← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
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Comēnius quārtum surgit. In manū rotam ligneam tenet.
We have measured the world. We have touched its textures. Now we see its shapes.
A globe is round. A column is rounded. A table is square. The letter X has the form of a cross. These are the fundamental geometries — the fōrmae that underlie all visible things.
And with shape comes appearance: the peacock is beautiful, the ape is ugly. Latin does not flinch from such judgments. Formōsus and dēformis — these words share a root: fōrma (shape, form). Beauty is good form; ugliness is bad form. The language itself teaches philosophy.
Then we pass to color. Chalk is white. A board is black. Vermilion is red. Brimstone is yellow. Grass is green. The sky is blue. The visible world opens in all its hues.
With this lesson you complete Chapter One of the Vestibulum: Dē Accidentibus Rērum — On the Accidents of Things. You have learned what things are (eternal or temporary), what they look like (visible or invisible), where they stand (high or low), how they feel (rough or smooth), what shape they take, and what color they bear.
The foundation is laid. The porch stands complete.
Let us finish well.
Dē Fōrmīs et Pulchritūdine — On Shapes and Beauty
Globus A globe est is rotundus. round. Columna A column [est] [is] terēs. rounded. Mēnsa A table [est] [is] quadrāta. square.
X The letter X habet has formam the form crucis. of a cross.
Pāvō A peacock est is formōsus. beautiful. Sīmia An ape [est] [is] dēformis. ugly.
Globus est rotundus. Columna terēs. Mēnsa quadrāta. A globe is round. A column is rounded. A table is square.
X habet formam crucis. X has the form of a cross.
Pāvō est formōsus. Sīmia dēformis. A peacock is beautiful. An ape is ugly.
Globus est rotundus. Columna terēs. Mēnsa quadrāta. X habet formam crucis. Pāvō est formōsus. Sīmia dēformis.
The accusative case with habēre. The verb habet (has) takes a direct object in the accusative case: X habet formam crucis — X has the form of a cross. Here formam is accusative singular of fōrma (1st declension).
Genitive of description. Formam crucis — literally “the form of a cross.” The genitive crucis (of a cross) describes what kind of form. This construction is very common in Latin.
Nominative Genitive Meaning crux crucis cross / of a cross fōrma fōrmae form / of a form
The adjective terēs. This 3rd declension adjective (terēs, teretis) means “rounded, smooth, cylindrical” — different from rotundus (spherically round). A column is terēs (cylindrically rounded); a globe is rotundus (spherical).
Word families: fōrma. Notice how formōsus (beautiful) and dēformis (ugly) both derive from fōrma (shape): -
formōsus, -a, -um = well-formed, beautiful (fōrma + -ōsus = “full of form”) -
dēformis, -e = mis-shapen, ugly (dē- + fōrma = “away from proper form”)
This reveals Latin’s philosophical intuition: beauty is good form; ugliness is departure from form.
New nouns:
Nominative Genitive Gender Meaning globus globī m. globe, ball, sphere columna columnae f. column, pillar mēnsa mēnsae f. table crux crucis f. cross pāvō pāvōnis m. peacock sīmia sīmiae f. ape, monkey
New adjectives:
Latin English Type rotundus, -a, -um round, spherical 1st/2nd decl. terēs, teretis rounded, cylindrical 3rd decl. quadrātus, -a, -um square, four-sided 1st/2nd decl. formōsus, -a, -um beautiful, handsome 1st/2nd decl. dēformis, -e ugly, misshapen 3rd decl.
Dē Colōribus — On Colors
Crēta Chalk est is alba. white. Tabula A board [est] [is] nigra. black.
Cinnabaris Vermilion [est] [is] rubra. red. Sulphur Brimstone [est] [is] luteum. yellow.
Grāmen Grass [est] [is] viride. green. Fīrmāmentum The sky [est] [is] caeruleum. blue.
Vitrum Glass est is pellūcidum. transparent. Asser A plank [est] [is] opācus. opaque.
Aqua Water [est] [is] turbida cloudy vel or clāra. clear.
Crēta est alba. Tabula nigra. Chalk is white. A board is black.
Cinnabaris rubra. Sulphur luteum. Vermilion is red. Brimstone is yellow.
