← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
66.1 Puer boy dōnum gift vidēre to see vult wishes
66.2 Mīles soldier pugnāre to fight nōn not vult wishes
66.3 Sapientēs wise men pācem peace semper always volunt wish
66.4 Magister teacher discipulōs pupils cūrāre to care for volet will wish
66.5 Senātōrēs senators lēgem law novam new nōluērunt did not wish
66.6 Fīlius son epistulam letter scrībere to write nōn not vult wishes
66.7 Māter mother līberōs children servāre to save voluerat had wished
66.8 Mercātor merchant pecūniam money habēre to have semper always vult wishes
66.9 Patria homeland pācem peace et and glōriam glory vult wishes
66.10 Nōs we veritātem truth scīre to know volumus wish
66.11 Agricola farmer agrōs fields colere to cultivate vult wishes
66.12 Cīvēs citizens lībertātem freedom servāre to preserve volēbant were wishing
66.13 Poēta poet carmina poems scrībere to write vult wishes
66.14 Hostēs enemies urbem city capere to capture volunt wish
66.15 Dux leader mīlitēs soldiers laudāre to praise voluerat had wished
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66.1 Dōnum vidēre puer vult. The boy wishes to see the gift.
66.2 Pugnāre mīles nōn vult. The soldier does not wish to fight.
66.3 Sapientēs pācem semper volunt. Wise men always wish for peace.
66.4 Discipulōs magister cūrāre volet. The teacher will wish to care for his pupils.
66.5 Lēgem novam senātōrēs nōluērunt. The senators did not wish for the new law.
66.6 Scrībere epistulam fīlius nōn vult. The son does not wish to write the letter.
66.7 Līberōs servāre māter voluerat. The mother had wished to save her children.
66.8 Pecūniam mercātor habēre semper vult. The merchant always wishes to have money.
66.9 Pācem et glōriam patria vult. The homeland wishes for peace and glory.
66.10 Veritātem scīre nōs volumus. We wish to know the truth.
66.11 Agrōs colere agricola vult. The farmer wishes to cultivate the fields.
66.12 Lībertātem cīvēs servāre volēbant. The citizens were wishing to preserve freedom.
66.13 Carmina scrībere poēta vult. The poet wishes to write poems.
66.14 Urbem capere hostēs volunt. The enemies wish to capture the city.
66.15 Mīlitēs laudāre dux voluerat. The leader had wished to praise the soldiers.
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66.1 Dōnum vidēre puer vult.
66.2 Pugnāre mīles nōn vult.
66.3 Sapientēs pācem semper volunt.
66.4 Discipulōs magister cūrāre volet.
66.5 Lēgem novam senātōrēs nōluērunt.
66.6 Scrībere epistulam fīlius nōn vult.
66.7 Līberōs servāre māter voluerat.
66.8 Pecūniam mercātor habēre semper vult.
66.9 Pācem et glōriam patria vult.
66.10 Veritātem scīre nōs volumus.
66.11 Agrōs colere agricola vult.
66.12 Lībertātem cīvēs servāre volēbant.
66.13 Carmina scrībere poēta vult.
66.14 Urbem capere hostēs volunt.
66.15 Mīlitēs laudāre dux voluerat.
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The verb "volō" is irregular and has several important features: -
Principal Parts: -
Present: volō -
Infinitive: velle -
Perfect: voluī -
No supine form exists -
Present System Forms: Singular: -
volō, vīs, vult Plural: -
volumus, vultis, volunt -
Common Constructions: -
With infinitive (most common): "vidēre vult" (he wishes to see) -
With accusative object: "pācem volunt" (they wish for peace) -
With negative: "nōn vult" (he does not wish) -
Key Points for English Speakers: -
Often translated as "want" in English -
No passive forms exist -
Frequently used with complementary infinitive -
Related to nouns voluntās (will) and voluntārius (voluntary)
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Understanding "volō" requires cultural context: -
Roman Concept of Will: -
Related to virtūs (virtue/manliness) -
Connected to duty and obligation -
Important in political rhetoric -
Key concept in philosophical texts -
Legal Usage: -
Used in formal declarations -
Important in wills (voluntās) -
Part of official language -
Essential in contracts -
Social Implications: -
Expressing wishes politely -
Indicating authority -
Showing determination -
Demonstrating intent -
Modern Connections: -
Root of "voluntary" -
Used in scientific terms -
Found in legal phrases -
Part of common expressions
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From Cicero's "De Officiis" (1.28):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Sunt there are autem moreover quī those who quidvīs anything perpetī to endure, cuīvīs to anyone servīre to be enslaved, dummodo provided that potentiam power cōnsequantur they might obtain, volunt wish.
"Sunt autem quī quidvīs perpetī, cuīvīs servīre, dummodo potentiam cōnsequantur, volunt."
Moreover, there are those who wish to endure anything, to be enslaved to anyone, provided that they might obtain power.
Cicero uses "volunt" to emphasize willing submission to degrading conditions for the sake of power. The placement at the end creates emphasis.
