← Latin for Medics, Pharmacists and Herbalists
The preposition dē is one of the most versatile and frequently used prepositions in Latin, particularly in medical, pharmaceutical, and herbalist texts. It always takes the ablative case and carries two primary meanings: (1) physical motion "down from" or "away from," and (2) the abstract sense of "about" or "concerning."
Definition: dē (+ ablative) - a preposition meaning "down from," "away from," "about," or "concerning"
Q: What does dē mean in Latin? A: Dē is a preposition that takes the ablative case and means "down from," "away from," "about," or "concerning." In medical texts, it often introduces topics of discussion or indicates the source or origin of medicinal substances.
In this lesson, you'll encounter dē in various medical and pharmaceutical contexts: -
Describing the origin of medicinal plants (dē montibus - from the mountains) -
Introducing medical topics (dē febribus - about fevers) -
Indicating removal or extraction (dē corpore - from the body) -
Discussing theoretical concepts (dē causis morbōrum - about the causes of diseases)
Subject: Latin Language Learning Level: Beginner to Intermediate Focus: Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Herbalist Vocabulary Lesson Type: Reading and Grammar Target Audience: Medical professionals, pharmacists, herbalists, and students
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dē always requires the ablative case -
It has both literal (physical) and figurative (abstract) meanings -
Common in medical literature for discussing topics and origins -
Essential for understanding pharmaceutical preparations and botanical descriptions -
Frequently appears in chapter titles and medical treatises
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46.1 Medicus physician dē about morbō disease scrībit writes
46.2 Dē from herbīs herbs medicīna medicine parātur is prepared
46.3 Pharmacopola pharmacist dē concerning dosī dose monet warns
46.4 Succus juice dē from foliīs leaves exprimitur is pressed out
46.5 Dē about venēnīs poisons liber book novus new est is
46.6 Sanguis blood dē from vēnā vein fluit flows
46.7 Herbārius herbalist dē concerning plantīs plants docet teaches
46.8 Dē from rādīcibus roots decoctum decoction fit is made
46.9 Medicus physician dē about symptōmatibus symptoms quaerit asks
46.10 Oleum oil dē from sēminibus seeds extrahitur is extracted
46.11 Dē concerning cūrā treatment aegrōtī of the sick person cōnsilium advice datur is given
46.12 Vīrus poison dē from vulnere wound pūrgātur is cleansed
46.13 Dē about temperāmentīs temperaments Galēnus Galen disputat discusses
46.14 Medicina medicine dē from cortice bark cōnficitur is prepared
46.15 Dē concerning remediīs remedies antīquīs ancient multa many things discimus we learn
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46.1 Medicus dē morbō scrībit. The physician writes about the disease.
46.2 Dē herbīs medicīna parātur. Medicine is prepared from herbs.
46.3 Pharmacopola dē dosī monet. The pharmacist warns about the dose.
46.4 Succus dē foliīs exprimitur. Juice is pressed out from the leaves.
46.5 Dē venēnīs liber novus est. There is a new book about poisons.
46.6 Sanguis dē vēnā fluit. Blood flows from the vein.
46.7 Herbārius dē plantīs docet. The herbalist teaches about plants.
46.8 Dē rādīcibus decoctum fit. A decoction is made from roots.
46.9 Medicus dē symptōmatibus quaerit. The physician asks about symptoms.
46.10 Oleum dē sēminibus extrahitur. Oil is extracted from seeds.
46.11 Dē cūrā aegrōtī cōnsilium datur. Advice is given concerning the treatment of the sick person.
46.12 Vīrus dē vulnere pūrgātur. Poison is cleansed from the wound.
46.13 Dē temperāmentīs Galēnus disputat. Galen discusses temperaments.
46.14 Medicina dē cortice cōnficitur. Medicine is prepared from bark.
46.15 Dē remediīs antīquīs multa discimus. We learn many things about ancient remedies.
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46.1 Medicus dē morbō scrībit.