Grāmen viride. Fīrmāmentum caeruleum. Grass is green. The sky is blue.
Vitrum est pellūcidum. Asser opācus. Glass is transparent. A plank is opaque.
Aqua turbida vel clāra. Water is cloudy or clear.
Crēta est alba. Tabula nigra. Cinnabaris rubra. Sulphur luteum. Grāmen viride. Fīrmāmentum caeruleum. Vitrum est pellūcidum. Asser opācus. Aqua turbida vel clāra.
Color vocabulary. Latin has rich vocabulary for colors, often derived from natural objects:
Latin English Note albus, -a, -um white (matte white, as chalk) niger, nigra, nigrum black ruber, rubra, rubrum red luteus, -a, -um yellow (from lutum, mud/yellow dye) viridis, -e green (3rd decl. adjective) caeruleus, -a, -um blue (sky-blue, sea-blue) pellūcidus, -a, -um transparent, see-through opācus, -a, -um opaque, dark, shady turbidus, -a, -um cloudy, muddy, disturbed clārus, -a, -um clear, bright, famous
Neuter nouns with neuter adjectives. Notice agreement: -
Sulphur (n.) + luteum (n.) — Brimstone is yellow -
Grāmen (n.) + viride (n.) — Grass is green -
Fīrmāmentum (n.) + caeruleum (n.) — The sky is blue -
Vitrum (n.) + pellūcidum (n.) — Glass is transparent
New nouns from the colors section:
Nominative Genitive Gender Meaning crēta crētae f. chalk tabula tabulae f. board, tablet cinnabaris cinnabaris f. vermilion, cinnabar sulphur sulphuris n. brimstone, sulfur grāmen grāminis n. grass fīrmāmentum fīrmāmentī n. sky, firmament vitrum vitrī n. glass asser asseris m. plank, board aqua aquae f. water
Third declension neuters in -men. Words like grāmen (grass) and fīrmāmentum follow the pattern: nominative -men, genitive -minis. Compare forāmen/forāminis (hole) from Lesson Three.
Pictor — The Painter
In In urbe the city Rōmā Rome pictor a painter habitat. lives. Nōmen The name eius his est is Lūcius. Lucius.
Lūcius Lucius fōrmās shapes omnēs all amat. loves. In In officīnā the workshop suā his multās many rēs things habet. he has.
Globum A globe rotundum round habet he has — imāginem an image mundī of the world rotundī. round.
Columnam A column quoque also habet, he has, marmoream of marble et and teretem. rounded.
Mēnsa A table quadrāta square in in mediō the middle officīnae of the workshop stat. stands.
Super Upon mēnsam the table Lūcius Lucius pingit. paints.
Hodiē Today avem a bird formōsam beautiful pingere to paint vult he wants — pāvōnem! a peacock!
Pāvō A peacock est is pulcherrimus. most beautiful. Pennae The feathers eius its sunt are caeruleae blue et and viridēs green et and aureae. golden.
Prīmō First Lūcius Lucius crētam chalk albam white sūmit. takes. Cum With crētā chalk fōrmam the form pāvōnis of the peacock dēsignat. he sketches.
Līneae The lines albae white in on tabulā the board nigrā black clārē clearly videntur. are seen.
Deinde Then colōrēs colors addit. he adds. Caput The head pāvōnis of the peacock caeruleum blue pingit. he paints. Collum The neck viride green facit. he makes.
Pennae The feathers caudae of the tail sunt are maximae. very large. In On pennīs the feathers oculōs eyes pingit he paints — circulōs circles caeruleōs blue et and viridēs green et and aureōs. golden.
Mox Soon pāvō the peacock perfectus completed est! is! Amīcus A friend officīnam the workshop intrat enters et and pictūram the painting videt. sees.
“Quam “How formōsus!” beautiful!” exclāmat. he exclaims. “Pāvō “The peacock tuus your paene almost vīvit!” lives!”
Lūcius Lucius rīdet. laughs. “Grātiās “Thanks tibi to you agō,” I give,” inquit. he says.
“Sed “But crās tomorrow sīmiam an ape pingam.” I shall paint.”
Amīcus The friend mīrātur. wonders. “Cūr “Why sīmiam? an ape? Sīmia An ape dēformis ugly est!” is!”
