← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
###
Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī! In lectiōne praecēdentī prīmās praepositiōnēs dīdicimus — ad, ā, cum, ante, pōne. Hodiē plūrēs discēmus: secundum, adversus, apud, penēs.
Greetings, dearest students! In the preceding lesson we learned the first prepositions — to, from, with, before, behind. Today we shall learn more: along/according to, against, at, in the power of.
Hae praepositiōnēs rēs subtīliōrēs exprimunt — nōn sōlum ubi rēs sint, sed etiam quōmodo inter sē referantur. Secundum flūmen facile est natāre — adversus difficile! Discāmus!
These prepositions express more subtle things — not only where things are, but also how they relate to each other. Along the stream it is easy to swim — against it is difficult! Let us learn!
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Secundum along flūmen the river facile easy est it is natāre. to swim. Adversus against illud it impossibile. impossible. Apud at altāre the altar sacerdōs the priest habet has penēs in the power of sē himself diāconum. the deacon.
Secundum flūmen facile est natāre — It is (est) easy (facile) to swim (natāre) along (secundum) the river (flūmen). Secundum + accusative means “along, following” (here referring to swimming downstream, with the current).
Adversus illud impossibile — Against (adversus) it (illud) [it is] impossible (impossibile). Adversus + accusative means “against, opposite to.” Swimming against the current is impossible (or at least very difficult). The verb est is understood.
Apud altāre sacerdōs habet penēs sē diāconum — The priest (sacerdōs) at (apud) the altar (altāre) has (habet) the deacon (diāconum) in his power (penēs sē). Apud + accusative means “at, near, at the house of.” Penēs + accusative means “in the possession/power of” — the deacon is under the priest’s authority.
Secundum flūmen facile est natāre. It is easy to swim along the river.
Adversus illud impossibile. Against it [it is] impossible.
Apud altāre sacerdōs habet penēs sē diāconum. The priest at the altar has the deacon in his power.
Secundum flūmen facile est natāre. Adversus illud impossibile. Apud altāre sacerdōs habet penēs sē diāconum.
Praepositiō Cāsus Significātiō secundum + acc. along, following, according to adversus / adversum + acc. against, opposite, towards apud + acc. at, near, at the house of penēs + acc. in the possession/power of
Secundum has several related meanings:
Latīnē Anglicē secundum flūmen along the river (downstream) secundum lēgem according to the law secundum nātūram according to nature secundum mē in my opinion
The core meaning is “following” — whether physically (along) or figuratively (according to).
Adversus expresses opposition:
Latīnē Anglicē adversus flūmen against the stream adversus hostēs against the enemies adversus lēgem against the law adversus mē against me
Apud can indicate place or person:
Latīnē Anglicē apud altāre at the altar apud mē at my house; in my opinion apud Cicerōnem in Cicero (his writings) apud iūdicem before the judge
Penēs indicates possession or power:
Latīnē Anglicē penēs mē in my power penēs tē est it is up to you potestās penēs populum power in the hands of the people
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō secundum praepositiō (+ acc.) along, according to flūmen, flūminis (n.) nōmen river, stream natō, natāre verbum to swim adversus praepositiō (+ acc.) against, opposite impossibilis, -e adiectīvum impossible apud praepositiō (+ acc.) at, near altāre, altāris (n.) nōmen altar sacerdōs, sacerdōtis (m.) nōmen priest penēs praepositiō (+ acc.) in the power of diāconus, -ī (m.) nōmen deacon
Piscis a fish iuvenis young in in flūmine the river vīvēbat. was living. Cotīdiē every day secundum along flūmen the river natābat he was swimming — facile — easily et and laetē. happily.
Ōlim one day piscī to the fish senī old dīxit: he said: “Semper “always secundum along flūmen the river natāmus. we swim. Hoc this taedet wearies mē! me! Volo I want adversus against flūmen the river natāre!” to swim!”
