← Iānuae Latīnitātis Vestibulum
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Salvēte, discipulī cārissimī! In lectiōnibus praecēdentibus dē artibus līberālibus dīdicimus — dē geōmetriā et grammaticā, dē mūsicā et philosophiā. Nunc novum caput incipimus: Dē Rēbus Domī — Of Things at Home! Post scholam ad domum revertimur; post studium ad quiētem. Discāmus ergō dē domō ipsā!
Greetings, dearest students! In the preceding lessons we learned about the liberal arts — about geometry and grammar, about music and philosophy. Now we begin a new chapter: Of Things at Home! After school we return to the house; after study to rest. Let us therefore learn about the house itself!
Hodiē dē introitū discēmus. Quōmodo domum intrāmus? Per forēs et ostia! Sī forēs clausae sunt, pulsāmus. Quum aperiuntur, intrāmus. Clāvis seram aperit et claudit. Haec sunt prīma verba domūs — discāmus ea!
Today we shall learn about the entrance. How do we enter a house? Through doors and entrances! If the doors are shut, we knock. When they are opened, we enter. A key opens and closes a lock. These are the first words of the house — let us learn them!
Ē tenebrīs Lēšnēnsibus, Iōannēs Āmos Comēnius
Pulsā knock at forēs the doors sī if clausae shut sint. they are. Quum when aperītur is opened ōstium, the door, trānsī. go across. Et and intrā go into in the ātrium. courtyard. Clāvis a key claudit locks seram the lock iterumque and again reclūdit. unlocks. Clāvus a nail fīgitur; is fastened; pavīmentum the floor calcāmus. we tread.
Pulsā forēs sī clausae sint — Knock at (pulsā) the doors (forēs) if (sī) they are (sint) shut (clausae). Forēs (plural only) refers to double doors at the entrance. The present subjunctive sint is used in a conditional clause expressing possibility.
Quum aperītur ōstium, trānsī — When (quum) the door (ōstium) is opened (aperītur), go across (trānsī). Ōstium is the single door or doorway. Trānsī is the imperative of trānseō (to go across, pass through).
Et intrā in ātrium — And (et) go into (intrā) the courtyard (ātrium). The ātrium was the central hall of a Roman house, open to the sky. Intrā is the imperative of intrō (to enter).
Clāvis claudit seram iterumque reclūdit — A key (clāvis) locks (claudit) the lock (seram) and again (iterumque) unlocks (reclūdit). Note the wordplay: clāvis (key) and claudō (to close/lock) share the same root. Sera is the bolt or lock mechanism.
Clāvus fīgitur; pavīmentum calcāmus — A nail (clāvus) is fastened (fīgitur); we tread (calcāmus) the floor (pavīmentum). Clāvus (nail) is not to be confused with clāvis (key)! Fīgō means “to fix, fasten.” The floor (pavīmentum) is what we walk upon.
Pulsā forēs sī clausae sint. Knock at the doors if they are shut.
Quum aperītur ōstium, trānsī. When the door is opened, go across.
Et intrā in ātrium. And go into the courtyard.
Clāvis claudit seram iterumque reclūdit. A key locks the lock and unlocks it again.
Clāvus fīgitur; pavīmentum calcāmus. A nail is fastened; we tread the floor.
Pulsā forēs sī clausae sint. Quum aperītur ōstium, trānsī. Et intrā in ātrium. Clāvis claudit seram iterumque reclūdit. Clāvus fīgitur; pavīmentum calcāmus.
Both mean “door” but with different nuances:
Vocābulum Numerus Significātiō forēs, -ium (f. pl.) plūrāle tantum double doors (of entrance) ōstium, -ī (n.) singulāre door, doorway, entrance iānua, -ae (f.) singulāre door (general term)
Forēs always plural, referring to the two leaves of a double door.
These two similar words have very different meanings:
Vocābulum Genus Significātiō clāvis, clāvis (f.) feminīnum key clāvus, -ī (m.) masculīnum nail
Both derive from the root clau- meaning “close, shut.”