Lūcius Lucius respondet: responds: “Pictor “A painter omnia all things pingit paints — et both formōsa beautiful et and dēformia. ugly. In In naturā nature omnia all things pulchra beautiful sunt, are, suō in their own modō.” way.”
In urbe Rōmā pictor habitat. Nōmen eius est Lūcius. In the city of Rome a painter lives. His name is Lucius.
Lūcius fōrmās omnēs amat. In officīnā suā multās rēs habet. Lucius loves all shapes. In his workshop he has many things.
Globum rotundum habet — imāginem mundī rotundī. He has a round globe — an image of the round world.
Columnam quoque habet, marmoream et teretem. He also has a column, of marble and rounded.
Mēnsa quadrāta in mediō officīnae stat. Super mēnsam Lūcius pingit. A square table stands in the middle of the workshop. Upon the table Lucius paints.
Hodiē avem formōsam pingere vult — pāvōnem! Today he wants to paint a beautiful bird — a peacock!
Pāvō est pulcherrimus. Pennae eius sunt caeruleae et viridēs et aureae. A peacock is most beautiful. Its feathers are blue and green and golden.
Prīmō Lūcius crētam albam sūmit. Cum crētā fōrmam pāvōnis dēsignat. First Lucius takes white chalk. With chalk he sketches the form of the peacock.
Līneae albae in tabulā nigrā clārē videntur. The white lines are clearly seen on the black board.
Deinde colōrēs addit. Caput pāvōnis caeruleum pingit. Collum viride facit. Then he adds colors. He paints the head of the peacock blue. He makes the neck green.
Pennae caudae sunt maximae. In pennīs oculōs pingit — circulōs caeruleōs et viridēs et aureōs. The tail feathers are very large. On the feathers he paints eyes — blue and green and golden circles.
Mox pāvō perfectus est! Amīcus officīnam intrat et pictūram videt. Soon the peacock is completed! A friend enters the workshop and sees the painting.
“Quam formōsus!” exclāmat. “Pāvō tuus paene vīvit!” “How beautiful!” he exclaims. “Your peacock almost lives!”
Lūcius rīdet. “Grātiās tibi agō,” inquit. “Sed crās sīmiam pingam.” Lucius laughs. “I give thanks to you,” he says. “But tomorrow I shall paint an ape.”
Amīcus mīrātur. “Cūr sīmiam? Sīmia dēformis est!” The friend wonders. “Why an ape? An ape is ugly!”
Lūcius respondet: “Pictor omnia pingit — et formōsa et dēformia. In naturā omnia pulchra sunt, suō modō.” Lucius responds: “A painter paints all things — both beautiful and ugly. In nature all things are beautiful, in their own way.”
In urbe Rōmā pictor habitat. Nōmen eius est Lūcius. Lūcius fōrmās omnēs amat. In officīnā suā multās rēs habet.
Globum rotundum habet — imāginem mundī rotundī. Columnam quoque habet, marmoream et teretem. Mēnsa quadrāta in mediō officīnae stat. Super mēnsam Lūcius pingit.
Hodiē avem formōsam pingere vult — pāvōnem! Pāvō est pulcherrimus. Pennae eius sunt caeruleae et viridēs et aureae.
Prīmō Lūcius crētam albam sūmit. Cum crētā fōrmam pāvōnis dēsignat. Līneae albae in tabulā nigrā clārē videntur.
Deinde colōrēs addit. Caput pāvōnis caeruleum pingit. Collum viride facit. Pennae caudae sunt maximae. In pennīs oculōs pingit — circulōs caeruleōs et viridēs et aureōs.
Mox pāvō perfectus est! Amīcus officīnam intrat et pictūram videt. “Quam formōsus!” exclāmat. “Pāvō tuus paene vīvit!”
Lūcius rīdet. “Grātiās tibi agō,” inquit. “Sed crās sīmiam pingam.”
Amīcus mīrātur. “Cūr sīmiam? Sīmia dēformis est!”
Lūcius respondet: “Pictor omnia pingit — et formōsa et dēformia. In naturā omnia pulchra sunt, suō modō.”
