← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
53.1 Ūnus one homō man in in forō forum stat stands
53.2 Magister teacher ūnam one fābulam story nārrat tells
53.3 Puer boy ūnum one librum book legit reads
53.4 Mīles soldier ūnō with one gladiō sword pugnat fights
53.5 Ūna one puella girl in in viā road ambulat walks
53.6 In in hortō garden ūna one arbor tree crēscit grows
53.7 Servus slave ūnum one pōmum apple portat carries
53.8 Ūnus one equus horse per through campum field currit runs
53.9 Senātor senator ūnam one epistulam letter scrībit writes
53.10 Mercātor merchant ūnum one nummum coin dēmōnstrat shows
53.11 Ex from ūnō one locō place omnēs all veniunt come
53.12 Ūna one vōx voice in in templō temple auditur is heard
53.13 Pastor shepherd ūnam one ovem sheep invenit finds
53.14 Ūnō in one diē day iter journey facimus we make
53.15 Rēx king ūnam one urbem city capit captures
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53.1 In forō ūnus homō stat. One man stands in the forum.
53.2 Fābulam ūnam magister nārrat. The teacher tells one story.
53.3 Librum ūnum puer legit. The boy reads one book.
53.4 Mīles gladiō ūnō pugnat. The soldier fights with one sword.
53.5 In viā ūna puella ambulat. One girl walks in the road.
53.6 Crēscit in hortō ūna arbor. One tree grows in the garden.
53.7 Pōmum ūnum servus portat. The slave carries one apple.
53.8 Per campum ūnus equus currit. One horse runs through the field.
53.9 Epistulam ūnam senātor scrībit. The senator writes one letter.
53.10 Nummum ūnum mercātor dēmōnstrat. The merchant shows one coin.
53.11 Ex ūnō locō omnēs veniunt. All come from one place.
53.12 Auditur in templō ūna vōx. One voice is heard in the temple.
53.13 Ovem ūnam pastor invenit. The shepherd finds one sheep.
53.14 Ūnō diē iter facimus. We make the journey in one day.
53.15 Urbem ūnam rēx capit. The king captures one city.
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53.1 In forō ūnus homō stat.
53.2 Fābulam ūnam magister nārrat.
53.3 Librum ūnum puer legit.
53.4 Mīles gladiō ūnō pugnat.
53.5 In viā ūna puella ambulat.
53.6 Crēscit in hortō ūna arbor.
53.7 Pōmum ūnum servus portat.
53.8 Per campum ūnus equus currit.
53.9 Epistulam ūnam senātor scrībit.
53.10 Nummum ūnum mercātor dēmōnstrat.
53.11 Ex ūnō locō omnēs veniunt.
53.12 Auditur in templō ūna vōx.
53.13 Ovem ūnam pastor invenit.
53.14 Ūnō diē iter facimus.
53.15 Urbem ūnam rēx capit.
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The adjective "ūnus" is a special type that English speakers need to understand carefully: -
Forms and Declension: -
Follows 1st/2nd declension endings with some variations -
Masculine: ūnus, ūnīus, ūnī, ūnum, ūnō -
Feminine: ūna, ūnīus, ūnī, ūnam, ūnā -
Neuter: ūnum, ūnīus, ūnī, ūnum, ūnō -
Special Features: -
Genitive singular ends in -īus (like "illīus") -
Dative singular ends in -ī (like "illī") -
These endings are the same for all genders -
Usage Differences from English: -
Can be used as an adjective or pronoun -
Must agree with its noun in gender, number, case -
Often indicates "single" or "only" rather than just counting -
Used in ablative for time expressions -
Common Contexts: -
Counting and enumeration -
Emphasizing singularity -
Time expressions -
Contrasting "one" vs "many"
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For English speakers, understanding how Romans used "ūnus" requires cultural context: -
Roman Numbering: -
Romans used both words and numerals -
"Ūnus" often had emphasis beyond just counting -
Could indicate uniqueness or special status -
Social Implications: -
Romans valued unity and singularity -
"Ūnus" in political slogans meant unity -
Used in legal contexts for specific items -
Historical Usage: -
Important in military commands -
Used in religious formulas -
Key concept in philosophical texts -
Modern Parallels: -
Similar to English "single" or "sole" -
Used differently than English "one" -
Important in understanding Roman thought
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Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Cicero's "De Amicitia" (XVI.65):
Ūnus one ex from multīs many homō man dēligī to be chosen potest is able quī who proprior closer quam than cēterī the others ad to amīcitiam friendship accēdat might approach
"Ūnus ex multīs homō dēligī potest quī proprior quam cēterī ad amīcitiam accēdat."