46.2 Dē herbīs medicīna parātur.
46.3 Pharmacopola dē dosī monet.
46.4 Succus dē foliīs exprimitur.
46.5 Dē venēnīs liber novus est.
46.6 Sanguis dē vēnā fluit.
46.7 Herbārius dē plantīs docet.
46.8 Dē rādīcibus decoctum fit.
46.9 Medicus dē symptōmatibus quaerit.
46.10 Oleum dē sēminibus extrahitur.
46.11 Dē cūrā aegrōtī cōnsilium datur.
46.12 Vīrus dē vulnere pūrgātur.
46.13 Dē temperāmentīs Galēnus disputat.
46.14 Medicina dē cortice cōnficitur.
46.15 Dē remediīs antīquīs multa discimus.
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The preposition dē is a fundamental building block in Latin medical texts. Here are the essential rules: -
Case Requirement: dē ALWAYS takes the ablative case. This is non-negotiable. -
Primary Meanings: -
Physical: "down from," "away from" (indicating source or origin) -
Abstract: "about," "concerning" (indicating topic or subject matter) -
Position: Usually placed before its object, though in poetry it may be separated
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Using the wrong case: Students often mistakenly use accusative after dē. Remember: ALWAYS ablative! -
Wrong: dē plantam (accusative) -
Correct: dē plantā (ablative) -
Confusing with ex/ē: While both can mean "from," dē emphasizes downward motion or origin, while ex/ē means "out of" -
dē monte = down from the mountain -
ex monte = out of the mountain -
Forgetting ablative plural endings: -
Wrong: dē herbae -
Correct: dē herbīs
Unlike English, where "about" and "from" are completely different words, Latin uses the same preposition (dē) for both meanings. Context determines which English translation to use: -
dē febre scrībit = writes ABOUT fever (topic) -
dē arbore cadit = falls FROM the tree (physical origin)
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Identify what dē is describing (physical origin or abstract topic) -
Find the noun that follows dē -
Put that noun in the ablative case -
Check singular vs. plural -
Translate according to context
First Declension (mostly feminine): -
Singular: -ā (herbā) -
Plural: -īs (herbīs)
Second Declension (masculine/neuter): -
Singular: -ō (morbō) -
Plural: -īs (morbīs)
Third Declension (various): -
Singular: -e or consonant (corpore, sanguine) -
Plural: -ibus (corporibus, sanguinibus)
Fourth Declension: -
Singular: -ū (manū) -
Plural: -ibus (manibus)
Fifth Declension: -
Singular: -ē (rē) -
Plural: -ēbus (rēbus)
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For English speakers learning Latin medical terminology, understanding dē opens doors to centuries of medical literature. Roman physicians and later medieval doctors used dē extensively in their treatises.
In Medical Titles: Many famous medical works begin with "Dē": -
Dē Rē Medicā (On Medical Matters) by Celsus -
Dē Simplici Medicīnā (On Simple Medicine) -
Dē Herbīs (On Herbs)
Pharmaceutical Usage: When preparing medicines, Roman and medieval pharmacists would note the source of ingredients using dē: -
dē papāvere (from the poppy) -
dē rādīce valerilānae (from valerian root)
Medical Discussions: Physicians used dē to introduce topics in consultations and writings: -
dē causis febrium (about the causes of fevers) -
dē signīs morbōrum (about the signs of diseases)
Modern Legacy: Many medical and pharmaceutical terms retain this usage: -
de die in diem (from day to day) - abbreviated as d.d. -
de more (according to custom)
Understanding dē helps modern medical professionals decode historical texts, understand pharmaceutical Latin, and appreciate the continuity of medical tradition from Rome to today.
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From Celsus, De Medicina, Book II, Chapter 1
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Nunc now dē about iīs those things quae which ad to medicāmentōrum of medicines scientiam knowledge pertinent pertain dīcendum must be said est it is. Ac and prīmum first dē about iīs those quae which simplicia simple nōmināmus we name, deinde then dē about compositīs compound ones.
Nunc dē iīs quae ad medicāmentōrum scientiam pertinent dīcendum est. Ac prīmum dē iīs quae simplicia nōmināmus, deinde dē compositīs.