New verbs in this story:
Latin English Note pingit paints 3rd sing. of pingere vult wants 3rd sing. of velle (irregular) addit adds 3rd sing. of addere videntur are seen passive of vidēre intrat enters 3rd sing. of intrāre exclāmat exclaims 3rd sing. rīdet laughs 3rd sing. of rīdēre mīrātur wonders deponent verb pingam I shall paint future, 1st sing.
The future tense. Pingam (I shall paint) is first person singular future of pingere. The future expresses what will happen: Crās sīmiam pingam — Tomorrow I shall paint an ape.
The superlative degree. Pulcherrimus (most beautiful) is the superlative of pulcher. Note the stem change: pulcher → pulcherrim- + -us. Similarly maximus (greatest, very large) is superlative of magnus.
Ablative of manner. Suō modō — “in its own way/manner.” The ablative expresses how something is done.
New vocabulary:
Latin English Note pictor painter m. imāgō image f., gen. imāginis marmoreus of marble adj. penna feather f. cauda tail f. oculus eye m. circulus circle m. aureus golden adj. pictūra painting, picture f. paene almost adv. crās tomorrow adv. modus way, manner m.
Comēnius et Discipulus: Dē Fōrmīs et Colōribus
Discipulus: Student: Salvē, Hello, magister! teacher! Hodiē Today dē about fōrmīs shapes discēmus? shall we learn?
Comēnius: Comenius: Ita, Yes, et and dē about colōribus. colors. Aspice Look at hunc this globum. globe. Quālis What kind est? is it?
Discipulus: Student: Rotundus Round est! it is! Sīcut Like mundus the world ipse. itself.
Comēnius: Comenius: Rēctē. Correct. Nunc Now aspice look at hanc this columnam. column. Estne Is it rotunda? round?
Discipulus: Student: Est... It is... sed but nōn not sīcut like globus. a globe.
Comēnius: Comenius: Bene! Good! Globus A globe est is rotundus round omnī in every parte. part. Columna A column est is terēs rounded — rotunda round circum, around, sed but longa. long.
Discipulus: Student: Et And mēnsa? a table?
Comēnius: Comenius: Mēnsa A table est is quadrāta. square. Quattuor Four latera sides habet, it has, quattuor four angulōs. corners.
Discipulus: Student: Et And littera the letter X? X?
Comēnius: Comenius: X X habet has formam the form crucis. of a cross. Duae Two līneae lines sē each other secant. cut.
Discipulus: Student: Nunc Now dē about colōribus colors dīc! tell!
Comēnius: Comenius: Aspice Look at hanc this crētam. chalk. Quī What color color est? is it?
Discipulus: Student: Alba White est. it is.
Comēnius: Comenius: Et And tabula the board haec? this?
Discipulus: Student: Nigra. Black.
Comēnius: Comenius: Album White et and nigrum black — contrāria contraries sunt. are. Lūx Light et and tenebrae. darkness.
Discipulus: Student: Quot How many colōrēs colors sunt? are there?
Comēnius: Comenius: Multī! Many! Ruber, Red, luteus, yellow, viridis, green, caeruleus... blue... Mundus The world plēnus full est is colōrum. of colors.
Discipulus: Student: Quī Which color color tibi to you maximē most placet? pleases?
Comēnius: Comenius: Omnēs! All! Deus God omnēs all colōrēs colors creāvit. created. Omnēs All pulchrī beautiful sunt. are. Sīcut Just as pāvō a peacock formōsus beautiful est, is, sīc so mundus the world ipse itself formōsus beautiful est. is.
Discipulus: Student: Et And sīmia? an ape? Nōnne Is it not dēformis? ugly?
Comēnius: Comenius: Sīmia An ape nōn not est is pulchra beautiful sīcut like pāvō. a peacock. Sed But Deus God etiam also sīmiam the ape creāvit. created. Quis Who nōs us sumus are we ut that Deī God’s opera works iūdicēmus? we should judge?
Discipulus: Salvē, magister! Hodiē dē fōrmīs discēmus? Student: Hello, teacher! Shall we learn about shapes today?
Comēnius: Ita, et dē colōribus. Aspice hunc globum. Quālis est? Comenius: Yes, and about colors. Look at this globe. What kind is it?
Discipulus: Rotundus est! Sīcut mundus ipse. Student: It is round! Like the world itself.