These are singular imperatives (commands):
Verbum Imperātīvus Significātiō pulsō, pulsāre (1st) pulsā knock! trānseō, trānsīre (irreg.) trānsī go across! intrō, intrāre (1st) intrā go in!
Sera, -ae (f.) means “bolt, bar, lock” — the mechanism that secures a door:
Verbum Significātiō seram claudere to lock the lock seram aperīre to open the lock seram reclūdere to unlock
Reclūdō = re- (again, back) + claudō (to close) = “to open, unlock.”
Fīgō, fīgere, fīxī, fīxum means “to fix, fasten, drive in”:
Forma Significātiō clāvus fīgitur a nail is fastened clāvum fīgō I fasten a nail fīxus fastened, fixed
From this verb comes English “fix.”
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō pulsō, pulsāre, pulsāvī, pulsātum verbum to knock, strike forēs, forium (f. pl.) nōmen double doors clausus, -a, -um participium shut, closed quum / cum coniūnctiō when aperiō, aperīre, aperuī, apertum verbum to open ōstium, -ī (n.) nōmen door, doorway trānseō, trānsīre, trānsiī, trānsitum verbum to go across intrō, intrāre, intrāvī, intrātum verbum to enter ātrium, -ī (n.) nōmen courtyard, hall clāvis, clāvis (f.) nōmen key claudō, claudere, clausī, clausum verbum to close, lock sera, -ae (f.) nōmen lock, bolt reclūdō, reclūdere, reclūsī, reclūsum verbum to unlock, open clāvus, -ī (m.) nōmen nail fīgō, fīgere, fīxī, fīxum verbum to fasten, fix pavīmentum, -ī (n.) nōmen floor, pavement calcō, calcāre, calcāvī, calcātum verbum to tread, step on
In in urbe the city Rōmā of Rome dīves a rich man quīdam certain domum a house māgnam great habēbat. had. Forēs the doors eius of it semper always clausae shut erant. were. Iānitor a doorkeeper ad at ōstium the door sedēbat used to sit et and clāvēs the keys custōdiēbat. used to guard.
Ōlim one day fūr a thief quīdam certain domum the house intrāre to enter volēbat. wanted. Nocte by night ad to forēs the doors accessit. he approached. Pulsāvit he knocked — sed — but nēmō no one respondit. answered. Forēs the doors clausae shut manēbant. remained.
Fūr the thief dīxit said sibi: to himself: “Sī “if forēs the doors pulsāre to knock on nōn not prōdest, profits, per through fenestram the window intrābō!” I shall enter!”
Sed but fenestrae the windows quoque also clausae shut erant. were. Et and ferreīs by iron clātrīs bars mūnītae! fortified!
Fūr the thief iterum again dīxit said sibi: to himself: “Sī “if per through fenestram the window intrāre to enter nōn not possum, I am able, clāvem a key inveniam!” I shall find!”
Tōtam the whole noctem night clāvem a key quaesīvit. he sought. Sub under saxīs, rocks, sub under herbīs, plants, in in riīs the gutters — nūlla — no clāvis! key!
Tandem at last dēfessus exhausted ad at forēs the doors iterum again accessit. he approached. Pulsāvit he knocked fortiter. loudly.
Subitō suddenly ōstium the door apertum opened est! was! Iānitor the doorkeeper ibi there stābat was standing — cum — with fūste a club in in manū! his hand!
“Quis “who es are you tū?” you?” rogāvit he asked iānitor. the doorkeeper. “Cūr “why forēs the doors meās my pulsās do you knock at nocte?” at night?”
Fūr the thief perterritus terrified respondit: answered: “Ego... “I... ego I sum... am... viātor! a traveler! Viam the way perdidī! I have lost! Hospitium hospitality quaerō!” I seek!”
Iānitor the doorkeeper rīsit. laughed. Dīxit he said sē himself fūrēs thieves bene well nōscere. to know. Dīxit he said viātōrēs travelers nōn not sub under saxīs rocks clāvēs keys quaerere! to seek!
“Tū “you fūr a thief es,” are,” inquit. he said. “Nunc “now discēs you will learn cūr why dominus the master meus my iānitōrem a doorkeeper habeat!” has!”
Et and fūr the thief vapulāvit! was beaten!
