← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
In this lesson, we study the common noun "rēs, reī" (feminine), meaning "thing, matter, affair, circumstance." This word appears frequently in important phrases like "rēs pūblica" (republic/commonwealth) and "rēs mīlitāris" (military affairs).
37.1 Rēs the matter grāvis serious est is
37.2 Haec this rēs matter mē me dēlectat pleases
37.3 Multās many rēs things novās new discimus we learn
37.4 Hanc this rem matter pūblicam public dēfendimus we defend
37.5 Reī matter magnae important studet he devotes himself to
37.6 Rem affair mīlitārem military bene well cūrat he manages
37.7 Rēs things adversae adverse bonōs good men probant test
37.8 Dē about hāc this rē matter cōgitō I think
37.9 Reī property familiārī family cōnsulit he takes care of
37.10 Rērum of things natūra nature magnī great est is
37.11 Hīs by these rēbus things commoveor I am moved
37.12 Omnēs all rēs things mūtantur change
37.13 Rēs affairs novae new cīvitātem the state turbant disturb
37.14 Rēbus to matters dīvīnīs divine studet she devotes herself
37.15 Rērum of affairs condiciō condition difficilis difficult est is
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37.1 Rēs grāvis est. The matter is serious.
37.2 Haec rēs mē dēlectat. This matter pleases me.
37.3 Multās rēs novās discimus. We learn many new things.
37.4 Hanc rem pūblicam dēfendimus. We defend this republic.
37.5 Reī magnae studet. He devotes himself to an important matter.
37.6 Rem mīlitārem bene cūrat. He manages military affairs well.
37.7 Rēs adversae bonōs probant. Adverse circumstances test good men.
37.8 Dē hāc rē cōgitō. I think about this matter.
37.9 Reī familiārī cōnsulit. He takes care of the family property.
37.10 Rērum natūra pulchra est. The nature of things is beautiful.
37.11 Hīs rēbus commoveor. I am moved by these things.
37.12 Omnēs rēs mūtantur. All things change.
37.13 Rēs novae cīvitātem turbant. Revolutionary changes disturb the state.
37.14 Rēbus dīvīnīs studet. She devotes herself to divine matters.
37.15 Rērum condiciō difficilis est. The condition of affairs is difficult.
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37.1 Rēs grāvis est.
37.2 Haec rēs mē dēlectat.
37.3 Multās rēs novās discimus.
37.4 Hanc rem pūblicam dēfendimus.
37.5 Reī magnae studet.
37.6 Rem mīlitārem bene cūrat.
37.7 Rēs adversae bonōs probant.
37.8 Dē hāc rē cōgitō.
37.9 Reī familiārī cōnsulit.
37.10 Rērum natūra pulchra est.
37.11 Hīs rēbus commoveor.
37.12 Omnēs rēs mūtantur.
37.13 Rēs novae cīvitātem turbant.
37.14 Rēbus dīvīnīs studet.
37.15 Rērum condiciō difficilis est.
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"Rēs" is a fifth declension feminine noun with these forms:
Singular: -
Nominative: rēs -
Genitive: reī -
Dative: reī -
Accusative: rem -
Ablative: rē
Plural: -
Nominative: rēs -
Genitive: rērum -
Dative: rēbus -
Accusative: rēs -
Ablative: rēbus
Key grammatical points: -
As a fifth declension noun, "rēs" shares patterns with other -ēs nouns -
The dative and genitive singular both end in -eī -
Several forms are identical (nom. sing/pl, acc. pl) -
Common in both concrete ("things") and abstract ("affairs") meanings
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For English speakers, understanding "rēs" requires grasping its broad semantic range: -
Physical meanings: -
Concrete objects -
Property and possessions -
Material things -
Abstract meanings: -
Circumstances -
Affairs (political, military) -
Matters of importance -
Events or situations -
Common phrases: -
rēs pūblica (the state, commonwealth) -
rēs mīlitāris (military affairs) -
rēs familiāris (family property) -
rēs novae (revolution, political change) -
Cultural significance: -
Central to Roman legal and political vocabulary -
Key term in philosophical discussions -
Essential for understanding Roman thought
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Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Lucretius' "Dē Rērum Natūrā" (1.25):
Nec nor sine without tē you quicquam anything diās divine in into lūminis of light ōrās regions exoritur arises
Nec sine tē quicquam diās in lūminis ōrās exoritur. Nor without you does anything arise into the divine regions of light.
