← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
48.1 Nūllus no puer boy in in viā the road est is
48.2 Nūlla no puella girl templum temple intrat enters
48.3 Nūllum no periculum danger nōs us terret frightens
48.4 Nūllī to no servō slave pecūniam money dō I give
48.5 Nūllam no spem hope hostēs the enemies habent have
48.6 Nūllō with no gladiō sword mīles the soldier pugnat fights
48.7 Nūllī no equī horses in in agrīs the fields currunt run
48.8 Nūllās no litterās letters scrībis you write
48.9 Nūlla no verba words dīcit he says
48.10 Nūllīs to no deīs gods sacrificia sacrifices facimus we make
48.11 Rēx the king nūllum no bellum war gerit wages
48.12 Magister the teacher nūllōs no librōs books legit reads
48.13 Nūllae no nāvēs ships in in portū the harbor manent remain
48.14 Nūlla no carmina songs poēta the poet cantat sings
48.15 Nūllīs with no armīs weapons urbem the city dēfendunt they defend
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48.1 Nūllus puer in viā est. There is no boy in the road.
48.2 Nūlla puella templum intrat. No girl enters the temple.
48.3 Nūllum periculum nōs terret. No danger frightens us.
48.4 Nūllī servō pecūniam dō. I give money to no slave.
48.5 Nūllam spem hostēs habent. The enemies have no hope.
48.6 Nūllō gladiō mīles pugnat. The soldier fights with no sword.
48.7 Nūllī equī in agrīs currunt. No horses run in the fields.
48.8 Nūllās litterās scrībis. You write no letters.
48.9 Nūlla verba dīcit. He says no words.
48.10 Nūllīs deīs sacrificia facimus. We make sacrifices to no gods.
48.11 Rēx nūllum bellum gerit. The king wages no war.
48.12 Magister nūllōs librōs legit. The teacher reads no books.
48.13 Nūllae nāvēs in portū manent. No ships remain in the harbor.
48.14 Nūlla carmina poēta cantat. The poet sings no songs.
48.15 Nūllīs armīs urbem dēfendunt. They defend the city with no weapons.
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48.1 Nūllus puer in viā est.
48.2 Nūlla puella templum intrat.
48.3 Nūllum periculum nōs terret.
48.4 Nūllī servō pecūniam dō.
48.5 Nūllam spem hostēs habent.
48.6 Nūllō gladiō mīles pugnat.
48.7 Nūllī equī in agrīs currunt.
48.8 Nūllās litterās scrībis.
48.9 Nūlla verba dīcit.
48.10 Nūllīs deīs sacrificia facimus.
48.11 Rēx nūllum bellum gerit.
48.12 Magister nūllōs librōs legit.
48.13 Nūllae nāvēs in portū manent.
48.14 Nūlla carmina poēta cantat.
48.15 Nūllīs armīs urbem dēfendunt.
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For English speakers, nūllus is best understood as meaning "no" or "not any" when modifying a noun. It follows the pattern of first and second declension adjectives but with some special features: -
Forms: -
Masculine: nūllus, nūllīus, nūllī, nūllum, nūllō -
Feminine: nūlla, nūllīus, nūllī, nūllam, nūllā -
Neuter: nūllum, nūllīus, nūllī, nūllum, nūllō -
Key differences from English: -
Must agree with its noun in gender, number, and case -
Can be used in any case, unlike English "no" -
Cannot be used with other adjectives like "the" -
Common uses: -
As an adjective modifying a noun -
As a pronoun meaning "no one" (masculine) -
In any case required by the sentence structure
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For English speakers, understanding nūllus requires cultural context: -
Roman Negation: -
Romans often preferred using nūllus over other forms of negation -
Showed definiteness and finality in statements -
Important in legal and formal contexts -
Social Implications: -
Used in emphatic denials -
Common in philosophical arguments -
Found in political speeches -
Modern Relevance: -
Similar to Romance language negatives -
More precise than English "no" -
Important in understanding Roman thought patterns
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Null-us boy-us in road-ā is-t Null-a girl-a temple-um enter-t Null-um danger-um us-ōs frighten-t Null-ī slave-ō money-am give-ō Null-am hope-em enemies-ēs have-nt
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Nūllam virtūtem aliam mercēde quam immortālitātis sequitur. He pursues no other virtue with a reward than that of immortality.
