← Latin for Medics, Pharmacists and Herbalists
The Latin adjective multus, multa, multum means "much" with a singular noun and "many" with a plural one. English needs two words for this, but Latin has one: multus sanguis is "much blood", and multi aegri are "many patients". For the physician, the pharmacist and the herbalist this is a word of measure. It tells how much blood was lost, how much water the patient should drink, how many herbs grow in the bed and how many days the patient lay sick.
The word is an ordinary first-and-second-declension adjective, declined like bonus, bona, bonum. It also has three other uses which medical Latin needs constantly. The neuter multum stands as a noun with a genitive of the thing measured: multum sanguinis, "much (of) blood". Multum is also an adverb: multum ambulare, "to walk a great deal". The ablative multo, "by much", is used with comparatives: multo melius, "much better". Its comparative is irregular, plus, "more", and its superlative is plurimus, "most, very many".
English has borrowed the word in many forms. Multi- gives us multiple, multitude, multifocal, multilocular and multipara. Plus and plurimus give us plus, plural and pluripotent. The Romance languages have kept the adjective: Italian molto, Spanish mucho.
FAQ: What does multus mean in medical Latin? Answer: Multus means "much" or "many". With a singular noun it gives a quantity (multa aqua, much water); with a plural noun it gives a number (multae herbae, many herbs). The neuter multum with a genitive means "a great deal of" (multum sanguinis). As an adverb, multum means "a great deal" and multo means "by far" with a comparative (multo melius, much better). Its comparative is plus, "more", and its superlative is plurimus, "most".
- Multus, multa, multum = much (singular), many (plural); it agrees with its noun like bonus. - Multum + genitive = "a great deal of": multum sanguinis, multum olei. - Multum (adverb) = "much, a great deal"; multo + comparative = "much ...-er". - Comparison is irregular: multus → plus (plures) → plurimus. - Celsus writes multum ambulandum for his patients: "there must be much walking".
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multus /ˈmul.tus/: two short syllables, stress on the first. The l comes before a consonant, so it is a "dark" l, as in English bulk. The ecclesiastical pronunciation is the same.
The case endings differ in vowel length, and you hear the difference: multă (nominative feminine, short) /ˈmul.ta/ against multā (ablative, long) /ˈmul.taː/; multī /ˈmul.tiː/, multō /ˈmul.toː/, multōs /ˈmul.toːs/, multās /ˈmul.taːs/, multīs /ˈmul.tiːs/.
plūs /pluːs/ and plūrimus /ˈpluː.ri.mus/ have a long ū.
The Latin text in this lesson is written without macrons, as the course has been. The long vowels are shown in the IPA (ː).
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87.1a Multus much sanguis blood fluit flows
87.1b Multus /ˈmul.tus/ much.NOM.M.SG sanguis /ˈsan.ɡʷis/ blood.NOM.M.SG fluit /ˈflu.it/ flows.3SG.PRES
87.2a Aeger sick-man multam much aquam water bibit drinks
