← Latin for Medics, Pharmacists and Herbalists
In this lesson, we explore the verb "dō dare dedī datum" (to give), focusing particularly on its use in medical and pharmaceutical contexts. This common verb is essential for describing the administration of medicines, prescriptions, and treatment instructions.
27.1 Medicus the doctor aegrotō to the sick person medicīnam medicine dat gives
27.2 Herbam the herb sapiēns the wise man mihi to me dedit gave
27.3 Pharmacopōla the pharmacist remedia remedies datūrus est is about to give clientibus to the clients
27.4 Date give! potionem the potion aegrō to the sick person
27.5 Ego I tibi to you hoc this unguentum ointment dabō will give
27.6 Medicus the doctor cūram treatment optimam best dat gives vulnerī for the wound
27.7 Nōs we herbās herbs medicās medicinal dabimus will give labōrantibus to those suffering
27.8 Magister the teacher discipulīs to the students praecepta instructions de herbīs about herbs dat gives
27.9 Aegrotus the sick person mihi to me signa signs morbī of the disease dedit gave
27.10 Pharmacopōla the pharmacist medicāmenta medicines nova new datūrus est is about to give hodiē today
27.11 Ille that medicus doctor sapientiam wisdom suam his dat gives discipulīs to the students
27.12 Mater the mother fīliō to her son herbam herb dulcem sweet dedit gave
27.13 Vōs you all date give cūram care dīligentem careful aegrotīs to the sick
27.14 Nōs we remedia remedies dabāmus were giving omnibus to all aegrotīs sick people
27.15 Medicus the doctor perītus skilled cōnsilium advice bonum good dat gives semper always
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27.1 Medicīnam aegrotō dat medicus. The doctor gives medicine to the sick person.
27.2 Mihi herbam sapiēns dedit. The wise man gave me the herb.
27.3 Remedia clientibus datūrus est pharmacopōla. The pharmacist is about to give remedies to the clients.
27.4 Date potionem aegrō! Give the potion to the sick person!
27.5 Hoc unguentum tibi dabō. I will give this ointment to you.
27.6 Vulnerī cūram optimam dat medicus. The doctor gives the best treatment for the wound.
27.7 Herbās medicās labōrantibus dabimus. We will give medicinal herbs to those suffering.
27.8 Praecepta de herbīs discipulīs dat magister. The teacher gives instructions about herbs to the students.
27.9 Signa morbī mihi dedit aegrotus. The sick person gave me the signs of the disease.
27.10 Medicāmenta nova hodiē datūrus est pharmacopōla. The pharmacist is about to give new medicines today.
27.11 Sapientiam suam discipulīs dat ille medicus. That doctor gives his wisdom to the students.
27.12 Herbam dulcem fīliō dedit mater. The mother gave a sweet herb to her son.
27.13 Cūram dīligentem aegrotīs date. Give careful care to the sick.
27.14 Remedia omnibus aegrotīs dabāmus. We were giving remedies to all the sick people.
27.15 Cōnsilium bonum dat semper medicus perītus. The skilled doctor always gives good advice.
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27.1 Medicīnam aegrotō dat medicus.
