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83.1 Mīles soldier urbem city petit seeks
83.2 Fortēs brave men glōriam glory petunt seek
83.3 Heri yesterday auxilium help ā from rēge king petīvimus we sought
83.4 Sapiēns wise man semper always vēritātem truth petit seeks
83.5 Dux leader pacem peace cum with hostibus enemies petīvit sought
83.6 Manus hand dextram right hand petit aims at
83.7 Cīvēs citizens lībertātem freedom ā from tyrannō tyrant petent will seek
83.8 Puer boy pānem bread ā from mātre mother petit seeks
83.9 Nautae sailors portum harbor petunt seek
83.10 Agricola farmer deōs gods pluviam rain petit asks
83.11 Senātōrēs senators novās new lēgēs laws petīvērunt sought
83.12 Legiōnēs legions montēs mountains altōs high petunt seek
83.13 Mercātor merchant magnum great lucrum profit petit seeks
83.14 Discipulus student sapientiam wisdom ā from magistrō teacher petit seeks
83.15 Equitēs horsemen castra camp hostium of enemies petunt seek
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83.1 Mīles urbem petit. The soldier seeks the city.
83.2 Fortēs glōriam petunt. The brave seek glory.
83.3 Heri auxilium ā rēge petīvimus. Yesterday we sought help from the king.
83.4 Vēritātem sapiēns semper petit. The wise man always seeks truth.
83.5 Pacem dux cum hostibus petīvit. The leader sought peace with the enemies.
83.6 Dextram manus petit. The hand aims at the right.
83.7 Lībertātem cīvēs ā tyrannō petent. The citizens will seek freedom from the tyrant.
83.8 Ā mātre puer pānem petit. The boy seeks bread from his mother.
83.9 Portum nautae petunt. The sailors seek the harbor.
83.10 Pluviam agricola deōs petit. The farmer asks the gods for rain.
83.11 Novās lēgēs senātōrēs petīvērunt. The senators sought new laws.
83.12 Montēs altōs legiōnēs petunt. The legions seek the high mountains.
83.13 Magnum lucrum mercātor petit. The merchant seeks great profit.
83.14 Sapientiam discipulus ā magistrō petit. The student seeks wisdom from the teacher.
83.15 Castra hostium equitēs petunt. The horsemen seek the enemy camp.
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83.1 Mīles urbem petit.
83.2 Fortēs glōriam petunt.
83.3 Heri auxilium ā rēge petīvimus.
83.4 Vēritātem sapiēns semper petit.
83.5 Pacem dux cum hostibus petīvit.
83.6 Dextram manus petit.
83.7 Lībertātem cīvēs ā tyrannō petent.
83.8 Ā mātre puer pānem petit.
83.9 Portum nautae petunt.
83.10 Pluviam agricola deōs petit.
83.11 Novās lēgēs senātōrēs petīvērunt.
83.12 Montēs altōs legiōnēs petunt.
83.13 Magnum lucrum mercātor petit.
83.14 Sapientiam discipulus ā magistrō petit.
83.15 Castra hostium equitēs petunt.
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The verb "petō" is a 3rd conjugation verb with the following key forms: -
Present: petō, petis, petit, petimus, petitis, petunt -
Perfect: petīvī, petīvistī, petīvit, petīvimus, petīvistis, petīvērunt -
Supine: petītum -
Infinitive: petere
Special features for English speakers to note: -
Double Accusative Construction: -
Can take both direct object and person/thing asked -
Example: "Pluviam deōs petit" (He asks the gods for rain) -
Use with Prepositions: -
ā/ab + ablative for source -
Example: "Auxilium ā rēge petīvimus" (We sought help from the king) -
Common Meanings: -
seek (physical movement) -
aim at (direction) -
ask for (request) -
attack (military context) -
Word Order: -
Often places object before verb -
Can emphasize goal by fronting accusative
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For English speakers, understanding "petō" requires cultural context: -
Political Usage: -
Formal requesting of office (petītio) -
Seeking votes in elections -
Diplomatic requests between states -
Military Context: -
Movement toward objective -
Strategic targeting -
Formal demands before battle -
Social Implications: -
Hierarchical relationships -
Patron-client dynamics -
Religious supplications -
Modern Connections: -
"Petition" in English -
Legal terminology -
Formal requests
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From Caesar's "De Bello Gallico" (1.31):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Ariovistus Ariovistus tantōs such great sibi for himself spīritūs pride tantam such great arrogantiam arrogance sūmpserat had assumed, ut that ferendus to be endured nōn not vidērētur he seemed, et and secundum second legiōnem legion in into bellum war petere to seek coepit began.
"Ariovistus tantōs sibi spīritūs tantam arrogantiam sūmpserat, ut ferendus nōn vidērētur, et secundum legiōnem in bellum petere coepit."
Ariovistus had taken on such great pride and such great arrogance for himself that he seemed unbearable, and he began to attack the second legion in battle.
Caesar uses "petere" here in its hostile sense of "attack," showing how the verb's basic meaning of "seek" can take on aggressive connotations in military contexts.