Piscis the fish senex old respondit: answered: “Stulte! “foolish one! Secundum along flūmen the river natāre to swim facile easy est is quia because flūmen the river nōs us iuvat. helps. Adversus against flūmen the river natāre to swim difficillimum most difficult est is quia because flūmen the river nōs us impedit. hinders. Cūr why vīs do you want vītam life tuam your difficiliōrem more difficult facere?” to make?”
Piscis the fish iuvenis young nōn not audīvit. listened. Adversus against flūmen the river natāre to swim coepit. he began.
Prīmā in the first hōrā, hour, lentē slowly prōcessit. he proceeded. Secundā in the second hōrā, hour, dēfessus weary est. he was. Tertiā in the third hōrā, hour, vīrēs his strength āmīsit. he lost.
Flūmen the river eum him retrō back tulit carried — longius — further quam than ubi where coeperat! he had begun!
Piscis the fish senex old eī to him dīxit: said: “Vidēsne? “do you see? Quī he who adversus against nātūram nature pugnat, fights, sē himself ipsum himself vincit conquers — sed — but male! badly! Melius better est it is secundum according to nātūram nature vīvere to live quam than adversus against eam it certāre!” to contend!”
Haec this fābula fable docet: teaches: Quī he who secundum according to nātūram nature vīvit, lives, bene well vīvit. lives. Quī he who adversus against nātūram nature pugnat, fights, sē himself frustrā in vain fatigat. wearies.
Piscis iuvenis in flūmine vīvēbat. A young fish was living in the river.
Cotīdiē secundum flūmen natābat — facile et laetē. Every day he was swimming along the river — easily and happily.
Ōlim piscī senī dīxit: “Semper secundum flūmen natāmus.” One day he said to the old fish: “We always swim along the river.”
“Hoc taedet mē! Volō adversus flūmen natāre!” “This wearies me! I want to swim against the river!”
Piscis senex respondit: “Stulte!” The old fish answered: “Foolish one!”
“Secundum flūmen natāre facile est quia flūmen nōs iuvat.” “To swim along the river is easy because the river helps us.”
“Adversus flūmen natāre difficillimum est quia flūmen nōs impedit.” “To swim against the river is most difficult because the river hinders us.”
“Cūr vīs vītam tuam difficiliōrem facere?” “Why do you want to make your life more difficult?”
Piscis iuvenis nōn audīvit. Adversus flūmen natāre coepit. The young fish did not listen. He began to swim against the river.
Prīmā hōrā, lentē prōcessit. Secundā hōrā, dēfessus est. Tertiā hōrā, vīrēs āmīsit. In the first hour, he proceeded slowly. In the second hour, he was weary. In the third hour, he lost his strength.
Flūmen eum retrō tulit — longius quam ubi coeperat! The river carried him back — further than where he had begun!
Piscis senex eī dīxit: “Vidēsne?” The old fish said to him: “Do you see?”
“Quī adversus nātūram pugnat, sē ipsum vincit — sed male!” “He who fights against nature, conquers himself — but badly!”
“Melius est secundum nātūram vīvere quam adversus eam certāre!” “It is better to live according to nature than to contend against it!”
Haec fābula docet: Quī secundum nātūram vīvit, bene vīvit. This fable teaches: He who lives according to nature, lives well.
Quī adversus nātūram pugnat, sē frustrā fatigat. He who fights against nature, wearies himself in vain.
Piscis iuvenis in flūmine vīvēbat. Cotīdiē secundum flūmen natābat — facile et laetē.
Ōlim piscī senī dīxit: “Semper secundum flūmen natāmus. Hoc taedet mē! Volō adversus flūmen natāre!”
Piscis senex respondit: “Stulte! Secundum flūmen natāre facile est quia flūmen nōs iuvat. Adversus flūmen natāre difficillimum est quia flūmen nōs impedit. Cūr vīs vītam tuam difficiliōrem facere?”
Piscis iuvenis nōn audīvit. Adversus flūmen natāre coepit.
Prīmā hōrā, lentē prōcessit. Secundā hōrā, dēfessus est. Tertiā hōrā, vīrēs āmīsit.
Flūmen eum retrō tulit — longius quam ubi coeperat!