87.2b Aeger /ˈae̯.ɡer/ sick-man.NOM.M.SG multam /ˈmul.tam/ much.ACC.F.SG aquam /ˈa.kʷam/ water.ACC.F.SG bibit /ˈbi.bit/ drinks.3SG.PRES
87.3a Multae many herbae herbs sanant heal
87.3b Multae /ˈmul.tae̯/ many.NOM.F.PL herbae /ˈher.bae̯/ herbs.NOM.F.PL sanant /ˈsaː.nant/ heal.3PL.PRES
87.4a Medicus physician multum much laborat works
87.4b Medicus /ˈme.di.kus/ physician.NOM.M.SG multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ADV laborat /laˈboː.rat/ works.3SG.PRES
87.5a Multi many aegri sick-people veniunt come
87.5b Multi /ˈmul.tiː/ many.NOM.M.PL aegri /ˈae̯.ɡriː/ sick-people.NOM.M.PL veniunt /ˈwe.ni.unt/ come.3PL.PRES
87.6a In in horto garden multae many herbae herbs utiles useful crescunt grow
87.6b In /in/ in horto /ˈhor.toː/ garden.ABL.M.SG multae /ˈmul.tae̯/ many.NOM.F.PL herbae /ˈher.bae̯/ herbs.NOM.F.PL utiles /ˈuː.ti.leːs/ useful.NOM.F.PL crescunt /ˈkreːs.kunt/ grow.3PL.PRES
87.7a Multum much sanguinis of-blood ex out-of vulnere wound manavit flowed
87.7b Multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.NOM.N.SG sanguinis /ˈsan.ɡʷi.nis/ of-blood.GEN.M.SG ex /eks/ out-of vulnere /ˈwul.ne.re/ wound.ABL.N.SG manavit /maːˈnaː.wit/ flowed.3SG.PERF
87.8a Pharmacopola pharmacist multas many radices roots in in umbra shade siccat dries
87.8b Pharmacopola /pʰar.ma.koˈpoː.la/ pharmacist.NOM.M.SG multas /ˈmul.taːs/ many.ACC.F.PL radices /raːˈdiː.keːs/ roots.ACC.F.PL in /in/ in umbra /ˈum.braː/ shade.ABL.F.SG siccat /ˈsik.kat/ dries.3SG.PRES
87.9a Post after febrem fever aeger sick-man multo by-much melius better se himself habet has
87.9b Post /post/ after febrem /ˈfe.brem/ fever.ACC.F.SG aeger /ˈae̯.ɡer/ sick-man.NOM.M.SG multo /ˈmul.toː/ by-much.ABL.N.SG melius /ˈme.li.us/ better.ADV.COMP se /seː/ himself.ACC habet /ˈha.bet/ has.3SG.PRES
87.10a Medicus physician aegro to-sick-man multam much ambulationem walking praecipit prescribes
87.10b Medicus /ˈme.di.kus/ physician.NOM.M.SG aegro /ˈae̯.ɡroː/ to-sick-man.DAT.M.SG multam /ˈmul.tam/ much.ACC.F.SG ambulationem /am.bu.laː.tiˈoː.nem/ walking.ACC.F.SG praecipit /ˈprae̯.ki.pit/ prescribes.3SG.PRES
87.11a Qui who multum much vini of-wine bibit drinks saepe often capitis of-head dolore pain laborat suffers
87.11b Qui /kʷiː/ who.NOM.M.SG multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ACC.N.SG vini /ˈwiː.niː/ of-wine.GEN.N.SG bibit /ˈbi.bit/ drinks.3SG.PRES saepe /ˈsae̯.pe/ often capitis /ˈka.pi.tis/ of-head.GEN.N.SG dolore /doˈloː.re/ pain.ABL.M.SG laborat /laˈboː.rat/ suffers.3SG.PRES
87.12a Multis many diebus days post later cicatrix scar vulneris of-wound vix scarcely apparebat was-visible
87.12b Multis /ˈmul.tiːs/ many.ABL.M.PL diebus /diˈeː.bus/ days.ABL.M.PL post /post/ later.ADV cicatrix /kiˈkaː.triks/ scar.NOM.F.SG vulneris /ˈwul.ne.ris/ of-wound.GEN.N.SG vix /wiks/ scarcely apparebat /ap.paːˈreː.bat/ was-visible.3SG.IMPERF
87.13a Herbarius herbalist qui who multa many-things de about plantis plants legerat had-read novam new radicem root statim at-once agnovit recognised
87.13b Herbarius /herˈbaː.ri.us/ herbalist.NOM.M.SG qui /kʷiː/ who.NOM.M.SG multa /ˈmul.ta/ many-things.ACC.N.PL de /deː/ about plantis /ˈplan.tiːs/ plants.ABL.F.PL legerat /ˈleː.ɡe.rat/ had-read.3SG.PLUPERF novam /ˈno.wam/ new.ACC.F.SG radicem /raːˈdiː.kem/ root.ACC.F.SG statim /ˈsta.tim/ at-once agnovit /aɡˈnoː.wit/ recognised.3SG.PERF