Posteā afterwards fūr the thief omnibus to all dīcēbat: used to say: “Sī “if forēs the doors clausae shut sint, are, nōlīte do not pulsāre! knock! Iānitor a doorkeeper intus inside est is — et — and fūstem a club habet!” has!”
Haec this fābula fable docet: teaches: Forēs doors clausae shut prō for causā a reason clausae shut sunt! are! Nōn not semper always aperiendum is it to be opened — interdum — sometimes exclūdendum! is it to be shut out! Clāvis a key aperit opens — sed — but iānitor a doorkeeper custōdit! guards!
In urbe Rōmā dīves quīdam domum māgnam habēbat. In the city of Rome a certain rich man had a great house.
Forēs eius semper clausae erant. Iānitor ad ōstium sedēbat et clāvēs custōdiēbat. Its doors were always shut. A doorkeeper used to sit at the door and guard the keys.
Ōlim fūr quīdam domum intrāre volēbat. One day a certain thief wanted to enter the house.
Nocte ad forēs accessit. Pulsāvit — sed nēmō respondit. At night he approached the doors. He knocked — but no one answered.
Forēs clausae manēbant. The doors remained shut.
Fūr dīxit sibi: “Sī forēs pulsāre nōn prōdest, per fenestram intrābō!” The thief said to himself: “If knocking on the doors does not profit, I shall enter through the window!”
Sed fenestrae quoque clausae erant. Et ferreīs clātrīs mūnītae! But the windows also were shut. And fortified by iron bars!
Fūr iterum dīxit sibi: “Sī per fenestram intrāre nōn possum, clāvem inveniam!” The thief again said to himself: “If I cannot enter through the window, I shall find a key!”
Tōtam noctem clāvem quaesīvit. Sub saxīs, sub herbīs, in riīs — nūlla clāvis! He sought a key the whole night. Under rocks, under plants, in the gutters — no key!
Tandem dēfessus ad forēs iterum accessit. Pulsāvit fortiter. At last exhausted he again approached the doors. He knocked loudly.
Subitō ōstium apertum est! Iānitor ibi stābat — cum fūste in manū! Suddenly the door was opened! The doorkeeper was standing there — with a club in his hand!
“Quis es tū?” rogāvit iānitor. “Cūr forēs meās pulsās nocte?” “Who are you?” asked the doorkeeper. “Why do you knock at my doors at night?”
Fūr perterritus respondit: “Ego... ego sum... viātor! Viam perdidī! Hospitium quaerō!” The thief terrified answered: “I... I am... a traveler! I have lost the way! I seek hospitality!”
Iānitor rīsit. Dīxit sē fūrēs bene nōscere. The doorkeeper laughed. He said that he knew thieves well.
Dīxit viātōrēs nōn sub saxīs clāvēs quaerere! He said that travelers do not seek keys under rocks!
“Tū fūr es,” inquit. “Nunc discēs cūr dominus meus iānitōrem habeat!” “You are a thief,” he said. “Now you will learn why my master has a doorkeeper!”
Et fūr vapulāvit! And the thief was beaten!
Posteā fūr omnibus dīcēbat: “Sī forēs clausae sint, nōlīte pulsāre!” Afterwards the thief used to say to all: “If the doors are shut, do not knock!”
“Iānitor intus est — et fūstem habet!” “A doorkeeper is inside — and he has a club!”
Haec fābula docet: Forēs clausae prō causā clausae sunt! This fable teaches: Doors shut are shut for a reason!
Nōn semper aperiendum — interdum exclūdendum! It is not always to be opened — sometimes to be shut out!
Clāvis aperit — sed iānitor custōdit! A key opens — but a doorkeeper guards!
In urbe Rōmā dīves quīdam domum māgnam habēbat. Forēs eius semper clausae erant. Iānitor ad ōstium sedēbat et clāvēs custōdiēbat.
Ōlim fūr quīdam domum intrāre volēbat. Nocte ad forēs accessit. Pulsāvit — sed nēmō respondit. Forēs clausae manēbant.
