← Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
86.1 Rōmānī Romans bellum war longum long gerunt wage
86.2 Dux leader ante before bellum war mīlitēs soldiers hortātur encourages
86.3 Propter because of bellum war agricolae farmers agrōs fields relinquunt leave
86.4 Post after bellum war pāx peace venit comes
86.5 Multī many in in bellō war moriuntur die
86.6 Cīvēs citizens dē about bellō war nihil nothing sciunt know
86.7 Senātus senate bellum war contrā against hostēs enemies parat prepares
86.8 Tempore in time bellī of war omnēs all labōrant work
86.9 Mīlitēs soldiers ad to bellum war properant hurry
86.10 Sine without bellō war pāx peace esse to be potest is able
86.11 Bellum war multōs many annōs years manet remains
86.12 Dē about bellō war senātōrēs senators loquuntur speak
86.13 Fīnis end bellī of war populō to people grātus pleasing est is
86.14 Ante before bellum war cīvitās state flōret flourishes
86.15 Magnō in great bellō war victōria victory difficilis difficult est is
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
86.1 Rōmānī bellum longum gerunt. The Romans wage a long war.
86.2 Dux ante bellum mīlitēs hortātur. The leader encourages the soldiers before the war.
86.3 Propter bellum agricolae agrōs relinquunt. Because of the war, the farmers leave their fields.
86.4 Post bellum pāx venit. After the war, peace comes.
86.5 Multī in bellō moriuntur. Many die in war.
86.6 Cīvēs dē bellō nihil sciunt. The citizens know nothing about the war.
86.7 Senātus bellum contrā hostēs parat. The senate prepares war against the enemies.
86.8 Tempore bellī omnēs labōrant. In time of war, everyone works.
86.9 Mīlitēs ad bellum properant. The soldiers hurry to war.
86.10 Sine bellō pāx esse potest. Without war, there can be peace.
86.11 Bellum multōs annōs manet. The war remains for many years.
86.12 Dē bellō senātōrēs loquuntur. The senators speak about the war.
86.13 Fīnis bellī populō grātus est. The end of war is pleasing to the people.
86.14 Ante bellum cīvitās flōret. Before the war, the state flourishes.
86.15 Magnō bellō victōria difficilis est. In a great war, victory is difficult.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
86.1 Rōmānī bellum longum gerunt.
86.2 Dux ante bellum mīlitēs hortātur.
86.3 Propter bellum agricolae agrōs relinquunt.
86.4 Post bellum pāx venit.
86.5 Multī in bellō moriuntur.
86.6 Cīvēs dē bellō nihil sciunt.
86.7 Senātus bellum contrā hostēs parat.
86.8 Tempore bellī omnēs labōrant.
86.9 Mīlitēs ad bellum properant.
86.10 Sine bellō pāx esse potest.
86.11 Bellum multōs annōs manet.
86.12 Dē bellō senātōrēs loquuntur.
86.13 Fīnis bellī populō grātus est.
86.14 Ante bellum cīvitās flōret.
86.15 Magnō bellō victōria difficilis est.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The noun "bellum" has several important features for English speakers to understand: -
Form and Declension: -
Second declension neuter noun -
Nominative singular: bellum -
Genitive singular: bellī -
Base meaning: war -
Case Usage Examples: -
Nominative (subject): "Bellum longum est" (The war is long) -
Genitive (possession): "tempus bellī" (time of war) -
Dative (indirect object): "bellō fīnem dare" (to put an end to war) -
Accusative (direct object): "bellum gerere" (to wage war) -
Ablative (means/time): "in bellō" (in war) -
Common Expressions: -
bellum gerere = to wage war -
bellum parāre = to prepare for war -
bellum īnferre = to make war on -
bellum compōnere = to end a war -
Prepositions Commonly Used: -
ante bellum = before the war -
post bellum = after the war -
in bellō = in/during war -
sine bellō = without war -
dē bellō = about/concerning war
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
For English speakers, understanding "bellum" requires cultural context: -
Roman Military Culture: -
War was central to Roman society -
Military service was required of citizens -
Wars were both defensive and expansionary -
Religious ceremonies preceded warfare -
Types of War: -
bellum iūstum (just war) -
bellum cīvīle (civil war) -
bellum externum (foreign war) -
bellum nāvāle (naval war) -
Important Concepts: -
Declaration procedures -
Role of the Senate -
Military organization -
Peace treaties and aftermath -
Modern Relevance: -
Source of English words (belligerent, bellicose) -
Influence on military terminology -
Impact on international law -
Cultural understanding of warfare
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
From Caesar's "De Bello Gallico" (1.1):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Gallia Gaul est is omnis all dīvīsa divided in into partēs parts trēs, three, quārum of which ūnam one incolunt inhabit Belgae, the Belgae, aliam another Aquītānī, the Aquitani, tertiam third quī who ipsōrum their own linguā in language Celtae, Celts, nostrā in our Gallī Gauls appellantur are called.
"Gallia est omnis dīvīsa in partēs trēs, quārum ūnam incolunt Belgae, aliam Aquītānī, tertiam quī ipsōrum linguā Celtae, nostrā Gallī appellantur."
All Gaul is divided into three parts, of which the Belgae inhabit one, the Aquitani another, and those who in their own language are called Celts, in ours Gauls, the third.
