← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
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Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī! In lectiōne praecēdentī dē causīs et excūsātiōnibus dīdicimus. Hodiē dē affirmātiōne et dubitātiōne discēmus — quōmodo Latīnē dīcimus “ita vērō!” et “fortasse” et “immō sīc est!”
Greetings, dearest students! In the preceding lesson we learned about reasons and excuses. Today we shall learn about affirmation and doubt — how we say in Latin “yes indeed!” and “perhaps” and “indeed so it is!”
In vītā cottīdiānā saepe cōnsentīre aut dissentīre dēbēmus. Nōn semper certī sumus; aliquandō dubitāmus. Discāmus hās vōculās quae opīniōnēs nostrās exprimunt!
In daily life we often must agree or disagree. We are not always certain; sometimes we doubt. Let us learn these little words which express our opinions!
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Id that praestat is better quam than garrīre. to chatter. Omnīnō; altogether/certainly; redībimus shall we return mātūrē? early? Fortasse, perhaps, sed but vix. scarcely. Ehō, oh, dubitās? do you doubt? Sīc so aiunt, they say, immō nay indeed sīc so est. it is.
Id praestat quam garrīre — That (id) is better (praestat) than (quam) to chatter (garrīre). The impersonal verb praestat means “it is preferable, it is better.” The infinitive garrīre is the object of comparison.
Omnīnō; redībimus mātūrē? — Altogether/certainly (omnīnō); shall we return (redībimus) early (mātūrē)? Omnīnō can mean “altogether, entirely” or be used as an affirmation “certainly, absolutely.”
Fortasse, sed vix — Perhaps (fortasse), but (sed) scarcely (vix). A hesitant, doubtful response: “maybe, but I doubt it.” Fortasse (from fors sit = “may chance be”) expresses possibility; vix (”scarcely, hardly”) casts doubt.
Ehō, dubitās? — Oh (ehō), do you doubt (dubitās)? The interjection ehō expresses surprise or mild rebuke. “What, you have doubts?”
Sīc aiunt, immō sīc est — So (sīc) they say (aiunt), nay indeed (immō) so (sīc) it is (est). The defective verb aiō (”I say”) appears here in aiunt (”they say”). Immō introduces a correction or strengthening: “indeed, rather, nay.”
Id praestat quam garrīre. That is better than to chatter.
Omnīnō; redībimus mātūrē? Certainly; shall we return early?
Fortasse, sed vix. Perhaps, but scarcely.
Ehō, dubitās? Oh, do you doubt?
Sīc aiunt, immō sīc est. So they say, nay indeed so it is.
Id praestat quam garrīre. Omnīnō; redībimus mātūrē? Fortasse, sed vix. Ehō, dubitās? Sīc aiunt, immō sīc est.
Adverbium Significātiō ita yes, so ita vērō yes indeed sīc so, yes certē certainly omnīnō altogether, absolutely profectō surely, truly immō nay, indeed, rather sānē truly, indeed
Adverbium Significātiō fortasse perhaps, maybe forsitan perhaps forte by chance vix scarcely, hardly haud not (emphatic) nēquāquam by no means
Aiō (”I say, affirm”) is a defective verb with limited forms:
Forma Significātiō aiō I say ais you say ait he/she says aiunt they say aiēbam I was saying
Used especially in reporting speech: sīc aiunt = “so they say.”
Immō introduces a correction or strengthens what was said:
Latīnē Anglicē Sīc aiunt, immō sīc est So they say, nay so it IS Bonus est? Immō optimus! Is he good? Nay, excellent! Difficile est? Immō impossibile! Is it difficult? Nay, impossible!
Praestat (it is better, preferable) is impersonal:
Latīnē Anglicē Id praestat That is better Tacēre praestat quam loquī It is better to be silent than to speak Praestat morī quam servīre It is better to die than to serve
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō praestō, praestāre verbum to be better, excel garrīō, garrīre verbum to chatter, prattle omnīnō adverbium altogether, certainly redeō, redīre, rediī verbum to return mātūrē adverbium early, timely fortasse adverbium perhaps vix adverbium scarcely, hardly ehō interiectiō oh! hey! dubitō, dubitāre verbum to doubt aiō verbum (def.) I say immō adverbium nay, indeed, rather
Duo two amīcī friends iter a journey facere to make volēbant. wanted.
Prīmus, the first, quī who Audāx Bold vocābātur, was called, dīxit: said: “Eāmus “let us go hodiē! today! Tempestās the weather bona good est!” is!”
