← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
Introduction: Today we study manus, a feminine fourth-declension noun meaning "hand" or "band of men." This common word appears frequently in both literal and metaphorical contexts.
47.1 Manus the hand mea my epistulam letter scrībit writes
47.2 Dux the leader magnam great manum band mīlitum of soldiers dūcit leads
47.3 In in manū hand gladium sword tenet he holds
47.4 Manūs hands pulchrae beautiful puellae of the girl sunt are
47.5 Agricola the farmer manibus with hands agrōs fields colit cultivates
47.6 Ad to manum hand-to-hand pugnant they fight
47.7 Per through manūs hands omnium of all liber the book it passes
47.8 Imperator the commander magnās large manūs bands parāvit prepared
47.9 Sine without manibus hands nihil nothing facere to do possumus we are able
47.10 Multae many manūs hands opus work levant lighten
47.11 Sub under manū the hand ducis of the leader mīlitēs the soldiers pugnant fight
47.12 In into manūs hands hostium of enemies incidērunt they fell
47.13 Manibus with hands deōrum of the gods templa temples aedificāmus we build
47.14 Parvā small manū with a band magnam great victōriam victory cēpit he won
47.15 Manus hands vestrae your fessae tired sunt are
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47.1 Manus mea epistulam scrībit. My hand writes the letter.
47.2 Dux magnam manum mīlitum dūcit. The leader leads a large band of soldiers.
47.3 In manū gladium tenet. He holds a sword in his hand.
47.4 Manūs pulchrae puellae sunt. The girl's hands are beautiful.
47.5 Agricola manibus agrōs colit. The farmer cultivates the fields with his hands.
47.6 Ad manum pugnant. They fight hand-to-hand.
47.7 Per manūs omnium liber it. The book passes through everyone's hands.
47.8 Imperator magnās manūs parāvit. The commander prepared large bands (of men).
47.9 Sine manibus nihil facere possumus. Without hands we can do nothing.
47.10 Multae manūs opus levant. Many hands lighten the work.
47.11 Sub manū ducis mīlitēs pugnant. The soldiers fight under the leader's command.
47.12 In manūs hostium incidērunt. They fell into the hands of enemies.
47.13 Manibus deōrum templa aedificāmus. We build temples with the hands of the gods.
47.14 Parvā manū magnam victōriam cēpit. With a small band (of men) he won a great victory.
47.15 Manus vestrae fessae sunt. Your hands are tired.
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47.1 Manus mea epistulam scrībit.
47.2 Dux magnam manum mīlitum dūcit.
47.3 In manū gladium tenet.
47.4 Manūs pulchrae puellae sunt.
47.5 Agricola manibus agrōs colit.
47.6 Ad manum pugnant.
47.7 Per manūs omnium liber it.
47.8 Imperator magnās manūs parāvit.
47.9 Sine manibus nihil facere possumus.
47.10 Multae manūs opus levant.
47.11 Sub manū ducis mīlitēs pugnant.
47.12 In manūs hostium incidērunt.
47.13 Manibus deōrum templa aedificāmus.
47.14 Parvā manū magnam victōriam cēpit.
47.15 Manus vestrae fessae sunt.
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For English speakers learning Latin, manus presents several important grammatical features: -
Fourth Declension Pattern: -
Feminine gender (unusual for 4th declension) -
Nominative singular: manus -
Genitive singular: manūs -
Dative singular: manuī -
Accusative singular: manum -
Ablative singular: manū -
Nominative plural: manūs -
Genitive plural: manuum -
Dative plural: manibus -
Accusative plural: manūs -
Ablative plural: manibus -
Dual Meaning: -
Literal: "hand" -
Metaphorical: "band of men" -
Common Prepositional Phrases: -
in manū (in the hand) -
ad manum (at hand, in hand-to-hand combat) -
per manūs (through the hands) -
sub manū (under command) -
Case Usage Examples: -
Ablative of means: manibus (with hands) -
Accusative of direct object: manum -
Genitive of possession: manūs (of the hand)
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For English speakers, understanding manus requires cultural context: -
Physical Labor: -
Romans valued manual work (from manus) -
Craftsmen were highly respected -
Agricultural work was noble -
Military Context: -
Manus as "band of men" shows military organization -
Hand-to-hand combat was crucial -
Unit coordination reflected in terminology -
Legal Significance: -
Manus in marriage law -
Legal power and authority -
Symbolic gestures in ceremonies -
Linguistic Legacy: -
English "manual" from manus -
"Manufacture" (make by hand) -
"Maintain" (hold in hand)
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Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Vergil's Aeneid (2.239):
Dividimus we divide mūrōs the walls et and moenia fortifications pandimus we open urbis of the city
Dividimus mūrōs et moenia pandimus urbis. We divide the walls and open the fortifications of the city.
