← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
135.1 Quid what est is tuum your nōmen name?
135.2 Imperātor general nōmen name victōriae of victory accēpit received
135.3 Multī many virī men eōdem with same nōmine name vocābantur were called
135.4 Nōmina names deōrum of gods sacra sacred sunt are
135.5 Puella girl pulchrum beautiful nōmen name habet has
135.6 Scrībe write nōmen name tuum your in on tabulā tablet
135.7 Nōminis of name fāma fame per through omnēs all terrās lands volat flies
135.8 Pater father fīliō to son avī of grandfather nōmen name dedit gave
135.9 Nūllum no nōmen name clārius more famous est is quam than Caesaris Caesar's
135.10 Sub under nōmine name pācis of peace bellum war parābant they were preparing
135.11 Magnum great nōmen name in among hostibus enemies timōrem fear facit makes
135.12 Nōminibus by names propriīs proper rēs things appellāmus we call
135.13 Mīles soldier prō for nōmine name patriae of country pugnāvit fought
135.14 Nōmina names omnium of all cīvium citizens in in librīs books scrīpta written sunt are
135.15 Sine without nōmine name nēmō no one vīvit lives
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135.1 Quid est tuum nōmen? What is your name?
135.2 Imperātor nōmen victōriae accēpit. The general received the name of victory.
135.3 Multī virī eōdem nōmine vocābantur. Many men were called by the same name.
135.4 Nōmina deōrum sacra sunt. The names of the gods are sacred.
135.5 Puella pulchrum nōmen habet. The girl has a beautiful name.
135.6 Scrībe nōmen tuum in tabulā. Write your name on the tablet.
135.7 Nōminis fāma per omnēs terrās volat. The fame of the name flies through all lands.
135.8 Pater fīliō avī nōmen dedit. The father gave his grandfather's name to his son.
135.9 Nūllum nōmen clārius est quam Caesaris. No name is more famous than Caesar's.
135.10 Sub nōmine pācis bellum parābant. Under the name of peace they were preparing war.
135.11 Magnum nōmen in hostibus timōrem facit. A great name creates fear among enemies.
135.12 Nōminibus propriīs rēs appellāmus. We call things by their proper names.
135.13 Mīles prō nōmine patriae pugnāvit. The soldier fought for the name of his country.
135.14 Nōmina omnium cīvium in librīs scrīpta sunt. The names of all citizens are written in the books.
135.15 Sine nōmine nēmō vīvit. No one lives without a name.
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135.1 Quid est tuum nōmen?
135.2 Imperātor nōmen victōriae accēpit.
135.3 Multī virī eōdem nōmine vocābantur.
135.4 Nōmina deōrum sacra sunt.
135.5 Puella pulchrum nōmen habet.
135.6 Scrībe nōmen tuum in tabulā.
135.7 Nōminis fāma per omnēs terrās volat.
135.8 Pater fīliō avī nōmen dedit.
135.9 Nūllum nōmen clārius est quam Caesaris.
135.10 Sub nōmine pācis bellum parābant.
135.11 Magnum nōmen in hostibus timōrem facit.
135.12 Nōminibus propriīs rēs appellāmus.
135.13 Mīles prō nōmine patriae pugnāvit.
135.14 Nōmina omnium cīvium in librīs scrīpta sunt.
135.15 Sine nōmine nēmō vīvit.
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For English speakers learning Latin, "nōmen" presents several important grammatical features: -
Third Declension Neuter Noun: -
Nominative singular: nōmen -
Genitive singular: nōminis -
Dative singular: nōminī -
Accusative singular: nōmen -
Ablative singular: nōmine -
Nominative plural: nōmina -
Genitive plural: nōminum -
Dative plural: nōminibus -
Accusative plural: nōmina -
Ablative plural: nōminibus -
Case Usage Examples: -
Subject (Nominative): "Nōmen clārum est" (The name is famous) -
Possession (Genitive): "fāma nōminis" (fame of the name) -
Indirect Object (Dative): "nōminī honōrem dat" (he gives honor to the name) -
Direct Object (Accusative): "nōmen audit" (he hears the name) -
Means/Instrument (Ablative): "nōmine vocātur" (is called by name) -
Common Constructions: -
With genitive of possession: "nōmen Caesaris" (Caesar's name) -
With prepositions: "sub nōmine" (under the name of) -
With adjectives: "magnum nōmen" (great name) -
In phrases: "nōmine tenus" (in name only) -
Word Order Flexibility: Notice how Latin can place "nōmen" in various positions: -
Initial: "Nōmen eius clārum est" -
Medial: "Puer nōmen patris habet" -
Final: "Quid est tuum nōmen?"
