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89.1 Breve brief tempus time datum given est is hominibus to men
89.2 Magister teacher longum long tempus time exspectat awaits
89.3 Iam now tempus time bellī of war venit comes
89.4 Multum much tempus time in in studiīs studies cōnsūmimus we spend
89.5 Tempus time fugit flees velut like umbra shadow
89.6 Omnī in all tempore time labōrāre to work dēbēmus we ought
89.7 Temporis of time spatium space breve brief erat was
89.8 Rēx king temporī to time pāret yields ipse himself
89.9 Fēlīx happy illud that tempus time erat was
89.10 Per through longum long tempus time pacem peace habēbāmus we had
89.11 Sapientēs wise men tempore by time doctrīnam learning augent increase
89.12 Hōc at this tempore time multī many aegrotant are sick
89.13 Temporī at the right time venīre to come oportet it is proper
89.14 Tempus time ipsum itself omnia all things mūtat changes
89.15 Ex from illō that tempore time nēmō no one vēnit came
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89.1 Breve tempus hominibus datum est. A brief time has been given to men.
89.2 Longum tempus magister exspectat. The teacher awaits a long time.
89.3 Iam tempus bellī venit. Now the time of war comes.
89.4 Multum tempus in studiīs cōnsūmimus. We spend much time in studies.
89.5 Tempus velut umbra fugit. Time flees like a shadow.
89.6 Omnī tempore labōrāre dēbēmus. We ought to work at all times.
89.7 Temporis spatium breve erat. The span of time was brief.
89.8 Temporī ipse rēx pāret. Even the king yields to time.
89.9 Fēlīx illud tempus erat. That was a happy time.
89.10 Per longum tempus pacem habēbāmus. For a long time we had peace.
89.11 Sapientēs tempore doctrīnam augent. The wise increase their learning with time.
89.12 Hōc tempore multī aegrotant. At this time many are sick.
89.13 Temporī venīre oportet. It is proper to come at the right time.
89.14 Tempus ipsum omnia mūtat. Time itself changes all things.
89.15 Ex illō tempore nēmō vēnit. From that time no one came.
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89.1 Breve tempus hominibus datum est.
89.2 Longum tempus magister exspectat.
89.3 Iam tempus bellī venit.
89.4 Multum tempus in studiīs cōnsūmimus.
89.5 Tempus velut umbra fugit.
89.6 Omnī tempore labōrāre dēbēmus.
89.7 Temporis spatium breve erat.
89.8 Temporī ipse rēx pāret.
89.9 Fēlīx illud tempus erat.
89.10 Per longum tempus pacem habēbāmus.
89.11 Sapientēs tempore doctrīnam augent.
89.12 Hōc tempore multī aegrotant.
89.13 Temporī venīre oportet.
89.14 Tempus ipsum omnia mūtat.
89.15 Ex illō tempore nēmō vēnit.
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The noun "tempus" has several important features for English speakers to understand: -
Form and Declension: -
Third declension neuter noun -
Stem: tempor- (appears in oblique cases) -
Nominative singular ends in -us -
Genitive singular: temporis -
Complete Declension: Singular: -
Nominative: tempus -
Genitive: temporis -
Dative: temporī -
Accusative: tempus -
Ablative: tempore
Plural: -
Nominative: tempora -
Genitive: temporum -
Dative: temporibus -
Accusative: tempora -
Ablative: temporibus -
Common Uses: a) Ablative of Time When: -
omnī tempore (at all times) -
hōc tempore (at this time)
b) Accusative of Duration: -
longum tempus (for a long time) -
multum tempus (much time)
c) With Prepositions: -
per tempus (through time) -
ex tempore (from time) -
Special Expressions: -
temporī (at the right time, dative of purpose) -
tempore (in time, ablative absolute) -
temporis causā (for the sake of time)
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For English speakers, understanding "tempus" requires cultural context: -
Roman Time Concepts: -
Different from modern precise measurement -
Based on natural cycles (sun, moon) -
Variable hour lengths depending on season -
Importance in religious observances -
Philosophical Views: -
Time as cyclical rather than linear -
Connection to fate and destiny -
Role in Stoic philosophy -
Importance of "right timing" (temporī) -
Legal and Social Significance: -
Time limits in legal proceedings -
Importance in business transactions -
Role in political terms of office -
Agricultural calendar importance -
Literary Usage: -
Common theme in poetry -
Metaphors of fleeting time -
Connection to mortality -
Time as agent of change
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From Vergil's "Georgics" (3.284-287):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Sed but fugit flees intereā meanwhile, fugit flees irreparābile irreparable tempus time, singula individual things dum while captī captured circumvectāmur we are carried around amōre by love.
"Sed fugit intereā, fugit irreparābile tempus, singula dum captī circumvectāmur amōre."
But meanwhile time, irreparable time, flees while we, captured by love, are carried around by individual things.
Vergil uses repetition of "fugit" to emphasize time's relentless passage. The metaphor of being "carried around" (circumvectāmur) suggests humanity's helplessness before time's flow.