Secundus, the second, quī who Dubitātor Doubter vocābātur, was called, respondit: answered: “Fortasse... “perhaps... sed but nūbēs clouds videō. I see. Fortasse perhaps pluviae rains venient.” will come.”
“Omnīnō “absolutely nōn!” not!” clāmāvit cried Audāx. Bold. “Caelum “the sky clārum clear est! is! Ehō, hey, dubitās?” do you doubt?”
“Vix “scarcely crēdō...” I believe...” respondit replied Dubitātor. Doubter.
“Sīc “so semper always dīcis!” you say!” exclāmāvit exclaimed Audāx. Bold. “Venī “come mēcum with me — aut — or domī at home manē!” stay!”
Dubitātor Doubter domī at home mānsit. stayed. Audāx Bold sōlus alone profectus having set out est. did.
Quid what accidit? happened?
Pluviae rains vēnērunt! came! Audāx Bold madēfactus having been soaked est! was!
Cum when rediit, he returned, Dubitātor Doubter rīsit: laughed: “Vidēsne? “do you see? Bene well dubitāvī!” I doubted!”
Sed but Audāx Bold respondit: answered: “Ita “so est. it is. Madēfactus soaked sum. I am. Sed but ego I iter the journey fēcī I made — pluviam — rain et and sōlem sun et and montēs mountains vīdī! I saw! Tū you autem however domī at home sēdistī sat — nihil — nothing vīdistī you saw praeter except parietēs walls tuōs! your! Quis who nostrum of us melius better vīxit lived hodiē?” today?”
Dubitātor Doubter tacuit. was silent.
Haec this fābula fable docet: teaches: Quī he who nimis too much dubitat, doubts, nihil nothing facit. does. Praestat it is better agere to act et and errāre to err quam than dubitandō by doubting nihil nothing umquam ever facere! to do!
Duo amīcī iter facere volēbant. Two friends wanted to make a journey.
Prīmus, quī Audāx vocābātur, dīxit: “Eāmus hodiē! Tempestās bona est!” The first, who was called Bold, said: “Let us go today! The weather is good!”
Secundus, quī Dubitātor vocābātur, respondit: The second, who was called Doubter, answered:
“Fortasse... sed nūbēs videō. Fortasse pluviae venient.” “Perhaps... but I see clouds. Perhaps rains will come.”
“Omnīnō nōn!” clāmāvit Audāx. “Caelum clārum est!” “Absolutely not!” cried Bold. “The sky is clear!”
“Ehō, dubitās?” “Hey, do you doubt?”
“Vix crēdō...” respondit Dubitātor. “I scarcely believe...” replied Doubter.
“Sīc semper dīcis!” exclāmāvit Audāx. “So you always say!” exclaimed Bold.
“Venī mēcum — aut domī manē!” “Come with me — or stay at home!”
Dubitātor domī mānsit. Audāx sōlus profectus est. Doubter stayed at home. Bold set out alone.
Quid accidit? Pluviae vēnērunt! Audāx madēfactus est! What happened? Rains came! Bold was soaked!
Cum rediit, Dubitātor rīsit: “Vidēsne? Bene dubitāvī!” When he returned, Doubter laughed: “Do you see? I doubted well!”
Sed Audāx respondit: “Ita est. Madēfactus sum.” But Bold answered: “So it is. I am soaked.”
“Sed ego iter fēcī — pluviam et sōlem et montēs vīdī!” “But I made the journey — I saw rain and sun and mountains!”
“Tū autem domī sēdistī — nihil vīdistī praeter parietēs tuōs!” “You however sat at home — you saw nothing except your walls!”
“Quis nostrum melius vīxit hodiē?” “Who of us lived better today?”
Dubitātor tacuit. Doubter was silent.
Haec fābula docet: Quī nimis dubitat, nihil facit. This fable teaches: He who doubts too much does nothing.
Praestat agere et errāre quam dubitandō nihil umquam facere! It is better to act and err than by doubting to do nothing ever!
Duo amīcī iter facere volēbant.
Prīmus, quī Audāx vocābātur, dīxit: “Eāmus hodiē! Tempestās bona est!”
Secundus, quī Dubitātor vocābātur, respondit: “Fortasse... sed nūbēs videō. Fortasse pluviae venient.”
“Omnīnō nōn!” clāmāvit Audāx. “Caelum clārum est! Ehō, dubitās?”
“Vix crēdō...” respondit Dubitātor.
“Sīc semper dīcis!” exclāmāvit Audāx. “Venī mēcum — aut domī manē!”
Dubitātor domī mānsit. Audāx sōlus profectus est.