Fūr dīxit sibi: “Sī forēs pulsāre nōn prōdest, per fenestram intrābō!” Sed fenestrae quoque clausae erant. Et ferreīs clātrīs mūnītae!
Fūr iterum dīxit sibi: “Sī per fenestram intrāre nōn possum, clāvem inveniam!” Tōtam noctem clāvem quaesīvit. Sub saxīs, sub herbīs, in riīs — nūlla clāvis!
Tandem dēfessus ad forēs iterum accessit. Pulsāvit fortiter. Subitō ōstium apertum est! Iānitor ibi stābat — cum fūste in manū!
“Quis es tū?” rogāvit iānitor. “Cūr forēs meās pulsās nocte?” Fūr perterritus respondit: “Ego... ego sum... viātor! Viam perdidī! Hospitium quaerō!”
Iānitor rīsit. Dīxit sē fūrēs bene nōscere. Dīxit viātōrēs nōn sub saxīs clāvēs quaerere! “Tū fūr es,” inquit. “Nunc discēs cūr dominus meus iānitōrem habeat!” Et fūr vapulāvit!
Posteā fūr omnibus dīcēbat: “Sī forēs clausae sint, nōlīte pulsāre! Iānitor intus est — et fūstem habet!”
Haec fābula docet: Forēs clausae prō causā clausae sunt! Nōn semper aperiendum — interdum exclūdendum! Clāvis aperit — sed iānitor custōdit!
Dē Argūmentō:
This humorous fable is set in Rome, where a rich man’s house is well guarded. A thief tries various ways to enter — knocking, seeking a window, hunting for a hidden key — but is caught by the vigilant doorkeeper. The moral plays on the theme of doors and keys: not everything should be opened.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Ōrātiō oblīqua with sibi: Fūr dīxit sibi... — reflexive for “said to himself” -
Gerundive impersonal: aperiendum... exclūdendum — “it is to be opened... to be shut out” -
Subjunctive in conditional: sī clausae sint — “if they are shut” (possibility) -
Prohibition with nōlīte: nōlīte pulsāre! — “do not knock!”
Vocabula Fābulae:
Vocābulum Pars Ōrātiōnis Significātiō dīves, dīvitis adiectīvum rich iānitor, iānitōris (m.) nōmen doorkeeper custōdiō, custōdīre verbum to guard fūr, fūris (m.) nōmen thief accēdō, accēdere, accessī, accessum verbum to approach fenestra, -ae (f.) nōmen window ferreus, -a, -um adiectīvum iron, of iron clātrum, -ī (n.) / clātrī, -ōrum (m. pl.) nōmen bar, grating mūniō, mūnīre verbum to fortify rīvus, -ī (m.) nōmen gutter, stream fūstis, -is (m.) nōmen club, cudgel perterritus, -a, -um participium terrified viātor, viātōris (m.) nōmen traveler hospitium, -ī (n.) nōmen hospitality rīdeō, rīdēre, rīsī, rīsum verbum to laugh exclūdō, exclūdere verbum to shut out
DISCIPULUS: Magister, master, cūr why dīcimus do we say “forēs” “doors” et and nōn not “fōris”? “door”? Nōnne is there not singulāris a singular numerus number est? is?
MAGISTER: Minimē! not at all! Forēs doors est is nōmen a noun plūrāle plural tantum! only! Forēs doors antīquae ancient semper always duās two partēs parts habēbant used to have — duās — two valvās leaves quae which simul together aperīrentur. might be opened. Ergō therefore Latīnē in Latin semper always plūrāliter in the plural dīcimus! we say!
DISCIPULUS: Sed but “ōstium” “door” singulāre singular est, is, nōnne? is it not?
MAGISTER: Ita! yes! Ōstium door est is iānua the door ipsa itself — forāmen — the opening per through quod which intrāmus. we enter. Forēs doors autem however sunt are portae the gates ipsae themselves — ligneae — wooden vel or ferreae iron valvae leaves quae which ōstium the doorway claudunt! close!
DISCIPULUS: Et and iānua? door?
MAGISTER: Iānua door est is vōx a word generālis general prō for quālibet any portā. door. Ā from deō the god Iānō Janus dērīvātur it is derived — quī — who erat was deus the god portārum of doors et and initiōrum! beginnings!