87.14a Quo by-which plus more aquae of-water calidae hot aeger sick-man bibit drinks eo by-that facilius more-easily sudat sweats
87.14b Quo /kʷoː/ by-which.ABL.N.SG plus /pluːs/ more.ACC.N.SG.COMP aquae /ˈa.kʷae̯/ of-water.GEN.F.SG calidae /ˈka.li.dae̯/ hot.GEN.F.SG aeger /ˈae̯.ɡer/ sick-man.NOM.M.SG bibit /ˈbi.bit/ drinks.3SG.PRES eo /ˈe.oː/ by-that.ABL.N.SG facilius /faˈki.li.us/ more-easily.ADV.COMP sudat /ˈsuː.dat/ sweats.3SG.PRES
87.15a Multum much ambulandum to-be-walked currendum to-be-run aliquid somewhat est is superiores upper maxime especially partes parts sic so perfricandae to-be-rubbed ut that spiritum breath ipsum itself contineat he-may-hold
87.15b Multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ADV ambulandum /am.buˈlan.dum/ to-be-walked.GERUNDIVE.N.SG currendum /kurˈren.dum/ to-be-run.GERUNDIVE.N.SG aliquid /ˈa.li.kʷid/ somewhat.ACC.N.SG est /est/ is.3SG.PRES superiores /su.pe.riˈoː.reːs/ upper.NOM.F.PL.COMP maxime /ˈmak.si.meː/ especially partes /ˈpar.teːs/ parts.NOM.F.PL sic /siːk/ so perfricandae /per.friˈkan.dae̯/ to-be-rubbed.GERUNDIVE.NOM.F.PL ut /ut/ that spiritum /ˈspiː.ri.tum/ breath.ACC.M.SG ipsum /ˈip.sum/ itself.ACC.M.SG contineat /konˈti.ne.at/ he-may-hold.3SG.PRES.SUBJ
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87.1 Multus sanguis fluit. → "A great deal of blood is flowing."
87.2 Aeger multam aquam bibit. → "The patient drinks a lot of water."
87.3 Multae herbae sanant. → "Many herbs heal."
87.4 Medicus multum laborat. → "The physician works hard."
87.5 Multi aegri veniunt. → "Many patients are coming."
87.6 In horto multae herbae utiles crescunt. → "Many useful herbs grow in the garden."
87.7 Multum sanguinis ex vulnere manavit. → "A great deal of blood flowed from the wound."
87.8 Pharmacopola multas radices in umbra siccat. → "The pharmacist dries many roots in the shade."
87.9 Post febrem aeger multo melius se habet. → "After the fever the patient is much better."
87.10 Medicus aegro multam ambulationem praecipit. → "The physician prescribes plenty of walking for the patient."
87.11 Qui multum vini bibit, saepe capitis dolore laborat. → "Whoever drinks a lot of wine often suffers from headache."
87.12 Multis diebus post, cicatrix vulneris vix apparebat. → "Many days later the scar of the wound could scarcely be seen."
87.13 Herbarius, qui multa de plantis legerat, novam radicem statim agnovit. → "The herbalist, who had read a great deal about plants, recognised the new root at once."
87.14 Quo plus aquae calidae aeger bibit, eo facilius sudat. → "The more hot water the patient drinks, the more easily he sweats."
87.15 Multum ambulandum, currendum aliquid est, superiores maxime partes sic perfricandae, ut spiritum ipsum contineat. → "He must walk a great deal and do some running; the upper parts especially are to be rubbed, and in such a way that he holds his breath." (Celsus, De Medicina 3.21, on dropsy)
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87.1 Multus sanguis fluit.