-
"fugit" - present tense emphasizing ongoing action -
"irreparābile" - nominative adjective modifying tempus -
"captī" - perfect passive participle -
"amōre" - ablative of cause
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89.16 Antīquīs in ancient temporibus times Rōma Rome parva small urbs city erat was
89.17 Illō at that tempore time rēgēs kings populum people regēbant ruled
89.18 Prīmō at first tempore time cīvēs citizens lībertātem freedom nōn not habēbant had
89.19 Tempore in time bellī of war multī many virī men fortēs brave pugnābant fought
89.20 Ēlāpsō having elapsed longō long tempore time rēspūblica republic crēvit grew
89.21 Eō at that tempore time senātus senate potēns powerful erat was
89.22 Temporibus in times pācis of peace artēs arts florēbant flourished
89.23 Multō much tempore time post after tyrannī tyrants urbem city occupāvērunt seized
89.24 Brevia brief tempora times fēlīcitātis of happiness fuerant had been
89.25 Tempus time ipsum itself rēs things pūblicās public mūtāvit changed
89.26 Omnibus in all temporibus times cīvēs citizens lēgēs laws servābant preserved
89.27 Tempore with time mōrēs customs antīquī ancient perīrunt perished
89.28 Novō in new tempore time novī new ducēs leaders surgēbant arose
89.29 Memoria memory illōrum of those temporum times manēbat remained
89.30 Tempore in time pācis of peace populī peoples concordēs harmonious vīvēbant lived
89.16 Antīquīs temporibus Rōma parva urbs erat. In ancient times Rome was a small city.
89.17 Illō tempore rēgēs populum regēbant. At that time kings ruled the people.
89.18 Prīmō tempore cīvēs lībertātem nōn habēbant. In the beginning the citizens did not have freedom.
89.19 Tempore bellī multī virī fortēs pugnābant. In time of war many brave men fought.
89.20 Ēlāpsō longō tempore rēspūblica crēvit. After a long time had elapsed, the republic grew.
89.21 Eō tempore senātus potēns erat. At that time the senate was powerful.
89.22 Temporibus pācis artēs florēbant. In times of peace the arts flourished.
89.23 Multō tempore post tyrannī urbem occupāvērunt. Much time afterward, tyrants seized the city.
89.24 Brevia tempora fēlīcitātis fuerant. The times of happiness had been brief.
89.25 Tempus ipsum rēs pūblicās mūtāvit. Time itself changed public affairs.
89.26 Omnibus temporibus cīvēs lēgēs servābant. In all times the citizens preserved the laws.
89.27 Tempore mōrēs antīquī perīrunt. With time the ancient customs perished.
89.28 Novō tempore novī ducēs surgēbant. In the new time new leaders arose.
89.29 Memoria illōrum temporum manēbat. The memory of those times remained.
89.30 Tempore pācis populī concordēs vīvēbant. In time of peace the peoples lived in harmony.
89.16 Antīquīs temporibus Rōma parva urbs erat.
89.17 Illō tempore rēgēs populum regēbant.
89.18 Prīmō tempore cīvēs lībertātem nōn habēbant.
89.19 Tempore bellī multī virī fortēs pugnābant.
89.20 Ēlāpsō longō tempore rēspūblica crēvit.
89.21 Eō tempore senātus potēns erat.
89.22 Temporibus pācis artēs florēbant.
89.23 Multō tempore post tyrannī urbem occupāvērunt.
89.24 Brevia tempora fēlīcitātis fuerant.
89.25 Tempus ipsum rēs pūblicās mūtāvit.
89.26 Omnibus temporibus cīvēs lēgēs servābant.
89.27 Tempore mōrēs antīquī perīrunt.
89.28 Novō tempore novī ducēs surgēbant.
89.29 Memoria illōrum temporum manēbat.
89.30 Tempore pācis populī concordēs vīvēbant.
In historical narrative, "tempus" appears in several distinctive constructions: -
Temporal Expressions: a) Ablative of Time When: -
antīquīs temporibus (in ancient times) -
illō tempore (at that time) -
prīmō tempore (in the beginning) Shows when events occurred
b) Ablative Absolute: -
ēlāpsō longō tempore (after a long time had elapsed) Indicates temporal sequence -
Prepositions with tempus: -
post with accusative -
in with ablative Used to establish chronological relationships -
Special Historical Usages: a) With Adjectives of Time: -
antīquus/novus -
longus/brevis Describing historical periods
b) With Political Terms: -
tempore pācis/bellī -
rēs pūblicae Establishing political context -
Verb Tenses in Historical Context: -
Imperfect for ongoing situations (erat, regēbant) -
Perfect for completed actions (crēvit, occupāvērunt) -
Pluperfect for prior events (fuerant) -
Word Order Patterns: -
Temporal phrases often begin sentences -
Can be positioned for emphasis -
Follows standard historical prose conventions
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