This line demonstrates the philosophical use of "rēs" in its genitive plural form within the title of Lucretius' masterwork "On the Nature of Things." The poem explores the physical and metaphysical nature of reality.
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"rērum" is genitive plural dependent on "natūra" -
Title forms a compound concept: "the nature of things" -
Philosophical technical term showing abstract use -
Demonstrates importance in Roman intellectual discourse
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37.18 Multae many rēs things adhūc still incertae uncertain manent remain
37.19 Sapiens the wise man dē about summīs highest rēbus matters disputat discusses
37.20 Rērum of things causās causes intellegere to understand cupimus we desire
37.21 Omnēs all rēs things prīncipia beginnings habent have
37.22 Rēs things hūmānae human fluxae fleeting et and fragilēs fragile sunt are
37.23 Magister the teacher dē about rēbus things aeternis eternal docet teaches
37.24 Nātūra nature rērum of things obscūra hidden est is
37.25 Philosophī philosophers rēs things dīvīnās divine contemplātur contemplate
37.26 Rēs things immortālēs immortal mortālēs mortal nōn not intellegunt understand
37.27 Omnis all rēs matter causam cause habet has
37.28 Dē about rēbus things bonīs good malīsque and evil disputāmus we discuss
37.29 Rēs things caelestēs celestial animum the soul movent move
37.30 Sapientia wisdom rērum of things fīnem end quaerit seeks
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37.18 Multae rēs adhūc incertae manent. Many things still remain uncertain.
37.19 Sapiens dē summīs rēbus disputat. The wise man discusses the highest matters.
37.20 Rērum causās intellegere cupimus. We desire to understand the causes of things.
37.21 Omnēs rēs prīncipia habent. All things have beginnings.
37.22 Rēs hūmānae fluxae et fragilēs sunt. Human affairs are fleeting and fragile.
37.23 Magister dē rēbus aeternis docet. The teacher instructs about eternal matters.
37.24 Nātūra rērum obscūra est. The nature of things is hidden.
37.25 Philosophī rēs dīvīnās contemplātur. Philosophers contemplate divine matters.
37.26 Rēs immortālēs mortālēs nōn intellegunt. Mortals do not understand immortal things.
37.27 Omnis rēs causam habet. Everything has a cause.
37.28 Dē rēbus bonīs malīsque disputāmus. We discuss good and evil matters.
37.29 Rēs caelestēs animum movent. Celestial things move the soul.
37.30 Sapientia rērum fīnem quaerit. Wisdom seeks the end of things.
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37.18 Multae rēs adhūc incertae manent.
37.19 Sapiens dē summīs rēbus disputat.
37.20 Rērum causās intellegere cupimus.
37.21 Omnēs rēs prīncipia habent.
37.22 Rēs hūmānae fluxae et fragilēs sunt.
37.23 Magister dē rēbus aeternis docet.
37.24 Nātūra rērum obscūra est.
37.25 Philosophī rēs dīvīnās contemplātur.
37.26 Rēs immortālēs mortālēs nōn intellegunt.
37.27 Omnis rēs causam habet.
37.28 Dē rēbus bonīs malīsque disputāmus.
37.29 Rēs caelestēs animum movent.
37.30 Sapientia rērum fīnem quaerit.
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Genitive rērum often used in abstract expressions -
Ablative rēbus common with dē in philosophical discussions -
Accusative used for direct objects of verbs of understanding and perception
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dē + ablative for topics of discussion -
Adjective pairs (e.g., bonīs malīsque) -
Abstract concepts personified as subjects
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Emphasis through placement -
Chiastic arrangements -
Subject-complement-verb structures
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Abstract adjectives with rēs -
Technical philosophical terms -
Metaphysical concepts
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