Now we must speak about those things which pertain to the knowledge of medicines. And first about those which we call simple, then about compound ones.
Nunc dē iīs quae ad medicāmentōrum scientiam pertinent dīcendum est. Ac prīmum dē iīs quae simplicia nōmināmus, deinde dē compositīs.
This passage from Celsus demonstrates the abstract use of dē meaning "about" or "concerning." Notice: -
Triple use of dē: Celsus uses dē three times to structure his discussion -
Ablative pronouns: iīs is ablative plural of is, ea, id -
Relative clauses: quae connects the topics to their descriptions -
Passive periphrastic: dīcendum est = "it must be said" -
Medical terminology: medicāmentōrum (medicines), simplicia (simple drugs), compositīs (compound drugs)
This exemplifies how Roman medical writers used dē to organize and introduce topics systematically.
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46.16 Recipe take dē from floribus flowers rosārum of roses unciās ounces duās two
46.17 Dē from rādīce root glycyrrhīzae of licorice drachmam drachm ūnam one addē add
46.18 Extrahē extract succum juice dē from foliīs leaves recentibus fresh mentae of mint
46.19 Dē from cortice bark cinnāmōmī of cinnamon pulverem powder parā prepare
46.20 Oleum oil dē from sēminibus seeds anīsī of anise caute carefully distillā distill
46.21 Dē concerning quantitāte quantity aquae of water sextārium pint ūnum one sūme take
46.22 Pūrgā cleanse vīrus poison dē from vulnere wound ante before medicāmen medication
46.23 Dē from mellē honey optimō best librās pounds trēs three miscē mix
46.24 Colligē collect rōrem dew dē from herbīs herbs prīmā at first lūce light
46.25 Dē about tempore time coquendī of cooking hōram hour dimidiam half exspectā wait
46.26 Servā preserve medicīnam medicine dē from lūce light remōtam removed
46.27 Dē from gummī gum Arabicō Arabic partem part aequālem equal adhibē apply
46.28 Fac make emplastrum plaster dē from cērā wax et and resīnā resin
46.29 Dē concerning ūsū use huius of this medicīnae medicine ter three times in in diē day
46.30 Dē from omnibus all hīs these rēbus things antidotum antidote efficāx effective cōnficitur is prepared
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46.16 Recipe dē floribus rosārum unciās duās. Take two ounces from rose flowers.
46.17 Dē rādīce glycyrrhīzae drachmam ūnam addē. Add one drachm from licorice root.
46.18 Extrahē succum dē foliīs recentibus mentae. Extract juice from fresh mint leaves.
46.19 Dē cortice cinnāmōmī pulverem parā. Prepare powder from cinnamon bark.
46.20 Oleum dē sēminibus anīsī caute distillā. Carefully distill oil from anise seeds.
46.21 Dē quantitāte aquae sextārium ūnum sūme. Take one pint concerning the quantity of water.
46.22 Pūrgā vīrus dē vulnere ante medicāmen. Cleanse poison from the wound before medication.
46.23 Dē mellē optimō librās trēs miscē. Mix three pounds of the best honey.
46.24 Colligē rōrem dē herbīs prīmā lūce. Collect dew from herbs at first light.
46.25 Dē tempore coquendī hōram dimidiam exspectā. Wait half an hour regarding cooking time.
46.26 Servā medicīnam dē lūce remōtam. Keep the medicine removed from light.
46.27 Dē gummī Arabicō partem aequālem adhibē. Apply an equal part of gum Arabic.
46.28 Fac emplastrum dē cērā et resīnā. Make a plaster from wax and resin.
46.29 Dē ūsū huius medicīnae ter in diē. Concerning the use of this medicine, three times a day.
46.30 Dē omnibus hīs rēbus antidotum efficāx cōnficitur. From all these things an effective antidote is prepared.
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46.16 Recipe dē floribus rosārum unciās duās.