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Understanding Roman naming conventions helps English speakers appreciate the significance of "nōmen" in Latin texts: -
The Tria Nomina System: Romans typically had three names: -
Praenomen (personal name): Marcus, Gaius, Lucius -
Nomen (family/clan name): Tullius, Julius, Cornelius -
Cognomen (nickname/branch): Cicero, Caesar, Scipio -
Religious Significance: -
Names of gods were sacred and powerful -
Speaking a deity's name could invoke their presence -
Secret names (like Roma's) were protected -
Damnatio memoriae erased names from records -
Legal Importance: -
Names identified citizens in legal documents -
Full names required for contracts and wills -
Adoption changed one's nomen -
Women typically used feminine forms of family names -
Military Honours: -
Victory titles added to names (Africanus, Germanicus) -
Names became rallying cries in battle -
Enemy names were sometimes adopted as trophies -
Modern Legacy: -
Scientific nomenclature uses Latin naming systems -
Legal terms like "nominal" derive from nōmen -
Many European naming traditions stem from Roman practices
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From Ovid's Metamorphoses (15.871-879):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Iamque and now opus work exēgī I have completed, quod which nec neither Iovis of Jupiter īra anger nec nor ignis fire nec nor poterit will be able ferrum sword nec nor edāx devouring abolēre to destroy vetustās old age. Cum when volet it wishes, illa that diēs day, quae which nīl nothing nisi except corporis of body huius this iūs power habet has, incertī of uncertain spatium span mihi for me fīniat may end aevī of life: parte in part tamen however meliōre better meī of me super above alta high perennīs everlasting astra stars ferar I shall be carried, nōmenque and name erit will be indēlēbile indestructible nostrum our.
Iamque opus exēgī, quod nec Iovis īra nec ignis nec poterit ferrum nec edāx abolēre vetustās. Cum volet, illa diēs, quae nīl nisi corporis huius iūs habet, incertī spatium mihi fīniat aevī: parte tamen meliōre meī super alta perennīs astra ferar, nōmenque erit indēlēbile nostrum.
And now I have completed a work which neither Jupiter's anger nor fire nor sword nor devouring old age will be able to destroy. When it wishes, let that day, which has power over nothing but this body, end the span of my uncertain life: yet in my better part I shall be carried, everlasting, above the lofty stars, and my name will be indestructible.
Ovid concludes his masterwork with a powerful declaration of literary immortality. The passage showcases several key features: -
The emphatic placement of "nōmenque" connects fame with the work itself -
The adjective "indēlēbile" (indestructible) modifies "nōmen," emphasizing permanence -
Ovid contrasts physical mortality with the immortality of his name through poetry -
The future tense throughout expresses confidence in his lasting fame
-
"nōmenque": The enclitic -que adds "and" while maintaining metric flow -
"nostrum": First person plural adjective used poetically for "meum" -
"indēlēbile": Predicate adjective agreeing with neuter "nōmen" -
Word order places "nōmen" strategically before the caesura for emphasis -
The passage demonstrates how "nōmen" transcends mere identification to represent eternal fame
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135.16 Marcus Marcus Tullius Tullius Cicerō Cicero Atticō to Atticus suō his salūtem greeting dīcit says
135.17 Hodiē today litterās letter ā from quōdam certain homine man accēpī I received cuius whose nōmen name ignōrō I do not know
135.18 In in epistulā letter scrīptum written erat was nōmen name tuum your et and meum mine
135.19 Homō man ille that falsō falsely nōmine name ūtitur uses ut as crēdō I believe
135.20 Quis who est is iste that quī who nostra our nōmina names scrībit writes?
135.21 Timeo I fear nē lest aliquis someone nōmine in name meō my malum evil faciat may do
135.22 Scrīpsit he wrote enim for sē himself nōmine in name tuō your pecūniam money mūtuam loan petere to seek
135.23 Nōminis of name tuī your auctōritāte by authority multōs many decipere to deceive potest he can
135.24 Cavē beware nē lest quis anyone tuō your nōmine name abutātur misuse
135.25 Mittō I send tibī to you exemplum copy epistulae of letter in in quā which nōmina names nostra our leguntur are read
135.26 Vir man bonus good numquam never aliēnō another's nōmine name sē himself celat hides
135.27 Nōmen name nostrae of our familiae family honestum honorable servāre to preserve dēbēmus we ought
135.28 Respondē reply mihi to me statim immediately sī if quid anything dē about hōc this nōmine name audīvistī you have heard
135.29 Intereā meanwhile ego I dē about vērō true nōmine name huius of this hominis man quaeram I shall inquire
135.30 Valē farewell et and cūrā take care ut that nōmen name tuum your integrum untarnished maneāt may remain
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135.16 Marcus Tullius Cicerō Atticō suō salūtem dīcit. Marcus Tullius Cicero sends greetings to his dear Atticus.