Comēnius: Rēctē. Nunc aspice hanc columnam. Estne rotunda? Comenius: Correct. Now look at this column. Is it round?
Discipulus: Est... sed nōn sīcut globus. Student: It is... but not like a globe.
Comēnius: Bene! Globus est rotundus omnī parte. Columna est terēs — rotunda circum, sed longa. Comenius: Good! A globe is round in every part. A column is rounded — round around, but long.
Discipulus: Et mēnsa? Student: And a table?
Comēnius: Mēnsa est quadrāta. Quattuor latera habet, quattuor angulōs. Comenius: A table is square. It has four sides, four corners.
Discipulus: Et littera X? Student: And the letter X?
Comēnius: X habet formam crucis. Duae līneae sē secant. Comenius: X has the form of a cross. Two lines cut each other.
Discipulus: Nunc dē colōribus dīc! Student: Now tell about colors!
Comēnius: Aspice hanc crētam. Quī color est? Comenius: Look at this chalk. What color is it?
Discipulus: Alba est. Student: It is white.
Comēnius: Et tabula haec? Comenius: And this board?
Discipulus: Nigra. Student: Black.
Comēnius: Album et nigrum — contrāria sunt. Lūx et tenebrae. Comenius: White and black — they are contraries. Light and darkness.
Discipulus: Quot colōrēs sunt? Student: How many colors are there?
Comēnius: Multī! Ruber, luteus, viridis, caeruleus... Mundus plēnus est colōrum. Comenius: Many! Red, yellow, green, blue... The world is full of colors.
Discipulus: Quī color tibi maximē placet? Student: Which color pleases you most?
Comēnius: Omnēs! Deus omnēs colōrēs creāvit. Omnēs pulchrī sunt. Sīcut pāvō formōsus est, sīc mundus ipse formōsus est. Comenius: All! God created all colors. All are beautiful. Just as a peacock is beautiful, so the world itself is beautiful.
Discipulus: Et sīmia? Nōnne dēformis? Student: And an ape? Is it not ugly?
Comēnius: Sīmia nōn est pulchra sīcut pāvō. Sed Deus etiam sīmiam creāvit. Quis nōs sumus ut Deī opera iūdicēmus? Comenius: An ape is not beautiful like a peacock. But God also created the ape. Who are we to judge God’s works?
Discipulus: Salvē, magister! Hodiē dē fōrmīs discēmus? Comēnius: Ita, et dē colōribus. Aspice hunc globum. Quālis est? Discipulus: Rotundus est! Sīcut mundus ipse. Comēnius: Rēctē. Nunc aspice hanc columnam. Estne rotunda? Discipulus: Est... sed nōn sīcut globus. Comēnius: Bene! Globus est rotundus omnī parte. Columna est terēs — rotunda circum, sed longa. Discipulus: Et mēnsa? Comēnius: Mēnsa est quadrāta. Quattuor latera habet, quattuor angulōs. Discipulus: Et littera X? Comēnius: X habet formam crucis. Duae līneae sē secant. Discipulus: Nunc dē colōribus dīc! Comēnius: Aspice hanc crētam. Quī color est? Discipulus: Alba est. Comēnius: Et tabula haec? Discipulus: Nigra. Comēnius: Album et nigrum — contrāria sunt. Lūx et tenebrae. Discipulus: Quot colōrēs sunt? Comēnius: Multī! Ruber, luteus, viridis, caeruleus... Mundus plēnus est colōrum. Discipulus: Quī color tibi maximē placet? Comēnius: Omnēs! Deus omnēs colōrēs creāvit. Omnēs pulchrī sunt. Sīcut pāvō formōsus est, sīc mundus ipse formōsus est. Discipulus: Et sīmia? Nōnne dēformis? Comēnius: Sīmia nōn est pulchra sīcut pāvō. Sed Deus etiam sīmiam creāvit. Quis nōs sumus ut Deī opera iūdicēmus?
New question words:
Latin English Note quālis what kind? interrogative adj. quot how many? indeclinable quī which? what? interrogative adj. (here with color)
The question nōnne. When you expect the answer “yes,” use nōnne: Nōnne dēformis? — Is it not ugly? (expecting “yes, it is ugly”)
Subjunctive of purpose. Quis nōs sumus ut iūdicēmus? — Who are we that we should judge? The subjunctive iūdicēmus expresses purpose or result after ut.
