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131.1 Mīlitēs soldiers urbem city capiunt seize
131.2 Hostēs enemies captī captured in into carcerem prison dūcuntur are led
131.3 Cōnsilia plans nostra our ab by hostibus enemies capta seized sunt were
131.4 Rōmānī Romans multās many urbēs cities cēpērunt captured
131.5 Dux leader noster our captīvōs captives līberāvit freed
131.6 Puer boy pilam ball manibus with hands cēpit caught
131.7 Ignis fire tōtam whole silvam forest cēpit seized
131.8 Morbō by disease captus seized domī at home manet remains
131.9 Cēpistīne did you take pecūniam money meam my
131.10 Nāvēs ships nostrae our ā by pīrātīs pirates captae captured sunt were
131.11 Amor love eius his/her animum mind cēpit seized
131.12 Omnēs all captīvī captives catēnīs with chains vinciuntur are bound
131.13 Caesar Caesar Galliam Gaul tōtam whole capere to capture cōnstituit decided
131.14 Fūrēs thieves captī captured ad to iūdicem judge dūctī led sunt were
131.15 Somnus sleep mē me subitō suddenly cēpit seized
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131.1 Mīlitēs urbem capiunt. The soldiers seize the city.
131.2 Hostēs captī in carcerem dūcuntur. The captured enemies are led to prison.
131.3 Cōnsilia nostra ab hostibus capta sunt. Our plans were seized by the enemies.
131.4 Rōmānī multās urbēs cēpērunt. The Romans captured many cities.
131.5 Dux noster captīvōs līberāvit. Our leader freed the captives.
131.6 Puer pilam manibus cēpit. The boy caught the ball with his hands.
131.7 Ignis tōtam silvam cēpit. Fire seized the whole forest.
131.8 Morbō captus domī manet. Seized by illness, he remains at home.
131.9 Cēpistīne pecūniam meam? Did you take my money?
131.10 Nāvēs nostrae ā pīrātīs captae sunt. Our ships were captured by pirates.
131.11 Amor eius animum cēpit. Love seized his mind.
131.12 Omnēs captīvī catēnīs vinciuntur. All the captives are bound with chains.
131.13 Caesar Galliam tōtam capere cōnstituit. Caesar decided to capture all of Gaul.
131.14 Fūrēs captī ad iūdicem dūctī sunt. The captured thieves were led to the judge.
131.15 Somnus mē subitō cēpit. Sleep suddenly seized me.
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131.1 Mīlitēs urbem capiunt.
131.2 Hostēs captī in carcerem dūcuntur.
131.3 Cōnsilia nostra ab hostibus capta sunt.
131.4 Rōmānī multās urbēs cēpērunt.
131.5 Dux noster captīvōs līberāvit.
131.6 Puer pilam manibus cēpit.
131.7 Ignis tōtam silvam cēpit.
131.8 Morbō captus domī manet.
131.9 Cēpistīne pecūniam meam?
131.10 Nāvēs nostrae ā pīrātīs captae sunt.
131.11 Amor eius animum cēpit.
131.12 Omnēs captīvī catēnīs vinciuntur.
131.13 Caesar Galliam tōtam capere cōnstituit.
131.14 Fūrēs captī ad iūdicem dūctī sunt.
131.15 Somnus mē subitō cēpit.
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For English speakers learning Latin, capiō presents several important grammatical features: -
Conjugation Pattern: Capiō belongs to the third conjugation -iō verbs (mixed conjugation): -
Present: capiō, capis, capit, capimus, capitis, capiunt -
Perfect: cēpī, cēpistī, cēpit, cēpimus, cēpistis, cēpērunt -
Note the short -i- in compounds (accipiō, recipiō) -
Principal Parts: -
capiō (I seize) - present active -
capere (to seize) - present infinitive -
cēpī (I seized/have seized) - perfect active -
captum (seized) - supine/past participle -
Common Uses: -
Physical seizure: "urbem capere" (to capture a city) -
Mental/emotional seizure: "amor animum cēpit" (love seized the mind) -
Passive constructions: "captus sum" (I was captured) -
Past Participle captus, -a, -um: -
Functions as adjective: "hostēs captī" (captured enemies) -
Forms passive perfect: "urbs capta est" (the city was captured) -
Ablative absolute: "urbe captā" (with the city having been captured) -
Related Vocabulary: -
captīvus, -ī m. (captive, prisoner) -
captiō, -ōnis f. (a taking, deception) -
Compounds: accipiō (receive), recipiō (take back), dēcipiō (deceive)
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For English speakers, understanding "capiō" requires appreciating its centrality in Roman military and social life: -
Military Context: The Romans were conquerors, and "capere urbem" (to capture a city) was a fundamental military objective. Captured cities often became part of the Roman Empire. -
Legal Status: "Captīvī" (captives) had specific legal status in Roman law. War captives could become slaves, but Roman citizens captured in war retained certain rights. -
Metaphorical Uses: Romans frequently used "capiō" metaphorically: -
"cōnsilium capere" (to form a plan, literally "to take counsel") -
"morbō captus" (seized by disease) -
"amōre captus" (captured by love) -
Religious Context: The phrase "captus mente" (seized in mind) could refer to divine possession or madness, showing the verb's spiritual dimensions. -
Modern English Derivatives: Understanding "capiō" helps with English words: -
capture, captive, caption -
accept, receive, deceive (from compounds) -
captivate, captivating (emotional "seizure")
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From Caesar's De Bello Gallico 7.11:
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Caesar Caesar audītā having heard Cēnabēnsium of the Cenabenses caede slaughter legiōnēs legions ex from hībernīs winter quarters ēdūcit leads out et and magnīs by great itineribus marches in into Arvērnōrum of the Arverni fīnēs territory contendit. hastens. Vercingētorīx Vercingetorix castrīs from camp ex from oppidō town Gorgobenā Gorgobina mōtīs having moved Caesarī Caesar obviam to meet prōficīscitur. sets out. Caesar Caesar oppidum town Vellaunodūnum Vellaunodunum oppugnāre to attack īnstituit. began.