Quid accidit? Pluviae vēnērunt! Audāx madēfactus est!
Cum rediit, Dubitātor rīsit: “Vidēsne? Bene dubitāvī!”
Sed Audāx respondit: “Ita est. Madēfactus sum. Sed ego iter fēcī — pluviam et sōlem et montēs vīdī! Tū autem domī sēdistī — nihil vīdistī praeter parietēs tuōs! Quis nostrum melius vīxit hodiē?”
Dubitātor tacuit.
Haec fābula docet: Quī nimis dubitat, nihil facit. Praestat agere et errāre quam dubitandō nihil umquam facere!
Dē Argūmentō:
This fable contrasts excessive caution with boldness. While the Doubter was “right” about the rain, he missed the entire experience. The moral favors action over paralysis by analysis.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Hortatory subjunctive: eāmus — “let us go.” -
Gerund ablative: dubitandō — “by doubting.” -
Partitive genitive: quis nostrum — “who of us.” -
Passive participle: madēfactus — “having been soaked.”
Vocabula Fābulae:
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō audāx, audācis adiectīvum bold, daring dubitātor, -ōris (m.) nōmen doubter nūbēs, nūbis (f.) nōmen cloud caelum, -ī (n.) nōmen sky clārus, -a, -um adiectīvum clear, bright maneō, manēre, mānsī verbum to stay, remain madēfaciō, madēfacere, madēfēcī, madēfactum verbum to soak, wet praeter praepositiō (+ acc.) except, besides umquam adverbium ever
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, quōmodo how Latīnē in Latin dīcimus do we say “yes”? “yes”?
MAGISTER: Multīs in many modīs! ways! Ita yes est is simplicissimum. simplest. Ita vērō yes indeed fortius stronger est. is. Sīc so quoque also ūsurpātur. is used. Certē certainly et and omnīnō absolutely et and profectō surely sunt are ēmphatica emphatic — fortiter — strongly affirmant! they affirm!
DISCIPULUS: Et and quōmodo how dīcimus do we say “perhaps”? “perhaps”?
MAGISTER: Fortasse perhaps et and forsitan perhaps dubitātiōnem doubt exprimunt. express. “Veniet “will he come Mārcus?” Marcus?” “Fortasse” “perhaps” — id — that est, is, “nesciō, “I know not, fierī to happen potest.” it can.” Vix scarcely autem however est is negātīvius more negative — “fortasse, — “perhaps, sed but vix scarcely crēdō.” I believe.”
DISCIPULUS: Quid what significat signifies immō? nay indeed?
MAGISTER: Immō nay indeed corrigit corrects aut or cōnfirmat strengthens quod what dictum said est! was! “Bonusne “is he good est is magister?” the teacher?” “Immō, “nay, optimus!” excellent!” — nōn — not sōlum only bonus, good, sed but melior better quam than dīxistī! you said! Vel: or: “Sīc “so aiunt.” they say.” “Immō “nay sīc so est!” it is!” — nōn — not sōlum only fāma rumor est, it is, sed but vēritās! truth!
DISCIPULUS: Quandō when dubitāre to doubt bonum good est? is?
MAGISTER: Dubitāre to doubt bonum good est is cum when rēs the matter incerta uncertain est is et and tempus time est there is ad for cōgitandum! thinking! Sed but nimis too much dubitāre to doubt malum bad est is — quī — he who semper always dubitat, doubts, numquam never agit! acts! Ut as dīcunt: they say: “Dum “while dubitāmus, we doubt, vīta life praeterit!” passes by!”
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quōmodo Latīnē dīcimus “yes”? Master, how do we say “yes” in Latin?
MAGISTER: Multīs modīs! In many ways!
Ita est simplicissimum. Ita vērō fortius est. “Yes” is simplest. “Yes indeed” is stronger.
Sīc quoque ūsurpātur. “So” is also used.
Certē et omnīnō et profectō sunt ēmphatica — fortiter affirmant! “Certainly” and “absolutely” and “surely” are emphatic — they affirm strongly!
DISCIPULUS: Et quōmodo dīcimus “perhaps”? And how do we say “perhaps”?
MAGISTER: Fortasse et forsitan dubitātiōnem exprimunt. “Perhaps” expresses doubt.
“Veniet Mārcus?” “Fortasse” — id est, “nesciō, fierī potest.” “Will Marcus come?” “Perhaps” — that is, “I know not, it can happen.”
Vix autem est negātīvius — “fortasse, sed vix crēdō.” “Scarcely” however is more negative — “perhaps, but I scarcely believe.”