27.2 Mihi herbam sapiēns dedit.
27.3 Remedia clientibus datūrus est pharmacopōla.
27.4 Date potionem aegrō!
27.5 Hoc unguentum tibi dabō.
27.6 Vulnerī cūram optimam dat medicus.
27.7 Herbās medicās labōrantibus dabimus.
27.8 Praecepta de herbīs discipulīs dat magister.
27.9 Signa morbī mihi dedit aegrotus.
27.10 Medicāmenta nova hodiē datūrus est pharmacopōla.
27.11 Sapientiam suam discipulīs dat ille medicus.
27.12 Herbam dulcem fīliō dedit mater.
27.13 Cūram dīligentem aegrotīs date.
27.14 Remedia omnibus aegrotīs dabāmus.
27.15 Cōnsilium bonum dat semper medicus perītus.
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The verb "dō" is one of the most important first conjugation verbs in Latin, with some unique features: -
Principal Parts: -
Present: dō (I give) -
Infinitive: dare (to give) -
Perfect: dedī (I gave) -
Supine: datum (to give) -
Special Features: -
Short 'a' in dare (unlike most 1st conjugation verbs) -
Monosyllabic present tense form (dō) -
Reduplicated perfect (dedī) -
Common Forms Used in Medical Context: -
Present Indicative: dō, dās, dat, damus, datis, dant -
Future: dabō, dabis, dabit, etc. -
Perfect: dedī, dedistī, dedit, etc. -
Imperative: dā (sing.), date (pl.) -
Case Usage: -
Double accusative construction possible -
Dative of recipient very common -
Can take various prepositions for direction/purpose
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In Roman medicine, the verb "dō" was crucial in medical prescriptions and instructions. The Romans had a sophisticated system of medical terminology and prescription writing that influenced medical Latin through the ages: -
Medical Prescriptions -
Written with specific formulae -
Used standardized abbreviations -
Often began with "Recipe" (take) followed by "dā" (give) -
Administration of Medicine -
Precise dosage instructions -
Timing specifications -
Method of delivery -
Medical Education -
Master-apprentice relationship -
Passing down of knowledge -
Written medical texts and treatises
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From Celsus, De Medicina III.4.8:
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Oportet it is necessary autem moreover dare to give medicāmentum medicine quod which humōrem fluid extrahit draws out nisi unless nimis too much occupātus seized aeger est the patient is
"Oportet autem dare medicāmentum quod humōrem extrahit, nisi nimis occupātus aeger est." Moreover, it is necessary to give medicine which draws out fluid, unless the patient is too greatly affected.
This passage demonstrates the medical use of "dare" in prescriptive context, showing: -
Technical medical vocabulary -
Impersonal construction with "oportet" -
Present infinitive "dare" in medical instruction -
Careful qualification of when to administer treatment
-
"dare": Present active infinitive dependent on "oportet" -
"medicāmentum": Direct object accusative -
"quod": Relative pronoun introducing descriptive clause -
"nisi": Introduces exception clause -
"occupātus": Perfect passive participle
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27.16 Medicus the doctor trēs three guttās drops huius of this remedii remedy bis twice in in diē a day dare to give iubet orders
27.17 Pharmacopōla the pharmacist aegrotō to the sick person pilulās pills ante before cēnam dinner dandās to be given parat prepares
27.18 Herbārius the herbalist mihi to me potionem potion ex from rosīs roses factam made dedit gave
27.19 Medicus the doctor perītus skilled unguentum ointment vulnerī for the wound bis twice dandum to be given esse to be dīxit said
27.20 Cras tomorrow tibi to you novum new medicāmentum medicine dabō I will give
27.21 Herbae herbs quās which hodiē today dedistī you gave dolōrem pain levant relieve
27.22 Magister the teacher discipulō to the student librōs books dē about herbīs herbs medicīs medicinal dedit gave
27.23 Aegrōtus the patient cui to whom medicus the doctor remedium remedy dedit gave melius better sē habet feels
27.24 Pharmacopōla the pharmacist omnēs all herbās herbs necessāriās necessary datūrus est is about to give medicō to the doctor
27.25 Medicus the doctor auxilium help optimum best dat gives aegrotīs to the sick semper always
27.26 Mater the mother īnfantī to the infant medicīnam medicine dulcem sweet dare to give dēbet ought
27.27 Vōs you all medicāmenta medicines recta correct aegrotīs to the sick dare to give dēbētis ought
27.28 Medicus the doctor aegrōtō to the patient cōnsilium advice dē about cibō food dedit gave
27.29 Pharmacopōla the pharmacist mihi to me unguentum ointment contrā against dolōrem pain dedit gave
27.30 Herbārius the herbalist nōbīs to us herbās herbs salūbrēs healthy datūrus est is about to give
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27.16 Trēs guttās huius remedii bis in diē dare medicus iubet. The doctor orders three drops of this remedy to be given twice a day.
27.17 Pilulās ante cēnam dandās aegrotō parat pharmacopōla. The pharmacist prepares pills to be given to the patient before dinner.