87.2 Aeger multam aquam bibit.
87.3 Multae herbae sanant.
87.4 Medicus multum laborat.
87.5 Multi aegri veniunt.
87.6 In horto multae herbae utiles crescunt.
87.7 Multum sanguinis ex vulnere manavit.
87.8 Pharmacopola multas radices in umbra siccat.
87.9 Post febrem aeger multo melius se habet.
87.10 Medicus aegro multam ambulationem praecipit.
87.11 Qui multum vini bibit, saepe capitis dolore laborat.
87.12 Multis diebus post, cicatrix vulneris vix apparebat.
87.13 Herbarius, qui multa de plantis legerat, novam radicem statim agnovit.
87.14 Quo plus aquae calidae aeger bibit, eo facilius sudat.
87.15 Multum ambulandum, currendum aliquid est, superiores maxime partes sic perfricandae, ut spiritum ipsum contineat.
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These are the grammar rules for multus in Latin:
1. Declension. Multus is declined like bonus, bona, bonum (first and second declension). Vowel length is shown here, though the lesson's Latin text is written without macrons.
Singular, masculine / feminine / neuter: - Nominative: multus / multa / multum - Genitive: multī / multae / multī - Dative: multō / multae / multō - Accusative: multum / multam / multum - Ablative: multō / multā / multō
Plural, masculine / feminine / neuter: - Nominative: multī / multae / multa - Genitive: multōrum / multārum / multōrum - Dative and Ablative: multīs (all genders) - Accusative: multōs / multās / multa
2. Agreement: "much" or "many". In the singular, with a mass noun, multus gives a quantity: multus sanguis (87.1), multam aquam (87.2), multa salvia (87.17). In the plural, with a count noun, it gives a number: multae herbae (87.3), multi aegri (87.5), multas radices (87.8). The word always agrees in gender, number and case: multis morbis (dative, 87.18), multis diebus (ablative, 87.12).
3. The neuter as a noun. The neuter multum stands as a noun with a partitive genitive of the substance measured: multum sanguinis (87.7), multum vini (87.11), multum olei (87.24). This is the regular way to say "a lot of" a substance, and you will meet it constantly in recipes. The neuter plural multa means "many things": qui multa de plantis legerat (87.13).
4. The adverbs. - multum, "much, a great deal", with verbs: multum laborat (87.4), multum ambulandum (87.15), multum interest, "it makes a great difference" (87.30). - multō, "by much", the ablative of degree of difference, with comparatives: multo melius (87.9), multo utilius (87.25). Classical prose prefers multo, not multum, before a comparative. - multīs diēbus post, "many days later" (87.12): the same ablative of degree, with post used as an adverb.
5. Comparison (irregular). - Positive: multus — much, many - Comparative: singular plūs, a neuter noun (genitive plūris), "more", which takes a partitive genitive: plus aquae (87.14), "more water". Plural plūrēs, plūra (genitive plūrium), "more, several", an ordinary adjective: plures herbae. - Superlative: plūrimus, -a, -um — most, very many: plurimae herbae (87.26). - Adverbs: multum → plūs → plūrimum.
In the singular, plus is a noun: say plus aquae ("more of water"), never ~~plus aqua~~. In 87.28 it is the object of scit: plus de herbis scit, "he knows more about herbs".
6. Correlative comparison. Quo plus ..., eo ... means "the more ..., the more ..." (87.14). Here quo and eo are ablatives of degree of difference, "by how much ... by so much".
Common Mistakes - "Very" is not multus. "Very useful" is utilissimus or valde utilis. Multo utilior means "much more useful". - Plus with an ablative. English "more water" leads learners to write ~~plus aqua~~. Latin says plus aquae (genitive). - Plural count, singular mass. "Many herbs" is multae herbae, but "much sage" (a crop or a quantity) is multa salvia. Do not make a mass noun plural because English says "a lot of". - multa or multā? Multa with a short a is either feminine nominative singular (multa ruta, 87.19) or neuter plural (multa fericula, F.2). Multā with a long a is feminine ablative (multa ... quassatione, F.1). Read the noun before you decide. - multum or multo? Use multum with verbs and multo with comparatives.