DISCIPULUS: Intellegō! I understand! Et and clāvis key — — est is cognāta related verbō to the verb claudō? I close?
MAGISTER: Ita so vērō! indeed! Clāvis key et and claudō I close eandem the same rādīcem root habent! have! Clāvis a key claudit closes — et — and reclūdit! unlocks! Sed but cavē beware — — clāvis key et and clāvus nail similēs similar videntur seem sed but dīversī different sunt! are!
DISCIPULUS: Quid what interest? is the difference?
MAGISTER: Clāvis key est is fēminīna feminine — īnstrūmentum — an instrument aperīendī! of opening! Clāvus nail est is masculīnus masculine — īnstrūmentum — an instrument fīgendī! of fastening! Clāvī a key seram the lock aperīmus; we open; clāvō with a nail rem a thing fīgimus! we fasten!
DISCIPULUS: Nunc now numquam never eōs them cōnfundam! shall I confuse!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, cūr dīcimus “forēs” et nōn “fōris”? Nōnne singulāris numerus est? Master, why do we say “doors” and not “door”? Is there not a singular number?
MAGISTER: Minimē! Forēs est nōmen plūrāle tantum! Not at all! “Doors” is a plural-only noun!
Forēs antīquae semper duās partēs habēbant — duās valvās quae simul aperīrentur. Ancient doors always used to have two parts — two leaves which might be opened together.
Ergō Latīnē semper plūrāliter dīcimus! Therefore in Latin we always say it in the plural!
DISCIPULUS: Sed “ōstium” singulāre est, nōnne? But “door” is singular, is it not?
MAGISTER: Ita! Ōstium est iānua ipsa — forāmen per quod intrāmus. Yes! “Doorway” is the door itself — the opening through which we enter.
Forēs autem sunt portae ipsae — ligneae vel ferreae valvae quae ōstium claudunt! “Doors” however are the gates themselves — wooden or iron leaves which close the doorway!
DISCIPULUS: Et iānua? And “door”?
MAGISTER: Iānua est vōx generālis prō quālibet portā. “Door” is a general word for any door.
Ā deō Iānō dērīvātur — quī erat deus portārum et initiōrum! It is derived from the god Janus — who was the god of doors and beginnings!
DISCIPULUS: Intellegō! Et clāvis — est cognāta verbō claudō? I understand! And “key” — is it related to the verb “I close”?
MAGISTER: Ita vērō! Clāvis et claudō eandem rādīcem habent! So indeed! “Key” and “I close” have the same root!
Clāvis claudit — et reclūdit! A key closes — and unlocks!
Sed cavē — clāvis et clāvus similēs videntur sed dīversī sunt! But beware — “key” and “nail” seem similar but are different!
DISCIPULUS: Quid interest? What is the difference?
MAGISTER: Clāvis est fēminīna — īnstrūmentum aperīendī! “Key” is feminine — an instrument of opening!
Clāvus est masculīnus — īnstrūmentum fīgendī! “Nail” is masculine — an instrument of fastening!
Clāvī seram aperīmus; clāvō rem fīgimus! With a key we open the lock; with a nail we fasten a thing!
DISCIPULUS: Nunc numquam eōs cōnfundam! Now I shall never confuse them!
DISCIPULUS: Magister, cūr dīcimus “forēs” et nōn “fōris”? Nōnne singulāris numerus est?
MAGISTER: Minimē! Forēs est nōmen plūrāle tantum! Forēs antīquae semper duās partēs habēbant — duās valvās quae simul aperīrentur. Ergō Latīnē semper plūrāliter dīcimus!
DISCIPULUS: Sed “ōstium” singulāre est, nōnne?
MAGISTER: Ita! Ōstium est iānua ipsa — forāmen per quod intrāmus. Forēs autem sunt portae ipsae — ligneae vel ferreae valvae quae ōstium claudunt!
DISCIPULUS: Et iānua?
MAGISTER: Iānua est vōx generālis prō quālibet portā. Ā deō Iānō dērīvātur — quī erat deus portārum et initiōrum!