27.18 Potionem ex rosīs factam mihi dedit herbārius. The herbalist gave me a potion made from roses.
27.19 Unguentum vulnerī bis dandum esse dīxit medicus perītus. The skilled doctor said that the ointment should be given to the wound twice.
27.20 Cras tibi novum medicāmentum dabō. Tomorrow I will give you new medicine.
27.21 Herbae quās hodiē dedistī dolōrem levant. The herbs which you gave today relieve the pain.
27.22 Librōs dē herbīs medicīs discipulō dedit magister. The teacher gave books about medicinal herbs to the student.
27.23 Aegrōtus cui medicus remedium dedit melius sē habet. The patient to whom the doctor gave the remedy feels better.
27.24 Omnēs herbās necessāriās medicō datūrus est pharmacopōla. The pharmacist is about to give all the necessary herbs to the doctor.
27.25 Auxilium optimum aegrotīs dat semper medicus. The doctor always gives the best help to the sick.
27.26 Īnfantī medicīnam dulcem dare dēbet māter. The mother ought to give sweet medicine to the infant.
27.27 Medicāmenta recta aegrotīs dare dēbētis. You ought to give the correct medicines to the sick.
27.28 Cōnsilium dē cibō aegrōtō dedit medicus. The doctor gave advice about food to the patient.
27.29 Unguentum contrā dolōrem mihi dedit pharmacopōla. The pharmacist gave me ointment against pain.
27.30 Herbās salūbrēs nōbīs datūrus est herbārius. The herbalist is about to give us healthy herbs.
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27.16 Trēs guttās huius remedii bis in diē dare medicus iubet.
27.17 Pilulās ante cēnam dandās aegrotō parat pharmacopōla.
27.18 Potionem ex rosīs factam mihi dedit herbārius.
27.19 Unguentum vulnerī bis dandum esse dīxit medicus perītus.
27.20 Cras tibi novum medicāmentum dabō.
27.21 Herbae quās hodiē dedistī dolōrem levant.
27.22 Librōs dē herbīs medicīs discipulō dedit magister.
27.23 Aegrōtus cui medicus remedium dedit melius sē habet.
27.24 Omnēs herbās necessāriās medicō datūrus est pharmacopōla.
27.25 Auxilium optimum aegrotīs dat semper medicus.
27.26 Īnfantī medicīnam dulcem dare dēbet māter.
27.27 Medicāmenta recta aegrotīs dare dēbētis.
27.28 Cōnsilium dē cibō aegrōtō dedit medicus.
27.29 Unguentum contrā dolōrem mihi dedit pharmacopōla.
27.30 Herbās salūbrēs nōbīs datūrus est herbārius.
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This pharmaceutical genre section demonstrates several important grammatical constructions: -
Gerundives of Obligation: -
dandās (27.17): "to be given," showing agreement with pilulās -
dandum (27.19): neuter singular agreeing with unguentum These forms express necessity or obligation in medical instructions. -
Indirect Speech in Medical Instructions: -
"dandum esse" (27.19): Accusative + Infinitive construction -
Used in reporting doctors' orders and prescriptions -
Future Active Participle: -
datūrus est (27.24, 27.30): "is about to give" -
Indicates planned or imminent medical administration -
Relative Clauses in Medical Context: -
quās (27.21): Feminine accusative plural -
cui (27.23): Dative singular Used to specify which medicines were given or to whom -
Medical Terminology Case Usage: -
Dative of recipient: aegrotō, vulnerī, īnfantī -
Accusative of direct object: medicāmentum, herbās -
Ablative of means: ex rosīs -
Time Expressions in Prescriptions: -
bis in diē (27.16): "twice a day" -
ante cēnam (27.17): "before dinner" -
cras (27.20): "tomorrow" -
Imperative Mood Alternatives: -
dēbētis dare (27.27): "you ought to give" -
Instead of direct commands, medical Latin often uses more formal constructions
These constructions are particularly important in medical Latin, where precision and clarity are essential for patient safety and proper treatment.
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