DISCIPULUS: Quid significat immō? What signifies “nay indeed”?
MAGISTER: Immō corrigit aut cōnfirmat quod dictum est! “Nay indeed” corrects or strengthens what was said!
“Bonusne est magister?” “Immō, optimus!” “Is the teacher good?” “Nay, excellent!”
— nōn sōlum bonus, sed melior quam dīxistī! — not only good, but better than you said!
Vel: “Sīc aiunt.” “Immō sīc est!” Or: “So they say.” “Nay so it IS!”
— nōn sōlum fāma est, sed vēritās! — it is not only rumor, but truth!
DISCIPULUS: Quandō dubitāre bonum est? When is it good to doubt?
MAGISTER: Dubitāre bonum est cum rēs incerta est et tempus est ad cōgitandum! To doubt is good when the matter is uncertain and there is time for thinking!
Sed nimis dubitāre malum est — quī semper dubitat, numquam agit! But to doubt too much is bad — he who always doubts, never acts!
Ut dīcunt: “Dum dubitāmus, vīta praeterit!” As they say: “While we doubt, life passes by!”
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quōmodo Latīnē dīcimus “yes”?
MAGISTER: Multīs modīs! Ita est simplicissimum. Ita vērō fortius est. Sīc quoque ūsurpātur. Certē et omnīnō et profectō sunt ēmphatica — fortiter affirmant!
DISCIPULUS: Et quōmodo dīcimus “perhaps”?
MAGISTER: Fortasse et forsitan dubitātiōnem exprimunt. “Veniet Mārcus?” “Fortasse” — id est, “nesciō, fierī potest.” Vix autem est negātīvius — “fortasse, sed vix crēdō.”
DISCIPULUS: Quid significat immō?
MAGISTER: Immō corrigit aut cōnfirmat quod dictum est! “Bonusne est magister?” “Immō, optimus!” — nōn sōlum bonus, sed melior quam dīxistī! Vel: “Sīc aiunt.” “Immō sīc est!” — nōn sōlum fāma est, sed vēritās!
DISCIPULUS: Quandō dubitāre bonum est?
MAGISTER: Dubitāre bonum est cum rēs incerta est et tempus est ad cōgitandum! Sed nimis dubitāre malum est — quī semper dubitat, numquam agit! Ut dīcunt: “Dum dubitāmus, vīta praeterit!”
Dē Argūmentō Paedagōgicō:
This colloquium explains the various adverbs of affirmation (ita, certē, omnīnō, immō) and doubt (fortasse, vix), and discusses when doubt is appropriate versus paralyzing.
Match the strength:
Adverbium Gradus 1. ita a. strongest (correcting/strengthening) 2. certē b. simple affirmation 3. immō c. emphatic affirmation
Put in order from most doubtful to least:
fortasse, vix crēdō, certē -
__________ (most doubtful) - -
__________ (least doubtful)
-
That is better than to chatter. -
Perhaps, but scarcely. -
So they say, nay indeed so it is. -
Oh, do you doubt?
-
Id praestat quam garrīre. -
Fortasse, sed vix. -
Omnīnō! Redībimus mātūrē. -
Quī nimis dubitat, nihil facit.
-
Ita, certē, omnīnō, immō Yes, certainly, absolutely, nay indeed -
Fortasse, sed vix Perhaps, but scarcely -
Sīc aiunt, immō sīc est So they say, nay indeed so it is -
Praestat agere et errāre quam dubitandō nihil facere It is better to act and err than by doubting to do nothing
-
b (ita = simple affirmation) -
c (certē = emphatic affirmation) -
a (immō = strongest, correcting/strengthening)
-
vix crēdō (most doubtful) -
fortasse -
certē (least doubtful / affirmation)
-
Id praestat quam garrīre. -
Fortasse, sed vix. -
Sīc aiunt, immō sīc est. -
Ehō, dubitās?
-
That is better than to chatter. -
Perhaps, but scarcely. -
Absolutely! We shall return early. -
He who doubts too much does nothing.
In proximā lectiōne dē lūdō et fēriīs discēmus! Nē clāmā, atquī sumus sōlī. Quōmodo lūdēmus? Pilā, quamdiū? Tōtum diem; huī nimium est. Atquī sunt fēriae. Discēmus quōmodo dē lūdō et tempore līberō loquāmur!
In the next lesson we shall learn about play and holidays! Don’t shout, but we are alone. How shall we play? With a ball, how long? The whole day; alas that is too much. But they are holidays. We shall learn how to speak about play and free time!
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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