This passage describes the Trojans breaching their own walls to admit the wooden horse. The manual labor (implicit manus) leads to Troy's destruction.
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First person plural verbs show collective action -
Present tense for vivid narration -
Chiastic word order for emphasis
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47.16 Fortis brave manus band mīlitum of soldiers castra camp hostium of enemies oppugnat attacks
47.17 Manibus with hands validīs strong arma weapons tractant they handle
47.18 Dux the leader manum band dēlēctam chosen virōrum of men dūcit leads
47.19 Per through hostium of enemies manūs hands multī many captīvī prisoners transeunt pass
47.20 Magnā with great manū force urbem city oppugnāre to attack parat he prepares
47.21 Manus bands Gallōrum of Gauls in into Italiam Italy veniunt come
47.22 Manibus with hands pedibusque and feet mūrōs walls scandunt they climb
47.23 Sub under manū command imperātōris of the general victōria victory certa certain est is
47.24 Ad for ultimam final manum force proelium battle servat he saves
47.25 Manūs bands hostium of enemies circumveniunt surround exercitum the army
47.26 Parvā with small manū force magnam great victōriam victory reportat he brings back
47.27 In into manūs hands nostrās our multī many hostēs enemies sē dedunt surrender themselves
47.28 Manum band dēlēctōrum of chosen men ad for explōrandum scouting mittit he sends
47.29 Manibus with hands ferrō with iron armātīs armed pugnam battle committunt they join
47.30 Omnēs all manūs bands auxiliōrum of auxiliaries conveniunt gather together
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47.16 Fortis manus mīlitum castra hostium oppugnat. A brave band of soldiers attacks the enemy camp.
47.17 Manibus validīs arma tractant. They handle weapons with strong hands.
47.18 Dux manum dēlēctam virōrum dūcit. The leader leads a chosen band of men.
47.19 Per hostium manūs multī captīvī transeunt. Many prisoners pass through the hands of enemies.
47.20 Magnā manū urbem oppugnāre parat. He prepares to attack the city with a great force.
47.21 Manus Gallōrum in Italiam veniunt. Bands of Gauls come into Italy.
47.22 Manibus pedibusque mūrōs scandunt. They climb the walls with hands and feet.
47.23 Sub manū imperātōris victōria certa est. Under the general's command, victory is certain.
47.24 Ad ultimam manum proelium servat. He saves the battle for the final force.
47.25 Manūs hostium circumveniunt exercitum. Enemy bands surround the army.
47.26 Parvā manū magnam victōriam reportat. With a small force he brings back a great victory.
47.27 In manūs nostrās multī hostēs sē dedunt. Many enemies surrender themselves into our hands.
47.28 Manum dēlēctōrum ad explōrandum mittit. He sends a band of chosen men for scouting.
47.29 Manibus ferrō armātīs pugnam committunt. They join battle with hands armed with iron.
47.30 Omnēs manūs auxiliōrum conveniunt. All bands of auxiliaries gather together.
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47.16 Fortis manus mīlitum castra hostium oppugnat.
47.17 Manibus validīs arma tractant.
47.18 Dux manum dēlēctam virōrum dūcit.
47.19 Per hostium manūs multī captīvī transeunt.
47.20 Magnā manū urbem oppugnāre parat.
47.21 Manus Gallōrum in Italiam veniunt.
47.22 Manibus pedibusque mūrōs scandunt.
47.23 Sub manū imperātōris victōria certa est.
47.24 Ad ultimam manum proelium servat.
47.25 Manūs hostium circumveniunt exercitum.
47.26 Parvā manū magnam victōriam reportat.
47.27 In manūs nostrās multī hostēs sē dedunt.
47.28 Manum dēlēctōrum ad explōrandum mittit.
47.29 Manibus ferrō armātīs pugnam committunt.
47.30 Omnēs manūs auxiliōrum conveniunt.
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In military writing, manus takes on specialized meanings and constructions: -
Military Terminology: -
manus as "band/unit of men" -
Often modified by size (magna, parva) -
Frequently used with genitive of description (manus mīlitum) -
Common Military Phrases: -
sub manū (under command) -
ad manum (in close combat) -
manū armātā (with armed force) -
Tactical Expressions: -
manum mittere (to send a detachment) -
manūs coniungere (to join forces) -
manibus ferrō armātīs (with hands armed with weapons) -
Case Usage in Military Context: -
Ablative of means: magnā manū (with a large force) -
Accusative of direct object: manum dēlēctam (chosen band) -
Genitive of possession: manūs auxiliōrum (bands of auxiliaries) -
Word Order Patterns: -
Emphasis on size: magnā manū (large force) often comes first -
Position verbs often end the phrase: manūs conveniunt -
Descriptive genitives usually follow: manus mīlitum
This specialized military vocabulary shows how Latin adapted the basic meaning of "hand" to express complex military concepts.
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