Piscis senex eī dīxit: “Vidēsne? Quī adversus nātūram pugnat, sē ipsum vincit — sed male! Melius est secundum nātūram vīvere quam adversus eam certāre!”
Haec fābula docet: Quī secundum nātūram vīvit, bene vīvit. Quī adversus nātūram pugnat, sē frustrā fatigat.
Dē Argūmentō:
This fable contrasts secundum (along, according to) with adversus (against), using the image of swimming with or against the current. The moral is Stoic: live according to nature, not against it.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Contrasting prepositions: secundum flūmen vs. adversus flūmen -
Impersonal taedet: hoc taedet mē — “this wearies me” -
Comparative adjective: difficiliōrem — “more difficult” -
Superlative adjective: difficillimum — “most difficult”
Vocabula Fābulae:
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō piscis, piscis (m.) nōmen fish cotīdiē adverbium every day iuvō, iuvāre, iūvī verbum to help impediō, impedīre verbum to hinder prōcēdō, prōcēdere verbum to proceed dēfessus, -a, -um participium weary, exhausted vīrēs, vīrium (f. pl.) nōmen strength certō, certāre verbum to contend frustrā adverbium in vain fatigō, fatigāre verbum to weary
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, quid what significat signifies secundum? along/according to?
MAGISTER: Secundum along/according to significat signifies “sequēns” “following” — sīve — whether locō in place sīve or ratiōne. in reasoning. “Secundum “along flūmen” the river” significat signifies “sequēns “following cursum the course flūminis” of the river” — id — that est, is, cum with flūmine, the river, nōn not contrā. against. “Secundum “according to lēgem” the law” significat signifies “sequēns “following quod what lēx the law dīcit.” says.”
DISCIPULUS: Et and adversus? against?
MAGISTER: Adversus against est is contrārium the contrary — “versus — “turned contrā.” against.” Sī if secundum along flūmen the river significat signifies “cum “with flūmine,” the river,” adversus against flūmen the river significat signifies “contrā “against flūmen!” the river!” Oppositiōnem opposition indicat it indicates — in in bellō, war, in in iūdiciō, judgment, in in certāmine. contest.
DISCIPULUS: Quid what est is differentia the difference inter between apud at et and ad? to?
MAGISTER: Ad to mōtum motion versus towards indicat; indicates; apud at locum place fixum fixed indicat. indicates. “Ad “to altāre the altar accēdō” I approach” — moveō! — I move! “Apud “at altāre the altar stō” I stand” — maneō! — I remain! Apud at etiam also persōnam a person indicāre to indicate potest: can: “apud “at mē” my place” significat signifies “in “in domō the house meā.” my.”
DISCIPULUS: Quid what significat signifies penēs? in the power of?
MAGISTER: Penēs in the power of possessiōnem possession aut or potestātem power indicat. indicates. “Diāconus “the deacon est is penēs in the power of sacerdōtem” the priest” significat signifies “sub “under potestāte the power sacerdōtis of the priest est.” he is.” Rāra a rare praepositiō preposition est, it is, sed but ūtilis! useful!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quid significat secundum? Master, what signifies “along/according to”?
MAGISTER: Secundum significat “sequēns” — sīve locō sīve ratiōne. “Along/according to” signifies “following” — whether in place or in reasoning.
“Secundum flūmen” significat “sequēns cursum flūminis” — id est, cum flūmine, nōn contrā. “Along the river” signifies “following the course of the river” — that is, with the river, not against.
“Secundum lēgem” significat “sequēns quod lēx dīcit.” “According to the law” signifies “following what the law says.”
DISCIPULUS: Et adversus? And “against”?
MAGISTER: Adversus est contrārium — “versus contrā.” “Against” is the contrary — “turned against.”
Sī secundum flūmen significat “cum flūmine,” adversus flūmen significat “contrā flūmen!” If “along the river” signifies “with the river,” “against the river” signifies “against the river!”
Oppositiōnem indicat — in bellō, in iūdiciō, in certāmine. It indicates opposition — in war, in judgment, in contest.