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"volunt" main verb -
"perpetī" and "servīre" complementary infinitives -
"dummodo" introduces purpose clause with subjunctive -
Complex sentence structure showing multiple dependencies
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66.16 Amīcus friend meus my epistulam letter longam long scrībere to write vult wishes
66.17 Litterās letter tuās your legere to read maximē greatly volumus we wish
66.18 Pater father fīliō to son suō his responsum reply dare to give vult wishes
66.19 Discipulus pupil magistrō to teacher grātiās thanks agere to give volet will wish
66.20 Sorōrēs sisters frātrī to brother dōna gifts mittere to send volunt wish
66.21 Māter mother fīliae to daughter cōnsilium advice dare to give voluerat had wished
66.22 Senex old man amīcō to friend dē about vītā life scrībere to write vult wishes
66.23 Puella girl epistulam letter ad to amīcam friend mittere to send vult wishes
66.24 Rēx king populum people dē about pāce peace docēre to teach volet will wish
66.25 Cōnsul consul senātuī to senate nūntium message dare to give vult wishes
66.26 Poēta poet carmina poems sua his recitāre to recite vult wishes
66.27 Mercātor merchant prētium price indicāre to indicate nōn not vult wishes
66.28 Mīlitēs soldiers ducī to leader victōriam victory nūntiāre to announce volunt wish
66.29 Servus slave dominō to master vēritātem truth dīcere to tell nōn not vult wishes
66.30 Magister teacher discipulīs to pupils fābulam story nārrāre to tell vult wishes
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66.16 Epistulam longam amīcus meus scrībere vult. My friend wishes to write a long letter.
66.17 Litterās tuās maximē legere volumus. We very much wish to read your letter.
66.18 Fīliō suō responsum dare pater vult. The father wishes to give a reply to his son.
66.19 Magistrō grātiās agere discipulus volet. The pupil will wish to give thanks to the teacher.
66.20 Frātrī dōna mittere sorōrēs volunt. The sisters wish to send gifts to their brother.
66.21 Fīliae cōnsilium dare māter voluerat. The mother had wished to give advice to her daughter.
66.22 Amīcō dē vītā scrībere senex vult. The old man wishes to write to his friend about life.
66.23 Ad amīcam epistulam mittere puella vult. The girl wishes to send a letter to her friend.
66.24 Populum dē pāce docēre rēx volet. The king will wish to teach the people about peace.
66.25 Senātuī nūntium dare cōnsul vult. The consul wishes to give a message to the senate.
66.26 Carmina sua recitāre poēta vult. The poet wishes to recite his poems.
66.27 Prētium indicāre mercātor nōn vult. The merchant does not wish to indicate the price.
66.28 Ducī victōriam nūntiāre mīlitēs volunt. The soldiers wish to announce the victory to the leader.
66.29 Dominō vēritātem dīcere servus nōn vult. The slave does not wish to tell the truth to the master.
66.30 Discipulīs fābulam nārrāre magister vult. The teacher wishes to tell a story to the pupils.
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66.16 Epistulam longam amīcus meus scrībere vult.
66.17 Litterās tuās maximē legere volumus.
66.18 Fīliō suō responsum dare pater vult.
66.19 Magistrō grātiās agere discipulus volet.
66.20 Frātrī dōna mittere sorōrēs volunt.
66.21 Fīliae cōnsilium dare māter voluerat.
66.22 Amīcō dē vītā scrībere senex vult.
66.23 Ad amīcam epistulam mittere puella vult.
66.24 Populum dē pāce docēre rēx volet.
66.25 Senātuī nūntium dare cōnsul vult.
66.26 Carmina sua recitāre poēta vult.
66.27 Prētium indicāre mercātor nōn vult.
66.28 Ducī victōriam nūntiāre mīlitēs volunt.
66.29 Dominō vēritātem dīcere servus nōn vult.
66.30 Discipulīs fābulam nārrāre magister vult.
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The genre section on letter writing demonstrates several important grammatical features: -
Use of "volō" in Epistolary Context: -
With infinitive of purpose: "scrībere vult" (wishes to write) -
With indirect objects in dative: "fīliō responsum dare vult" (wishes to give a reply to his son) -
In various tenses: present (vult), future (volet), pluperfect (voluerat) -
Common Letter Writing Constructions: -
Dative of recipient: "amīcō scrībere" (to write to a friend) -
Purpose expressions: "ad + accusative" with mittere -
Possession: "litterās tuās" (your letter) -
Indirect objects: multiple examples with dare, mittere -
Special Features: -
Use of reflexive possessive "suus" referring to subject -
Variety of complementary infinitives -
Position of infinitive often before main verb -
Negative expressions with "nōn" -
Letter Writing Vocabulary: -
epistula/litterae (letter) -
mittere (to send) -
scrībere (to write) -
responsum dare (to give a reply) -
nūntium dare (to give a message) -
Word Order Patterns: -
Infinitive often before volō -
Indirect object frequently first -
Subject position varies for emphasis -
Object placement shows flexibility
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