46.17 Dē rādīce glycyrrhīzae drachmam ūnam addē.
46.18 Extrahē succum dē foliīs recentibus mentae.
46.19 Dē cortice cinnāmōmī pulverem parā.
46.20 Oleum dē sēminibus anīsī caute distillā.
46.21 Dē quantitāte aquae sextārium ūnum sūme.
46.22 Pūrgā vīrus dē vulnere ante medicāmen.
46.23 Dē mellē optimō librās trēs miscē.
46.24 Colligē rōrem dē herbīs prīmā lūce.
46.25 Dē tempore coquendī hōram dimidiam exspectā.
46.26 Servā medicīnam dē lūce remōtam.
46.27 Dē gummī Arabicō partem aequālem adhibē.
46.28 Fac emplastrum dē cērā et resīnā.
46.29 Dē ūsū huius medicīnae ter in diē.
46.30 Dē omnibus hīs rēbus antidotum efficāx cōnficitur.
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In medical recipes, dē serves several critical functions: -
Source of Ingredients (most common): -
dē floribus rosārum = from rose flowers -
dē cortice cinnāmōmī = from cinnamon bark -
Always indicates the botanical or material origin -
Concerning Measurements: -
dē quantitāte = concerning the quantity -
dē tempore = about the time -
Used to specify dosage and preparation details -
Separation or Removal: -
dē lūce remōtam = removed from light -
dē vulnere = from the wound -
Indicates what to keep away or remove
Imperative Verbs: Medical recipes use command forms -
recipe (take) -
addē (add) -
miscē (mix) -
servā (keep/preserve)
Measurement Terms in Ablative: -
unciās duās (accusative after recipe) -
librās trēs (accusative after miscē) -
BUT: dē mellē optimō (ablative after dē)
Word Order in Recipes: -
Verb often comes first (Recipe...) -
Source material follows dē -
Quantity comes last
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Recipe + dē + ablative + accusative quantity Example: Recipe dē floribus unciās duās -
Dē + ablative + accusative + verb Example: Dē rādīce drachmam addē -
Verb + object + dē + ablative Example: Extrahē succum dē foliīs
Measurements: -
uncia, -ae (f.) = ounce -
drachma, -ae (f.) = drachm -
libra, -ae (f.) = pound -
sextārius, -iī (m.) = pint -
pars, partis (f.) = part
Preparation Methods: -
distillāre = to distill -
coquere = to cook/boil -
miscēre = to mix -
extrahere = to extract -
cōnficere = to prepare/compound
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The Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course represents a comprehensive approach to Latin language acquisition developed specifically for autodidacts. Created by Evan der Millner BA MA (Cantab. NZ, London), who has been developing online language learning materials since 2006, these lessons employ the "construed text" method that has proven highly effective for self-directed learners.
Drawing from the pedagogical approach detailed at latinum.substack.com and latinum.org.uk, these lessons break down Latin texts into their smallest meaningful units, providing word-by-word glosses that allow students to see the direct correspondence between Latin and English. This granular approach, combined with natural Latin word order in later sections, helps students develop both analytical understanding and intuitive feel for the language.
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No Prior Knowledge Required: Each lesson starts from zero, assuming no previous Latin knowledge -
Progressive Complexity: Moving from interleaved text to full Latin passages -
Multiple Learning Angles: Grammar, culture, and authentic texts in each lesson -
Specialized Vocabulary: Focus on medical, pharmaceutical, and botanical Latin -
Historical Authenticity: Uses real Latin texts from medical authorities
Evan der Millner has dedicated nearly two decades to making Latin accessible to independent learners worldwide. The Latinum Institute's materials are used by: -
Medical and pharmaceutical students -
Herbalists and botanists -
Classical scholars -
Church Latin students -
Legal professionals
The Institute's innovative approach combines traditional philological rigor with modern pedagogical insights, creating materials that respect both the historical importance of Latin and the practical needs of contemporary learners.
For more resources and information, visit: -
latinum.substack.com (methodology and updates) -
latinum.org.uk (full course materials)
These lessons represent part of the Latinum Institute's ongoing mission to preserve and transmit Latin language skills to new generations of learners, ensuring this vital link to our medical, scientific, and cultural heritage remains accessible to all who wish to learn.
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