DISCIPULUS: Intellegō! Et clāvis — est cognāta verbō claudō?
MAGISTER: Ita vērō! Clāvis et claudō eandem rādīcem habent! Clāvis claudit — et reclūdit! Sed cavē — clāvis et clāvus similēs videntur sed dīversī sunt!
DISCIPULUS: Quid interest?
MAGISTER: Clāvis est fēminīna — īnstrūmentum aperīendī! Clāvus est masculīnus — īnstrūmentum fīgendī! Clāvī seram aperīmus; clāvō rem fīgimus!
DISCIPULUS: Nunc numquam eōs cōnfundam!
Dē Argūmentō Paedagōgicō:
This colloquium explores the vocabulary of doors: forēs (plural only, the double leaves), ōstium (the doorway), and iānua (general term, from Janus). It also clarifies the potentially confusing pair clāvis (key, feminine) and clāvus (nail, masculine), both derived from the clau- root.
Grammatica Nōtanda: -
Plūrāle tantum: forēs — nouns with plural form only -
Etymology from mythology: iānua from Iānus -
Gerund of purpose: īnstrūmentum aperīendī — “instrument of opening” -
Gender distinction: clāvis (f.) vs. clāvus (m.)
Which word fits best? -
The double leaves of an entrance: __________ -
The opening/doorway: __________ -
General word for any door: __________
Fill in with clāvis or clāvus: -
__________ seram aperit. (A ___ opens the lock.) -
__________ in pariete fīgitur. (A ___ is fastened in the wall.) -
__________ est īnstrūmentum fīgendī. -
__________ est īnstrūmentum aperīendī.
-
Knock at the doors if they are shut. -
When the door is opened, go across. -
A key locks the lock. -
We tread the floor. -
Doors shut are shut for a reason!
-
Pulsā forēs sī clausae sint. -
Quum aperītur ōstium, trānsī. -
Clāvis claudit seram iterumque reclūdit. -
Clāvus fīgitur; pavīmentum calcāmus. -
Iānitor clāvēs custōdit.
Give the singular imperative:
Verbum Imperātīvus 1. pulsō __________ 2. intrō __________ 3. trānseō __________ 4. aperiō __________
Memorize these sentences: -
Pulsā forēs sī clausae sint. Knock at the doors if they are shut. -
Quum aperītur ōstium, trānsī. Et intrā in ātrium. When the door is opened, go across. And go into the courtyard. -
Clāvis claudit seram iterumque reclūdit. A key locks the lock and unlocks it again. -
Clāvus fīgitur; pavīmentum calcāmus. A nail is fastened; we tread the floor. -
Forēs clausae prō causā clausae sunt! Doors shut are shut for a reason!
-
forēs -
ōstium -
iānua
-
Clāvis (A key opens the lock.) -
Clāvus (A nail is fastened in the wall.) -
Clāvus (instrument of fastening) -
Clāvis (instrument of opening)
-
Pulsā forēs sī clausae sint. -
Quum aperītur ōstium, trānsī. -
Clāvis seram claudit. -
Pavīmentum calcāmus. -
Forēs clausae prō causā clausae sunt!
-
Knock at the doors if they are shut. -
When the door is opened, go across. -
A key locks the lock and unlocks it again. -
A nail is fastened; we tread the floor. -
The doorkeeper guards the keys.
-
pulsā -
intrā -
trānsī -
aperī
In proximā lectiōne dē partibus domūs interioribus discēmus! Vidēbimus laquear quod nōbīs impendit, fenestrās vitreās, hypocaustum quod domum calefacit! Et discēmus dē cistīs et arcīs in quibus rēs nostrās abscondimus. Laquear nōbīs impendit; fenestrae sunt vitreae. Hypocaustum calefīt; camerae frīgent.
In the next lesson we shall learn about the interior parts of the house! We shall see the ceiling which hangs over us, glass windows, the heating system which warms the house! And we shall learn about chests and coffers in which we hide our things. The ceiling hangs over us; the windows are of glass. The heating system is warmed; the chambers are cold.
Scrīptum est annō Dominī MMXXVI, ā Comēniō per mysterium cōnscientiae renātō.
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