One man from many can be chosen who might approach closer than others to friendship.
Cicero uses "ūnus" to emphasize the special nature of true friendship. The word highlights the selection of a single individual from many possibilities.
-
"Ūnus" nominative singular masculine -
Part of prepositional phrase "ex multīs" -
Subject of passive "dēligī potest" -
Connected to relative clause with "quī"
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53.16 Ūnus one dux leader contrā against hostēs enemies fortiter bravely pugnat fights
53.17 Ex from ūnā one urbe city multī many mīlitēs soldiers veniunt come
53.18 Ūnō in one proeliō battle victōriam victory magnam great adipīscimur we achieve
53.19 Rēx king ūnam one legiōnem legion ad to mūrōs walls mittit sends
53.20 Ūnō with one ictū blow portam gate frangunt they break
53.21 Dux leader ūnum one signum signal dat gives
53.22 Ūnā in one hōrā hour castra camp movēmus we move
53.23 Ūnus one eques horseman nūntium message perfert carries through
53.24 Ex from ūnō one colle hill urbem city vidēmus we see
53.25 Ūnam one cohortēm cohort hostēs enemies vincunt conquer
53.26 In in ūnō one locō place pugnāmus we fight
53.27 Ūnus one tribūnus tribune mīlitēs soldiers hortātur encourages
53.28 Ūnō with one impetū attack hostēs enemies pellimus we drive back
53.29 Ex from ūnā one parte direction auxilium help venit comes
53.30 Ūnam one victōriam victory maximam greatest reportāmus we bring back
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53.16 Contrā hostēs ūnus dux fortiter pugnat. One leader fights bravely against the enemies.
53.17 Multī mīlitēs ex ūnā urbe veniunt. Many soldiers come from one city.
53.18 Victōriam magnam ūnō proeliō adipīscimur. We achieve a great victory in one battle.
53.19 Ad mūrōs ūnam legiōnem rēx mittit. The king sends one legion to the walls.
53.20 Portam ūnō ictū frangunt. They break the gate with one blow.
53.21 Signum ūnum dux dat. The leader gives one signal.
53.22 Ūnā hōrā castra movēmus. We move camp in one hour.
53.23 Nūntium ūnus eques perfert. One horseman carries the message through.
53.24 Urbem ex ūnō colle vidēmus. We see the city from one hill.
53.25 Ūnam cohortēm hostēs vincunt. The enemies conquer one cohort.
53.26 Pugnāmus in ūnō locō. We fight in one place.
53.27 Mīlitēs ūnus tribūnus hortātur. One tribune encourages the soldiers.
53.28 Hostēs ūnō impetū pellimus. We drive back the enemies with one attack.
53.29 Auxilium ex ūnā parte venit. Help comes from one direction.
53.30 Victōriam ūnam maximam reportāmus. We bring back one greatest victory.
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53.16 Contrā hostēs ūnus dux fortiter pugnat.
53.17 Multī mīlitēs ex ūnā urbe veniunt.
53.18 Victōriam magnam ūnō proeliō adipīscimur.
53.19 Ad mūrōs ūnam legiōnem rēx mittit.
53.20 Portam ūnō ictū frangunt.
53.21 Signum ūnum dux dat.
53.22 Ūnā hōrā castra movēmus.
53.23 Nūntium ūnus eques perfert.
53.24 Urbem ex ūnō colle vidēmus.
53.25 Ūnam cohortēm hostēs vincunt.
