← Latin for Medics, Pharmacists and Herbalists
Today we study the conjunction "aut" meaning "or". This word is used to present alternatives, particularly in medical texts when discussing treatment options or diagnostic possibilities.
23.1 Medicus the doctor febrem fever aut or dolōrem pain cūrat treats
23.2 Herbam the herb aut or radicem root sumere to take debet he ought
23.3 Ēgrotus the sick man vīvit lives aut or moritur dies
23.4 Vulnus the wound in on bracchiō arm aut or in on crūre leg est is
23.5 Medicus the doctor sanguinem blood mittere to let aut or medicāmentum medicine dare to give potest is able
23.6 Morbus the disease gravis serious aut or levis mild esse to be potest is able
23.7 Vēnam vein aut or arteriam artery secat cuts medicus the doctor
23.8 Aegrōtus the patient dormit sleeps aut or vigilat stays awake
23.9 Medicāmentum the medicine ex from herbīs herbs aut or ex from minerālibus minerals parātur is prepared
23.10 Dolor pain in in capite head aut or in in ventro belly sentītur is felt
23.11 Herba the herb sicca dry aut or vīva fresh adhibētur is applied
23.12 Medicus the doctor morbum disease cognōscere to diagnose aut or cūrāre to treat dēbet ought
23.13 Remedia remedies externa external aut or interna internal sunt are
23.14 Vīta life aut or mors death ex from morbo disease sequitur follows
23.15 Febris fever augētur increases aut or minuitur decreases
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23.1 Medicus febrem aut dolōrem cūrat. The doctor treats fever or pain.
23.2 Herbam aut rādīcem sūmere debet. He must take either the herb or the root.
23.3 Vīvit aut moritur aegrōtus. The sick man either lives or dies.
23.4 In bracchiō aut in crūre vulnus est. The wound is on the arm or on the leg.
23.5 Sanguinem mittere aut medicāmentum dare medicus potest. The doctor can either let blood or give medicine.
23.6 Esse morbus gravis aut levis potest. The disease can be either serious or mild.
23.7 Medicus vēnam aut arteriam secat. The doctor cuts either the vein or artery.
23.8 Dormit aegrōtus aut vigilat. The patient either sleeps or stays awake.
23.9 Ex herbīs aut ex minerālibus medicāmentum parātur. The medicine is prepared from either herbs or minerals.
23.10 In capite aut in ventro dolor sentītur. Pain is felt either in the head or in the belly.
23.11 Sicca aut vīva herba adhibētur. Either dry or fresh herb is applied.
23.12 Morbum cognōscere aut cūrāre medicus dēbet. The doctor must either diagnose or treat the disease.
23.13 Remedia aut externa aut interna sunt. Remedies are either external or internal.
23.14 Ex morbo vīta aut mors sequitur. Either life or death follows from the disease.
23.15 Augētur aut minuitur febris. The fever either increases or decreases.
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23.1 Medicus febrem aut dolōrem cūrat.
23.2 Herbam aut rādīcem sūmere debet.
23.3 Vīvit aut moritur aegrōtus.
23.4 In bracchiō aut in crūre vulnus est.
23.5 Sanguinem mittere aut medicāmentum dare medicus potest.
23.6 Esse morbus gravis aut levis potest.
23.7 Medicus vēnam aut arteriam secat.
23.8 Dormit aegrōtus aut vigilat.
23.9 Ex herbīs aut ex minerālibus medicāmentum parātur.
23.10 In capite aut in ventro dolor sentītur.
23.11 Sicca aut vīva herba adhibētur.
23.12 Morbum cognōscere aut cūrāre medicus dēbet.
23.13 Remedia aut externa aut interna sunt.
23.14 Ex morbo vīta aut mors sequitur.
23.15 Augētur aut minuitur febris.
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The conjunction "aut" is used to express mutually exclusive alternatives. Key points for English speakers: -
Position: -
Usually placed between the alternatives it connects -
Can be repeated for emphasis (aut...aut = either...or) -
Does not affect the case of connected words -
Usage: -
Links single words, phrases, or clauses -
Presents mutually exclusive choices -
Different from "et" (and) or "-que" (and) -
Often paired with verbs of possibility (potest, licet) -
Medical Context: -
Frequently used in diagnoses -
Common in treatment descriptions -
Important in pharmaceutical preparations -
Essential in prognosis discussions
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For English speakers learning medical Latin, understanding "aut" is crucial because: -
Historical Medical Texts: -
Ancient physicians like Galen and Celsus used "aut" extensively -
Medieval prescription writings relied on clear alternatives -
Traditional herbal texts present options with "aut" -
Modern Medical Usage: -
Still appears in scientific nomenclature -
Used in pharmaceutical Latin -
Important in medical terminology -
Present in anatomical descriptions -
Practical Applications: -
Reading historical medical texts -
Understanding traditional remedies -
Interpreting pharmaceutical instructions -
Studying anatomical descriptions
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From Celsus' "De Medicina" (3.4):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Febris fever aut either ex from īnfirmitāte weakness oritur arises aut or ex from aliquō some affectū condition partis of a part
Febris aut ex īnfirmitāte oritur aut ex aliquō partis affectū. Fever arises either from weakness or from some condition of a part.
Celsus uses "aut...aut" to present a classic medical dichotomy in diagnosis. The parallel structure emphasizes the two possible origins of fever.