Cicero uses nūllus for emphasis, showing the exclusive focus on immortality as a reward for virtue. This demonstrates the word's power in philosophical discourse.
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Nūllam: feminine accusative singular -
Modifies virtūtem (direct object) -
Shows typical placement at start of phrase -
Creates emphasis through position
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Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Cicero's "Pro Archia" (12.30):
Nūllam no virtūtem virtue aliam other mercēde with reward quam than immortālitātis of immortality sequitur pursues
48.16 Nūllus hostis castra oppugnat. No enemy attacks the camp.
48.17 Dux nūllās cōpiās in urbem mittit. The leader sends no troops into the city.
48.18 Nūlla legiō flūmen trānsit. No legion crosses the river.
48.19 Nūllum auxilium sociī mittunt. The allies send no help.
48.20 Nūllī equitēs collem tenent. No horsemen hold the hill.
48.21 Mīlitēs nūllā morā prōcēdunt. The soldiers advance with no delay.
48.22 Nūllae sagittae in pharētrīs manent. No arrows remain in the quivers.
48.23 Imperator nūllum signum dat. The commander gives no signal.
48.24 Nūllī tribūnō imperia dantur. Orders are given to no tribune.
48.25 Centuriōnēs nūllōs hostēs vident. The centurions see no enemies.
48.26 Nūllum perīculum castrīs appropinquat. No danger approaches the camp.
48.27 Explōrātōrēs nūllās insidiās inveniunt. The scouts find no ambushes.
48.28 Nūllō tēlō barbarī pugnant. The barbarians fight with no weapon.
48.29 Nūlla castra in montibus sunt. There are no camps in the mountains.
48.30 Nūllīs scūtīs cohortēs prōgrediuntur. The cohorts advance with no shields.
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48.16 Nūllus hostis castra oppugnat.
48.17 Dux nūllās cōpiās in urbem mittit.
48.18 Nūlla legiō flūmen trānsit.
48.19 Nūllum auxilium sociī mittunt.
48.20 Nūllī equitēs collem tenent.
48.21 Mīlitēs nūllā morā prōcēdunt.
48.22 Nūllae sagittae in pharētrīs manent.
48.23 Imperator nūllum signum dat.
48.24 Nūllī tribūnō imperia dantur.
48.25 Centuriōnēs nūllōs hostēs vident.
48.26 Nūllum perīculum castrīs appropinquat.
48.27 Explōrātōrēs nūllās insidiās inveniunt.
48.28 Nūllō tēlō barbarī pugnant.
48.29 Nūlla castra in montibus sunt.
48.30 Nūllīs scūtīs cohortēs prōgrediuntur.
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In this military narrative section, nūllus is used to describe various aspects of warfare and military operations where something is notably absent. Let's analyze its usage: -
Position in Military Commands: -
Often placed at the beginning for emphasis -
Can precede or follow the noun it modifies -
Creates dramatic effect in military reports -
Case Usage in Military Context: -
Nominative: nūllus hostis (no enemy) as subject -
Accusative: nūllās cōpiās (no troops) as direct object -
Ablative: nūllā morā (with no delay) in ablative of manner -
Dative: nūllī tribūnō (to no tribune) as indirect object -
Agreement Patterns: -
With military terms: -
Masculine: nūllus hostis, nūllī equitēs -
Feminine: nūlla legiō, nūllae sagittae -
Neuter: nūllum signum, nūlla castra (plural) -
Special Military Vocabulary: -
Terms for troops: cōpiae, legiō, cohortēs -
Equipment: tēla, scūta, sagittae -
Positions: collis, castra, montes -
Personnel: dux, imperator, tribūnus -
Common Constructions in Military Writing: -
With ablative of means: nūllō tēlō pugnant -
With ablative of manner: nūllā morā prōcēdunt -
In negative reports: nūllōs hostēs vident
The examples show how Roman military writers used nūllus to report: -
Absence of enemy activity -
Lack of equipment or resources -
Missing tactical support -
Clear battlefield conditions -
Negative reconnaissance reports
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