53.26 Pugnāmus in ūnō locō.
53.27 Mīlitēs ūnus tribūnus hortātur.
53.28 Hostēs ūnō impetū pellimus.
53.29 Auxilium ex ūnā parte venit.
53.30 Victōriam ūnam maximam reportāmus.
a) Ablative of manner: -
"ūnō impetū hostēs pellimus" - "we drive back the enemies with one attack" -
"ūnō ictū portam frangunt" - "they break the gate with one blow"
b) Ablative of time: -
"ūnā hōrā castra movēmus" - "we move camp in one hour" -
"ūnō diē iter facimus" - "we make the journey in one day"
c) Attributive use with military units: -
"ūnam legiōnem mittit" - "he sends one legion" -
"ūnam cohortēm hostēs vincunt" - "the enemies conquer one cohort"
d) Emphatic positioning: -
"Ūnus tribūnus mīlitēs hortātur" (emphasis on single tribune) -
"Legiōnem ūnam rēx mittit" (emphasis on specific legion)
a) Nominative for subjects: -
"ūnus dux pugnat" - "one leader fights" -
"ūnus eques nūntium perfert" - "one horseman carries the message"
b) Accusative for direct objects: -
"ūnam cohortēm vincunt" - "they conquer one cohort" -
"ūnum signum dat" - "he gives one signal"
c) Ablative for instrumental actions: -
"ūnō gladiō pugnat" - "he fights with one sword" -
"ūnō ictū cadit" - "he falls with one blow"
d) Prepositional phrases: -
"ex ūnā parte" - "from one direction" -
"in ūnō locō" - "in one place"
a) Flexible placement for emphasis: -
"Ūnus homō stat" vs "Stat homō ūnus" -
"Legiōnem ūnam mittit" vs "Ūnam legiōnem mittit"
b) Military terms in prominent positions: -
"Castra ūnā hōrā movēmus" (emphasis on camp) -
"Proelium ūnō diē vincimus" (emphasis on battle)
c) Classical verb placement: -
"Ūnus dux mīlitēs ducit" (verb final) -
"Mittit rēx ūnam legiōnem" (verb medial)
a) Temporal expressions: -
"ūnā vigiliā" - "in one watch period" -
"ūnō tempore" - "at one time"
b) Commands and signals: -
"ūnum signum dat" - "gives one signal" -
"ūnō sonō tubae" - "with one sound of the trumpet"
c) Battle descriptions: -
"ūnō impetū castra capiunt" - "they take the camp with one attack" -
"ūnā pugnā vincunt" - "they win in one battle"
a) Brevity in commands: -
"Ūnam cohortēm mitte!" - "Send one cohort!" -
"Ex ūnā parte aggredere!" - "Attack from one direction!"
b) Battle descriptions: -
"Ūnō tempore omnēs impetum faciunt" - "All make an attack at one time" -
"Ūnā hōrā hostēs funduntur" - "The enemies are routed in one hour"
a) Agreement patterns: -
Masculine: "ūnus mīles" - "one soldier" -
Feminine: "ūna cohors" - "one cohort" -
Neuter: "ūnum signum" - "one signal"
b) Position flexibility: -
"Ūnus vir fortis" vs "Vir ūnus fortis" -
"Ūnam urbem capit" vs "Urbem ūnam capit"
c) Context-based meanings: -
As number: "ūna legiō" - "one legion" -
As emphasis: "ūnus ex omnibus" - "the only one of all" -
As unity: "ūnō animō" - "with one mind/purpose"
a) Ablative absolute: -
"ūnō proelīō confectō" - "one battle having been finished" -
"ūnā legiōne missā" - "one legion having been sent"
b) Purpose clauses: -
"ut ūnam urbem caperet" - "in order to capture one city" -
"nē ūnus quidem effugeret" - "so that not even one might escape"
c) Result expressions: -
"tam fortiter pugnavērunt ut ūnā hōrā vincērent" -
"they fought so bravely that they won in one hour"
a) Identify case usage: -
Nominative: "ūnus dux venit" - "one leader comes" -
Accusative: "ūnum dūcem videō" - "I see one leader" -
Genitive: "ūnīus ducis verba" - "the words of one leader" -
Dative: "ūnī ducī pāret" - "he obeys one leader" -
Ablative: "ab ūnō duce" - "by one leader"
b) Agreement practice: -
Masculine: "ūnus vir, ūnum virum, ūnō virō" -
Feminine: "ūna fēmina, ūnam fēminam, ūnā fēminā" -
Neuter: "ūnum templum, ūnum templum, ūnō templō"
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