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"petere" is complementary infinitive with "coepit" -
"in bellum" shows direction of hostile intent -
Result clause with "ut" follows main clause -
Perfect tense "sūmpserat" shows completed action
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83.16 Dux leader noster our montem mountain altum high cum with exercitū army petit seeks
83.17 Hostēs enemies auxilium help ā from sociīs allies petīvērunt sought
83.18 Legiō legion nostra our castra camp hostium of enemies celeriter quickly petit seeks
83.19 Equitēs cavalry flūmen river proximum nearest magnō with great impetū force petunt seek
83.20 Centuriō centurion novum new locum place castrīs for camp petit seeks
83.21 Mīlitēs soldiers nostrī our arcem citadel hostium of enemies petīvērunt sought
83.22 Dux leader victōriam victory ā from dīs gods immortālibus immortal petit seeks
83.23 Sagittāriī archers hostēs enemies fūgientēs fleeing petunt seek/aim at
83.24 Exploratōrēs scouts viam road per through silvam forest petunt seek
83.25 Tribūnus tribune mīlitum of soldiers novā new signa standards petit seeks
83.26 Legiōnēs legions Gallōrum of Gauls fīnēs territories petunt seek
83.27 Praefectus prefect castrōrum of camp aquam water ā from fontibus springs petit seeks
83.28 Impedīmenta baggage nostra our locum place tūtum safe petunt seek
83.29 Dux leader hostium of enemies pacem peace ā from Rōmānīs Romans petit seeks
83.30 Mīlitēs soldiers victōrēs victorious praemia rewards ā from imperātōre commander petunt seek
83.19 Equitēs flūmen proximum magnō impetū petunt. The cavalry seek the nearest river with great force.
83.20 Novum locum castrīs centuriō petit. The centurion seeks a new place for the camp.
83.21 Arcem hostium mīlitēs nostrī petīvērunt. Our soldiers sought the enemy citadel.
83.22 Victōriam dux ā dīs immortālibus petit. The leader seeks victory from the immortal gods.
83.23 Sagittāriī hostēs fūgientēs petunt. The archers aim at the fleeing enemies.
83.24 Viam per silvam exploratōrēs petunt. The scouts seek a path through the forest.
83.25 Tribūnus mīlitum novā signa petit. The military tribune seeks new standards.
83.26 Fīnēs Gallōrum legiōnēs petunt. The legions seek the territories of the Gauls.
83.27 Praefectus castrōrum aquam ā fontibus petit. The camp prefect seeks water from the springs.
83.28 Locum tūtum impedīmenta nostra petunt. Our baggage seeks a safe place.
83.29 Pacem dux hostium ā Rōmānīs petit. The leader of the enemies seeks peace from the Romans.
83.30 Praemia mīlitēs victōrēs ab imperātōre petunt. The victorious soldiers seek rewards from the commander.
83.16 Dux noster montem altum cum exercitū petit.
83.17 Hostēs auxilium ā sociīs petīvērunt.
83.18 Legiō nostra castra hostium celeriter petit.
83.19 Equitēs flūmen proximum magnō impetū petunt.
83.20 Novum locum castrīs centuriō petit.
83.21 Arcem hostium mīlitēs nostrī petīvērunt.
83.22 Victōriam dux ā dīs immortālibus petit.
83.23 Sagittāriī hostēs fūgientēs petunt.
83.24 Viam per silvam exploratōrēs petunt.
83.25 Tribūnus mīlitum novā signa petit.
83.26 Fīnēs Gallōrum legiōnēs petunt.
83.27 Praefectus castrōrum aquam ā fontibus petit.
83.28 Locum tūtum impedīmenta nostra petunt.
83.29 Pacem dux hostium ā Rōmānīs petit.
83.30 Praemia mīlitēs victōrēs ab imperātōre petunt.
In military dispatches, "petō" exhibits special characteristics worth noting: -
Strategic Movement: -
Often indicates purposeful military advance -
Example: "montem altum petit" (advances toward the high mountain) -
Frequently used with tactical objectives -
Military Terminology: -
Used for attacking: "castra hostium petit" (attacks the enemy camp) -
Seeking resources: "aquam ā fontibus petit" (seeks water from springs) -
Requesting reinforcements: "auxilium ā sociīs petit" (seeks help from allies) -
Common Military Constructions: a) With Ablative of Manner: -
"magnō impetū petit" (attacks with great force) -
Emphasizes method of approach
b) With Military Objectives: -
Direct object is often a tactical target -
"arcem hostium petit" (seeks/attacks the enemy citadel)
c) In Diplomatic Context: -
Used for formal requests -
"pacem petit" (seeks peace) -
Often with ablative of source for authority -
Verb Forms in Military Context: -
Present tense for immediate actions -
Perfect for completed operations -
Future for planned movements -
Word Order Patterns: -
Object often precedes verb for emphasis -
Military unit typically in initial position -
Tactical details in middle position -
Special Military Phrases: -
"auxilium petere" (to seek reinforcements) -
"locum petere" (to seek a position) -
"praemia petere" (to seek rewards) -
With Military Personnel: -
Different ranks: centuriō, tribūnus, praefectus -
Various units: equitēs, sagittāriī, legiōnēs -
Command structure reflected in syntax -
Tactical Applications: a) Movement: -
Toward objectives -
Through terrain -
To strategic positions
b) Combat: -
Direct assault -
Pursuit of enemy -
Securing positions
c) Logistics: -
Supply requests -
Camp placement -
Resource acquisition
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