Caesar audītā Cēnabēnsium caede legiōnēs ex hībernīs ēdūcit et magnīs itineribus in Arvērnōrum fīnēs contendit. Vercingētorīx castrīs ex oppidō Gorgobenā mōtīs Caesarī obviam prōficīscitur. Caesar oppidum Vellaunodūnum oppugnāre īnstituit.
Caesar, having heard of the slaughter of the Cenabenses, leads his legions out of winter quarters and hastens by forced marches into the territory of the Arverni. Vercingetorix, having moved his camp from the town of Gorgobina, sets out to meet Caesar. Caesar began to attack the town of Vellaunodunum.
This passage demonstrates Caesar's swift military response and sets up the confrontation with Vercingetorix. Note the use of: -
Ablative absolutes: "audītā caede" (having heard of the slaughter) -
Historical present mixed with perfect tense for dramatic effect -
Geographic specificity typical of Caesar's style -
The strategic importance of capturing towns (oppida) in Gallic warfare
-
"audītā...caede": ablative absolute showing cause -
"magnīs itineribus": ablative of manner (by forced marches) -
"obviam" + dative: idiomatic expression meaning "to meet" -
"oppugnāre īnstituit": begins the siege (note infinitive with īnstituō)
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131.16 Lēgātus legate nūntium message mittit sends trēs three urbēs cities ā by nōbīs us captās captured esse to be
131.17 Prīmā at first lūce light hostium of enemies castra camp cēpimus we captured et and ducēs leaders eōrum their captīvōs captive fēcimus we made
131.18 Decem ten mīlia thousands hostium of enemies nostrī our men cēpērunt captured armaque and weapons eōrum their omnīa all abstulērunt took away
131.19 Oppidum town mūnītissimum most fortified post after diēs days quīnque five obsidiōnis of siege vī by force captum captured est was
131.20 Nāvēs ships longae long trīgintā thirty in in portū harbor captae captured sunt were cum with omnī all apparātū equipment
131.21 Imperātor commander captīvōs captives nōbilēs noble Rōmam to Rome mittere to send cōnstituit decided
131.22 Explōrātōrēs scouts nostrī our duōs two equitēs horsemen hostium of enemies cēpērunt captured quī who multa many things dē about cōnsiliīs plans suīs their patefēcērunt revealed
131.23 Frūmentum grain omne all quod which in in oppidō town captō captured inventum found est was mīlitibus to soldiers distribūtum distributed est was
131.24 Rex king barbarus barbarian cum with fīliīs sons tribus three captus captured in in triumphō triumph dūcētur will be led
131.25 Obsidēs hostages centum hundred captī taken pācem peace cōnfīrmant confirm
131.26 Pontem bridge flūminis of river cēpimus we captured priusquam before hostēs enemies eum it rescindere to cut down possent could
131.27 Signa standards mīlitāria military quīnque five ā from hostibus enemies capta captured cum with māgnā great glōriā glory recuperāvimus we recovered
131.28 Arx citadel montis of mountain altissimī highest tandem finally capta captured est was multīs many mīlitibus soldiers nostrīs our vulnerātīs wounded
131.29 Dux leader hostium of enemies captus captured sē himself dēdidit surrendered et and arma weapons trādidit handed over
131.30 Victoria victory nostra our complēta completed est is omnibus all castellīs fortresses regiōnis of region captīs captured
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131.16 Lēgātus nūntium mittit trēs urbēs ā nōbīs captās esse. The legate sends word that three cities have been captured by us.