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"aut...aut" creates parallel structure -
Ablative case used with "ex" -
Present tense "oritur" shows general truth -
Genitive "partis" shows possession
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23.16 Recipe take herbam herb recentem fresh aut or siccam dried ad for medicāmentum medicine parandum preparing
23.17 Pulverem powder cum with aquā water aut or cum with vīnō wine mīsce mix
23.18 Aegrōtus the patient medicāmentum medicine manē in the morning aut or vesperī in the evening sūmere to take dēbet ought
23.19 Coque boil herbās herbs in in aquā water aut or in in lactē milk per for hōram an hour
23.20 Ūnguenta ointments ex from oleō oil rosae of rose aut or ex from adipē fat porcī of pig parantur are prepared
23.21 Decoctum decoction per through linteum linen cloth aut or per through colum strainer colāre to strain opportet it is necessary
23.22 Pōtiōnem potion calefacere to warm aut or refrīgerāre to cool licet it is permitted
23.23 Medicus the doctor vēnam vein in in bracchiō arm aut or in in pedē foot secat cuts
23.24 Cataplasma poultice ex from herbīs herbs calidīs warm aut or frīgidīs cold impōne apply
23.25 Pīlulae pills cum with mellē honey aut or cum with saccharō sugar formandae to be formed sunt are
23.26 Oleum oil per through cutim skin aut or in in ōs mouth īnfundendum to be poured est is
23.27 Aegrōtō for the patient vīnum wine rubrum red aut or album white praescrībere to prescribe possumus we can
23.28 Remedia remedies simplicia simple aut or composita compound adhibē apply
23.29 Balneum bath calidum hot aut or tepidum warm parā prepare
23.30 Medicāmentum medicine ante before aut or post after cibum food sūmendum to be taken est is
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23.16 Recipe herbam recentem aut siccam ad medicāmentum parandum. Take fresh or dried herb for preparing the medicine.
23.17 Pulverem cum aquā aut cum vīnō mīsce. Mix the powder with water or with wine.
23.18 Medicāmentum manē aut vesperī aegrōtus sūmere dēbet. The patient must take the medicine in the morning or in the evening.
23.19 Coque herbās in aquā aut in lactē per hōram. Boil the herbs in water or in milk for an hour.
23.20 Ūnguenta ex oleō rosae aut ex adipē porcī parantur. Ointments are prepared from rose oil or from pig fat.
23.21 Decoctum per linteum aut per colum colāre opportet. It is necessary to strain the decoction through linen cloth or through a strainer.
23.22 Pōtiōnem calefacere aut refrīgerāre licet. It is permitted to warm or cool the potion.
23.23 Medicus vēnam in bracchiō aut in pedē secat. The doctor cuts a vein in the arm or in the foot.
23.24 Cataplasma ex herbīs calidīs aut frīgidīs impōne. Apply a poultice of warm or cold herbs.
23.25 Pīlulae cum mellē aut cum saccharō formandae sunt. Pills are to be formed with honey or with sugar.
23.26 Oleum per cutim aut in ōs īnfundendum est. Oil is to be poured through the skin or into the mouth.
23.27 Aegrōtō vīnum rubrum aut album praescrībere possumus. We can prescribe red or white wine for the patient.
23.28 Remedia simplicia aut composita adhibē. Apply simple or compound remedies.
23.29 Balneum calidum aut tepidum parā. Prepare a hot or warm bath.
23.30 Medicāmentum ante aut post cibum sūmendum est. The medicine is to be taken before or after food.
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23.16 Recipe herbam recentem aut siccam ad medicāmentum parandum.
23.17 Pulverem cum aquā aut cum vīnō mīsce.
23.18 Medicāmentum manē aut vesperī aegrōtus sūmere dēbet.
23.19 Coque herbās in aquā aut in lactē per hōram.
23.20 Ūnguenta ex oleō rosae aut ex adipē porcī parantur.
23.21 Decoctum per linteum aut per colum colāre opportet.
23.22 Pōtiōnem calefacere aut refrīgerāre licet.
23.23 Medicus vēnam in bracchiō aut in pedē secat.
23.24 Cataplasma ex herbīs calidīs aut frīgidīs impōne.
23.25 Pīlulae cum mellē aut cum saccharō formandae sunt.
23.26 Oleum per cutim aut in ōs īnfundendum est.
23.27 Aegrōtō vīnum rubrum aut album praescrībere possumus.
23.28 Remedia simplicia aut composita adhibē.
23.29 Balneum calidum aut tepidum parā.
23.30 Medicāmentum ante aut post cibum sūmendum est.
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In medical prescriptions, "aut" serves several specific functions: -
Preparation Options -
Joins alternative ingredients -
Connects different preparation methods -
Links various administration routes -
Common Prescription Formats -
Used with imperative verbs (Recipe, Mīsce, Colā) -
Appears in gerundive constructions (sūmendum est) -
Connects temporal phrases (manē aut vesperī) -
Pharmaceutical Terminology -
Links preparation types (simplicia aut composita) -
Connects dosage forms (in pulvere aut in pilulīs) -
Joins administration methods (per ōs aut per cutim) -
Special Medical Uses -
Presents treatment alternatives -
Specifies preparation choices -
Indicates administration options -
Describes timing variations -
Important Patterns -
Often used with prepositions (cum, in, per) -
Frequently connects parallel structures -
Common in measurement phrases -
Essential in timing instructions
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