Haec est pars pulchra linguae Latīnae. COMENIUS: Yes! Many Latin adjectives were once participles. This is a beautiful part of the Latin language.

Pars C: Textus Latīnus Sōlus (Latin Text Only)

DISCIPULUS: Magister, cūr “celer” et “tardus” dīversās dēclīnātiōnēs habent?

COMĒNIUS: Quia Latīna lingua ita ēvolūta est. “Celer” est tertiae dēclīnātiōnis: celer, celeris, celere. “Tardus” autem est prīmae et secundae: tardus, tarda, tardum.

DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo haec discernō?

COMĒNIUS: Per ūsum! “Celer” et “alacer” et “ācer” sunt similēs: omnēs in “-er” terminant, omnēs tertiae dēclīnātiōnis sunt.

DISCIPULUS: Et “piger”? “Piger” quoque in “-er” terminat!

COMĒNIUS: Bene observās! Sed “piger” est prīmae et secundae dēclīnātiōnis: piger, pigra, pigrum. Sīcut “niger”: niger, nigra, nigrum.

DISCIPULUS: Quōmodo ergō discernō “celer” ā “piger”?

COMĒNIUS: Spectā fōrmam fēminīnam. “Celeris”—tertiae dēclīnātiōnis. “Pigra”—prīmae dēclīnātiōnis. Fēminīnum vēritātem ostendit.

DISCIPULUS: Intellegō! Et quid dē “hebēs”?

COMĒNIUS: “Hebēs” est tertiae dēclīnātiōnis quoque, sed ūnīus terminatiōnis sōlum: hebēs, hebēs, hebēs—idem in omnibus generibus.

DISCIPULUS: “Secūris hebēs”—quod genus?

COMĒNIUS: “Secūris” est fēminīna. Ergō “secūris hebēs”—fēminīnum. Sed “hebēs” eādem fōrmā manet.

DISCIPULUS: Nunc dē “coctus” interrogō. Estne adiectīvum an participium?

COMĒNIUS: Utrumque! “Coctus” est participium perfectum passīvum verbī “coquō.” Sed ūtitur ut adiectīvum: “cibus coctus” = “cibus quī coctus est.”

DISCIPULUS: Ergō participia possunt fierī adiectīva?

COMĒNIUS: Ita! Multa adiectīva Latīna ōlim participia erant. Haec est pars pulchra linguae Latīnae.

Pars D: Nōtae Colloquiī (Notes on the Dialogue)

Distinguishing -er Adjectives

The dialogue addresses a real difficulty for Latin learners: adjectives ending in -er belong to different declensions.

Third Declension (-er, -ris, -re): -

celer, celeris, celere (swift) -

alacer, alacris, alacre (brisk) -

ācer, ācris, ācre (sharp)

First/Second Declension (-er, -ra, -rum): -

piger, pigra, pigrum (sluggish) -

niger, nigra, nigrum (black) -

pulcher, pulchra, pulchrum (beautiful)

Key diagnostic: Look at the feminine form. If it ends in -is, it’s third declension. If it ends in -a, it’s first/second.

Participles as Adjectives

The dialogue explains how coctus functions both as a participle and as an adjective—a crucial concept for understanding Latin’s economy of expression.

EXERCITIA

Exercitium I: Redde Latīnē (Render into Latin)

-

The forest is dense. -

The field is barren. -

Motion is slow. -

The workman is diligent. -

The food is cooked.

Exercitium II: Contrāria (Opposites)

Give the opposite of each adjective: -

dēnsus → _______ -

fēcundus → _______ -

celer → _______ -

alacer → _______ -

gnāvus → _______ -

acūtus → _______ -

crūdus → _______

Exercitium III: Ēlige Dēclīnātiōnem (Choose the Declension)

Mark each adjective as “3rd decl.” or “1st/2nd decl.”: -

celer _______ -

tardus _______ -

alacer _______ -

piger _______ -

hebēs _______ -

acūtus _______

Exercitium IV: Complē Sententiās (Complete the Sentences)

-

Silva _______ est, silva _______ nōn est. (dēnsa/rāra) -

Cursor _______ celeriter currit, cursor _______ lentē currit. (alacer/piger) -

Secūris _______ bene secat, secūris _______ male secat. (acūta/hebēs)

TRĀNSITUS AD LECTIŌNEM XX

In proximā lectiōne, ad sermōnem et historiam prōgredimur: sermō est iocōsus vel sērius, historia est certa aut dubia, testimōnium est vērum vel falsum. Ab quālitātibus physicīs ad quālitātēs verbōrum et vēritātis prōgredimur.

In the next lesson, we proceed to speech and history: a speech is merry or serious, a history is certain or doubtful, a testimony is true or false. From physical qualities we proceed to qualities of words and truth.

Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.

CLĀVĒS EXERCITIŌRUM (Answer Keys)

Exercitium I

-

Silva est dēnsa. -

Ager est sterilis. -

Mōtus est tardus. -

Operārius est gnāvus. -

Cibus est coctus.

Exercitium II

-

dēnsus → rārus -

fēcundus → sterilis -

celer → tardus -

alacer → piger -

gnāvus → ignāvus -

acūtus → stupidus (or hebēs) -

crūdus → coctus

Exercitium III

-

celer — 3rd decl. -

tardus — 1st/2nd decl. -

alacer — 3rd decl. -

piger — 1st/2nd decl. -

hebēs — 3rd decl. -

acūtus — 1st/2nd decl.

Exercitium IV

-

Silva dēnsa est, silva rāra nōn est. -

Cursor alacer celeriter currit, cursor piger lentē currit. -

Secūris acūta bene secat, secūris hebēs male secat.

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← Lesson 18 ↩ Course Index Lesson 20 →