DISCIPULUS: Quid est differentia inter apud et ad? What is the difference between “at” and “to”?
MAGISTER: Ad mōtum versus indicat; apud locum fixum indicat. “To” indicates motion towards; “at” indicates a fixed place.
“Ad altāre accēdō” — moveō! “Apud altāre stō” — maneō! “I approach to the altar” — I move! “I stand at the altar” — I remain!
Apud etiam persōnam indicāre potest: “apud mē” significat “in domō meā.” “At” can also indicate a person: “at my place” signifies “in my house.”
DISCIPULUS: Quid significat penēs? What signifies “in the power of”?
MAGISTER: Penēs possessiōnem aut potestātem indicat. “In the power of” indicates possession or power.
“Diāconus est penēs sacerdōtem” significat “sub potestāte sacerdōtis est.” “The deacon is in the power of the priest” signifies “he is under the power of the priest.”
Rāra praepositiō est, sed ūtilis! It is a rare preposition, but useful!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, quid significat secundum?
MAGISTER: Secundum significat “sequēns” — sīve locō sīve ratiōne. “Secundum flūmen” significat “sequēns cursum flūminis” — id est, cum flūmine, nōn contrā. “Secundum lēgem” significat “sequēns quod lēx dīcit.”
DISCIPULUS: Et adversus?
MAGISTER: Adversus est contrārium — “versus contrā.” Sī secundum flūmen significat “cum flūmine,” adversus flūmen significat “contrā flūmen!” Oppositiōnem indicat — in bellō, in iūdiciō, in certāmine.
DISCIPULUS: Quid est differentia inter apud et ad?
MAGISTER: Ad mōtum versus indicat; apud locum fixum indicat. “Ad altāre accēdō” — moveō! “Apud altāre stō” — maneō! Apud etiam persōnam indicāre potest: “apud mē” significat “in domō meā.”
DISCIPULUS: Quid significat penēs?
MAGISTER: Penēs possessiōnem aut potestātem indicat. “Diāconus est penēs sacerdōtem” significat “sub potestāte sacerdōtis est.” Rāra praepositiō est, sed ūtilis!
Dē Argūmentō Paedagōgicō:
This colloquium explains secundum (with its double meaning of physical “along” and figurative “according to”), adversus (opposition), apud (location at or with a person), and penēs (power/possession).
All these prepositions take the __________ case.
(secundum, adversus, apud, penēs)
Match:
Praepositiō Significātiō 1. secundum a. against 2. adversus b. in the power of 3. apud c. along, according to 4. penēs d. at, near
-
It is easy to swim along the river. -
Against it [it is] impossible. -
The priest at the altar. -
In my power.
-
Secundum flūmen facile est natāre. -
Adversus illud impossibile. -
Apud mē. -
Potestās penēs populum.
-
Secundum + acc. = along, according to -
Adversus + acc. = against -
Apud + acc. = at, near, at the house of -
Penēs + acc. = in the possession/power of
All these prepositions take the accusative case.
-
c (secundum = along, according to) -
a (adversus = against) -
d (apud = at, near) -
b (penēs = in the power of)
-
Secundum flūmen facile est natāre. -
Adversus illud impossibile. -
Sacerdōs apud altāre. -
Penēs mē.
-
It is easy to swim along the river. -
Against it [it is] impossible. -
At my house / In my opinion. -
Power in the hands of the people.
In proximā lectiōne plūrēs praepositiōnēs discēmus! Dē temerāriō, notā quod intrā aedēs nōn maneat. Suprā culmen scandat. Intrā līmen reptet. Fatēre cōram nōbīs quid fēcerīs clam nōbīs. Discēmus dē, intrā, suprā, cōram, clam, et contrā!
In the next lesson we shall learn more prepositions! Concerning the rash one, observe that he does not stay within the house. Let him climb above the roof. Let him creep within the threshold. Confess before us what you have done secretly from us. We shall learn “concerning,” “within,” “above,” “before,” “secretly,” and “against”!
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
---