135.17 Hodiē litterās ā quōdam homine accēpī cuius nōmen ignōrō. Today I received a letter from a certain man whose name I do not know.
135.18 In epistulā scrīptum erat nōmen tuum et meum. In the letter were written your name and mine.
135.19 Homō ille falsō nōmine ūtitur ut crēdō. That man uses a false name, as I believe.
135.20 Quis est iste quī nostra nōmina scrībit? Who is this person who writes our names?
135.21 Timeo nē aliquis nōmine meō malum faciat. I fear that someone may do evil in my name.
135.22 Scrīpsit enim sē nōmine tuō pecūniam mūtuam petere. For he wrote that he seeks a loan in your name.
135.23 Nōminis tuī auctōritāte multōs decipere potest. By the authority of your name he can deceive many.
135.24 Cavē nē quis tuō nōmine abutātur. Beware lest anyone misuse your name.
135.25 Mittō tibī exemplum epistulae in quā nōmina nostra leguntur. I send you a copy of the letter in which our names are read.
135.26 Vir bonus numquam aliēnō nōmine sē celat. A good man never hides himself under another's name.
135.27 Nōmen nostrae familiae honestum servāre dēbēmus. We ought to preserve the honorable name of our family.
135.28 Respondē mihi statim sī quid dē hōc nōmine audīvistī. Reply to me immediately if you have heard anything about this name.
135.29 Intereā ego dē vērō nōmine huius hominis quaeram. Meanwhile I shall inquire about the true name of this man.
135.30 Valē et cūrā ut nōmen tuum integrum maneāt. Farewell and take care that your name remains untarnished.
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135.16 Marcus Tullius Cicerō Atticō suō salūtem dīcit.
135.17 Hodiē litterās ā quōdam homine accēpī cuius nōmen ignōrō.
135.18 In epistulā scrīptum erat nōmen tuum et meum.
135.19 Homō ille falsō nōmine ūtitur ut crēdō.
135.20 Quis est iste quī nostra nōmina scrībit?
135.21 Timeo nē aliquis nōmine meō malum faciat.
135.22 Scrīpsit enim sē nōmine tuō pecūniam mūtuam petere.
135.23 Nōminis tuī auctōritāte multōs decipere potest.
135.24 Cavē nē quis tuō nōmine abutātur.
135.25 Mittō tibī exemplum epistulae in quā nōmina nostra leguntur.
135.26 Vir bonus numquam aliēnō nōmine sē celat.
135.27 Nōmen nostrae familiae honestum servāre dēbēmus.
135.28 Respondē mihi statim sī quid dē hōc nōmine audīvistī.
135.29 Intereā ego dē vērō nōmine huius hominis quaeram.
135.30 Valē et cūrā ut nōmen tuum integrum maneāt.
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The epistolary genre showcases several important uses of "nōmen" in context: -
Letter Formula: -
Opening: "Marcus Tullius Cicerō Atticō suō salūtem dīcit" -
Full Roman names establish identity and relationship -
Standard greeting formula for formal correspondence -
Ablative of Means/Instrument: -
"falsō nōmine ūtitur" (uses a false name) -
"nōmine meō" (in my name) -
"aliēnō nōmine sē celat" (hides under another's name) -
Shows how names function as tools or instruments -
Genitive of Possession vs. Adjective: -
"nōminis tuī auctōritāte" (by the authority of your name) -
"nōmen nostrae familiae" (the name of our family) -
"vērō nōmine huius hominis" (true name of this man) -
Demonstrates different ways to show possession -
Subjunctive Mood in Subordinate Clauses: -
Fear clause: "Timeo nē aliquis... faciat" (I fear lest someone do) -
Purpose clause: "cūrā ut nōmen... maneāt" (take care that the name remain) -
Indirect question: "sī quid... audīvistī" (if you have heard anything) -
Word Order for Emphasis: -
"nōmen ignōrō" - verb final for statement of fact -
"nostra nōmina scrībit" - verb final with emphasis on "our names" -
"Nōmen... servāre dēbēmus" - separated elements for emphasis -
Epistolary Conventions: -
Direct address: "Respondē mihi" -
Temporal markers: "Hodiē," "Intereā" -
Closing formula: "Valē" -
Personal concern expressed through subjunctives -
Legal/Ethical Implications: -
Identity theft: "falsō nōmine ūtitur" -
Financial fraud: "pecūniam mūtuam petere" -
Reputation: "nōmen integrum" -
Shows Roman concern for name integrity
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