Caesar's opening demonstrates: -
Clear geographic organization -
Attention to cultural distinctions -
Recognition of linguistic differences -
Strategic assessment of territory
-
Perfect passive participle "dīvīsa" -
Relative clause with "quārum" -
Ablative of specification "linguā" -
Present passive "appellantur"
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
86.16 Cōnsul consul bellum war contrā against Gallōs Gauls hōc this annō year gessit waged
86.17 Prīmō in first bellī of war diē day legiō legion nostra our castra camp mūnīvit fortified
86.18 In in hōc this bellō war multī many fortiter bravely pugnāvērunt fought
86.19 Omnēs all ducēs leaders dē about bellī of war perīculīs dangers cōgitant think
86.20 Post after longum long bellum war mīlitēs soldiers domum homeward redīre to return cupiunt desire
86.21 Magnā with great virtūte courage bellum war adversus against hostēs enemies gerimus we wage
86.22 Tempore in time bellī of war urbem city nostram our dēfendimus we defend
86.23 Dux leader bellum war novum new parāre to prepare incipit begins
86.24 Propter because of bellī of war perīcula dangers multī many fugiunt flee
86.25 Bellum war in in montibus mountains difficile difficult fit becomes
86.26 Victōria victory in in bellō war nostrīs to our men certa certain vidētur seems
86.27 Post after bellum war pācem peace cum with hostibus enemies facimus we make
86.28 Nūntius messenger dē about bellī of war exītū outcome venit comes
86.29 Senātus senate bellum war propter because of populī of people salūtem safety gessit waged
86.30 Fīnem end bellī of war omnēs all expectant await
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
86.16 Cōnsul bellum contrā Gallōs hōc annō gessit. The consul waged war against the Gauls this year.
86.17 Prīmō bellī diē legiō nostra castra mūnīvit. On the first day of the war, our legion fortified the camp.
86.18 In hōc bellō multī fortiter pugnāvērunt. In this war, many fought bravely.
86.19 Omnēs ducēs dē bellī perīculīs cōgitant. All leaders think about the dangers of war.
86.20 Post longum bellum mīlitēs domum redīre cupiunt. After a long war, the soldiers desire to return home.
86.21 Magnā virtūte bellum adversus hostēs gerimus. We wage war against the enemies with great courage.
86.22 Tempore bellī urbem nostram dēfendimus. In time of war, we defend our city.
86.23 Dux bellum novum parāre incipit. The leader begins to prepare for a new war.
86.24 Propter bellī perīcula multī fugiunt. Because of the dangers of war, many flee.
86.25 Bellum in montibus difficile fit. The war becomes difficult in the mountains.
86.26 Victōria in bellō nostrīs certa vidētur. Victory in war seems certain to our men.
86.27 Post bellum pācem cum hostibus facimus. After the war, we make peace with the enemies.
86.28 Nūntius dē bellī exītū venit. A messenger comes about the outcome of the war.
86.29 Senātus bellum propter populī salūtem gessit. The senate waged war for the safety of the people.
86.30 Fīnem bellī omnēs expectant. Everyone awaits the end of the war.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
86.16 Cōnsul bellum contrā Gallōs hōc annō gessit.
86.17 Prīmō bellī diē legiō nostra castra mūnīvit.
86.18 In hōc bellō multī fortiter pugnāvērunt.
86.19 Omnēs ducēs dē bellī perīculīs cōgitant.
86.20 Post longum bellum mīlitēs domum redīre cupiunt.
86.21 Magnā virtūte bellum adversus hostēs gerimus.
86.22 Tempore bellī urbem nostram dēfendimus.
86.23 Dux bellum novum parāre incipit.
86.24 Propter bellī perīcula multī fugiunt.
86.25 Bellum in montibus difficile fit.
86.26 Victōria in bellō nostrīs certa vidētur.
86.27 Post bellum pācem cum hostibus facimus.
86.28 Nūntius dē bellī exītū venit.
86.29 Senātus bellum propter populī salūtem gessit.
86.30 Fīnem bellī omnēs expectant.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
-
Military Vocabulary and Expressions: -
bellum gerere: "to wage war" (formal military term) -
bellum parāre: "to prepare for war" (strategic planning) -
bellum inferre: "to make war upon" (aggressive action) -
bellī exitus: "outcome of war" (military report term) -
Case Usage in Military Context: a) Genitive: -
bellī perīcula: "dangers of war" -
bellī exitus: "outcome of war" -
Used for possession and description
b) Ablative: -
in bellō: "in war" (circumstance) -
tempore bellī: "in time of war" (time when) -
Used with prepositions and time expressions -
Temporal Expressions: -
post bellum: "after the war" -
ante bellum: "before the war" -
tempore bellī: "in time of war" -
prīmō bellī diē: "on the first day of war" -
Military Grammar Patterns: a) Purpose Clauses: -
propter populī salūtem: "for the safety of the people" -
Used to express military objectives
b) Agent Constructions: -
ā/ab + ablative for personal agent -
per + accusative for means/instrument -
Used in describing military actions -
Word Order in Military Dispatches: -
Tendency toward verb-final position -
Important information often frontloaded -
Time expressions frequently initial -
Clear, precise ordering for military clarity
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
---