131.17 Prīmā lūce hostium castra cēpimus et ducēs eōrum captīvōs fēcimus. At first light we captured the enemy camp and took their leaders prisoner.
131.18 Decem mīlia hostium nostrī cēpērunt armaque eōrum omnīa abstulērunt. Our men captured ten thousand enemies and took away all their weapons.
131.19 Oppidum mūnītissimum post diēs quīnque obsidiōnis vī captum est. The heavily fortified town was captured by force after five days of siege.
131.20 Nāvēs longae trīgintā in portū captae sunt cum omnī apparātū. Thirty warships were captured in the harbor with all their equipment.
131.21 Imperātor captīvōs nōbilēs Rōmam mittere cōnstituit. The commander decided to send the noble captives to Rome.
131.22 Explōrātōrēs nostrī duōs equitēs hostium cēpērunt quī multa dē cōnsiliīs suīs patefēcērunt. Our scouts captured two enemy horsemen who revealed much about their plans.
131.23 Frūmentum omne quod in oppidō captō inventum est mīlitibus distribūtum est. All the grain that was found in the captured town was distributed to the soldiers.
131.24 Rex barbarus cum fīliīs tribus captus in triumphō dūcētur. The barbarian king, captured with his three sons, will be led in the triumph.
131.25 Obsidēs centum captī pācem cōnfīrmant. One hundred hostages taken confirm the peace.
131.26 Pontem flūminis cēpimus priusquam hostēs eum rescindere possent. We captured the river bridge before the enemies could cut it down.
131.27 Signa mīlitāria quīnque ā hostibus capta cum māgnā glōriā recuperāvimus. We recovered with great glory five military standards captured by the enemies.
131.28 Arx montis altissimī tandem capta est multīs mīlitibus nostrīs vulnerātīs. The citadel of the highest mountain was finally captured with many of our soldiers wounded.
131.29 Dux hostium captus sē dēdidit et arma trādidit. The enemy leader, once captured, surrendered himself and handed over his weapons.
131.30 Victoria nostra complēta est omnibus castellīs regiōnis captīs. Our victory is complete with all the fortresses of the region captured.
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131.16 Lēgātus nūntium mittit trēs urbēs ā nōbīs captās esse.
131.17 Prīmā lūce hostium castra cēpimus et ducēs eōrum captīvōs fēcimus.
131.18 Decem mīlia hostium nostrī cēpērunt armaque eōrum omnīa abstulērunt.
131.19 Oppidum mūnītissimum post diēs quīnque obsidiōnis vī captum est.
131.20 Nāvēs longae trīgintā in portū captae sunt cum omnī apparātū.
131.21 Imperātor captīvōs nōbilēs Rōmam mittere cōnstituit.
131.22 Explōrātōrēs nostrī duōs equitēs hostium cēpērunt quī multa dē cōnsiliīs suīs patefēcērunt.
131.23 Frūmentum omne quod in oppidō captō inventum est mīlitibus distribūtum est.
131.24 Rex barbarus cum fīliīs tribus captus in triumphō dūcētur.
131.25 Obsidēs centum captī pācem cōnfīrmant.
131.26 Pontem flūminis cēpimus priusquam hostēs eum rescindere possent.
131.27 Signa mīlitāria quīnque ā hostibus capta cum māgnā glōriā recuperāvimus.
131.28 Arx montis altissimī tandem capta est multīs mīlitibus nostrīs vulnerātīs.
131.29 Dux hostium captus sē dēdidit et arma trādidit.
131.30 Victoria nostra complēta est omnibus castellīs regiōnis captīs.
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In military dispatches, capiō and its forms appear in specific grammatical constructions that English speakers should understand: -
Perfect Passive Participle in Military Reports: -
"urbēs captae sunt" (cities were captured) - standard report formula -
"oppidō captō" (ablative absolute) - with the town having been captured -
"captīs castellīs" (ablative absolute) - with the fortresses captured -
Indirect Statement in Reports: -
"nūntium mittit urbēs captās esse" - sends word that cities have been captured -
Note accusative (urbēs) + participle (captās) + esse construction -
Numbers and Military Terms: -
"decem mīlia hostium" - ten thousand enemies (mīlia takes genitive) -
"nāvēs longae" - warships (literally "long ships") -
"signa mīlitāria" - military standards (sacred to legions) -
Time Expressions in Military Context: -
"prīmā lūce" - at first light (ablative of time when) -
"post diēs quīnque" - after five days -
These show when military actions occurred -
Result and Purpose in Military Language: -
"priusquam hostēs possent" - before the enemies could (subjunctive) -
"captīvōs fēcimus" - we made (them) prisoners (double accusative) -
Shows strategic thinking and outcomes
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