Reflexive pronoun sē. Duae līneae sē secant — Two lines cut each other (literally: cut themselves). The reflexive sē here has reciprocal meaning.
Ablative of respect. Omnī parte — “in every part/respect.” The ablative without a preposition can express the respect in which something is true.
New vocabulary from this colloquium:
Latin English Note quālis what kind interrog. adj. circum around adv./prep. latus side n., gen. lateris angulus corner, angle m. littera letter (of alphabet) f. secō I cut 1st sing. contrārius contrary, opposite adj. lūx light f., gen. lūcis tenebrae darkness f. pl. quot how many indecl. placeō I please + dat. maximē most, especially adv. creō I create 1st sing. iūdicō I judge 1st sing.
Practice makes the seed grow. Do not merely read — do.
Exercitātiō I: Match the shapes. Draw a line between each Latin word and its English meaning.
Latin English 1. rotundus a. square 2. terēs b. round (spherical) 3. quadrātus c. cross-shaped 4. crucis fōrma d. cylindrically rounded
(Answers: 1-b, 2-d, 3-a, 4-c)
Exercitātiō II: Match the colors. Draw a line between each Latin word and its English meaning.
Latin English 1. albus a. blue 2. niger b. white 3. ruber c. green 4. viridis d. black 5. caeruleus e. red
(Answers: 1-b, 2-d, 3-e, 4-c, 5-a)
Exercitātiō III: Complete the sentence. Fill each gap with the correct Latin word. -
Globus est __________ (round). -
Columna est __________ (cylindrically rounded). -
Mēnsa est __________ (square). -
Crēta est __________ (white). -
Grāmen est __________ (green). -
Pāvō est __________ (beautiful). -
Sīmia est __________ (ugly).
(Answers: 1. rotundus, 2. terēs, 3. quadrāta, 4. alba, 5. viride, 6. formōsus, 7. dēformis)
Exercitātiō IV: Genitive practice. Complete each phrase with the correct genitive form. -
fōrma __________ (of a cross, crux) -
imāgō __________ (of the world, mundus) -
fōrma __________ (of a peacock, pāvō) -
color __________ (of grass, grāmen)
(Answers: 1. crucis, 2. mundī, 3. pāvōnis, 4. grāminis)
Exercitātiō V: Translate into Latin. -
A globe is round. -
X has the form of a cross. -
A peacock is beautiful. -
Chalk is white. -
The sky is blue.
(Answers: 1. Globus est rotundus. 2. X habet formam crucis. 3. Pāvō est formōsus. 4. Crēta est alba. 5. Fīrmāmentum est caeruleum.)
Exercitātiō VI: Look and describe. Look around you. Find five objects. For each object, say in Latin: -
What shape is it? (Rotundum est / Quadrātum est / Longum est) -
What color is it? (Album est / Nigrum est / Rubrum est / etc.)
Example: A ball — Globus est. Rotundus est. Ruber est.
Exercitātiō VII: Word families. Both formōsus and dēformis come from fōrma. Can you explain in your own words why “beautiful” and “ugly” share the same root in Latin? What does this tell us about how Romans understood beauty?
With this lesson you have completed Chapter One of the Vestibulum.
You began with the eternal and the temporary, the immortal and the mortal. You measured the world — great and small, high and low, long and short. You touched its textures — thin and thick, rough and smooth, heavy and light. You learned its shapes — round, square, crossed. You saw its colors — white, black, red, yellow, green, blue. You distinguished the beautiful from the ugly.
This is Dē Accidentibus Rērum — On the Accidents of Things. The “accidents” are the qualities that things happen to have: their size, shape, color, texture, beauty. These are not the essence of things but their appearances — what the senses perceive.
The Vestibulum continues with Sapōrēs (Flavors), Odōrēs (Smells), and other qualities. The porch grows wider still.
But for now, rest. You have laid a foundation. The gate of Latin stands before you, and you have earned the right to pass through it.
Prōgredere. Press on.
Fīnis Lectiōnis Quārtae. Fīnis Capitis Prīmī. End of the Fourth Lesson. End of Chapter One.
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Iōanne Amōs Comeniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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