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Frequency and register. Multus is one of the commonest adjectives in Latin and belongs to every register. In technical prose it does the plain work of measurement, and the medical writers use it in three ways. They give quantities with the partitive genitive (multum sanguinis). They prescribe in the adverb (multum ambulare). They compare with multo (multo melius).
Celsus and the regimen of exercise. In Celsus's De Medicina (first century AD), much of the treatment is regimen, not drugs: walking, running, rubbing, sweating, a measured diet. The sentence used as 87.15 comes from his chapter on dropsy (De hydropicis, 3.21). It opens Multum ambulandum, currendum aliquid est, "there must be much walking and some running", and goes on to prescribe sweating, in hot sand or in the dry sweating baths. The gerundive with est (ambulandum est) is how Celsus gives an instruction without addressing anyone. Paired with multum, it gives the dose of exercise as precisely as a recipe gives grains.
Seneca on many dishes. In his 95th letter to Lucilius, Seneca blames the many diseases of his own day on the many dishes of the rich man's table. His sentence multos morbos multa fericula fecerunt (Section F) sets the same adjective twice, once in each half: many dishes, many diseases.
Multum, non multa. Pliny the Younger (Epistulae 7.9.15) gives the advice aiunt enim multum legendum esse, non multa, "for they say that one should read much, not many things". The saying turns on the difference between the singular and the plural taught in this lesson. Multum is the depth of reading and multa is the number of books. Medical students have always had reason to remember it.
In modern medical vocabulary. Multi- is everywhere in clinical English: multiple sclerosis, multifocal, multilocular, multipara (a woman who has given birth more than once), multidisciplinary. Plus and plurimus give plural, pluri- and pluripotent (a stem cell able to become many kinds of cell).
The infirmary garden. Medieval monasteries kept an infirmary with a garden of medicinal herbs beside it. The genre section below describes such a garden, using the constructions of this lesson: multa salvia, multum olei rosacei, plurimae herbae. It is a pedagogical text composed for this lesson, not a quotation from any herbal.
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Source: Lucius Annaeus Seneca, Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium 95.17–18. Text as printed by the Monumenta edition of the letters (monumenta.ch). The first sentence closes Seneca's list of the diseases of luxury, so its opening words depend on a verb in the sentences before it, which are not quoted here.
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
F.1a Innumerabilia countless praeterea besides febrium of-fevers genera kinds aliarum of-some impetu with-onset saevientium raging aliarum of-others tenui slight peste with-bane repentium creeping aliarum of-others cum with horrore shivering et and multa much membrorum of-limbs quassatione shaking venientium coming
F.1b Innumerabilia /in.nu.me.raːˈbi.li.a/ countless.N.PL praeterea /prae̯ˈte.re.aː/ besides febrium /ˈfe.bri.um/ of-fevers.GEN.F.PL genera /ˈɡe.ne.ra/ kinds.N.PL aliarum /a.liˈaː.rum/ of-some.GEN.F.PL impetu /ˈim.pe.tuː/ onset.ABL.M.SG saevientium /sae̯.wiˈen.ti.um/ raging.PRES.PTCP.GEN.F.PL aliarum /a.liˈaː.rum/ of-others.GEN.F.PL tenui /ˈte.nu.iː/ slight.ABL.F.SG peste /ˈpes.te/ bane.ABL.F.SG repentium /reːˈpen.ti.um/ creeping.PRES.PTCP.GEN.F.PL aliarum /a.liˈaː.rum/ of-others.GEN.F.PL cum /kum/ with horrore /horˈroː.re/ shivering.ABL.M.SG et /et/ and multa /ˈmul.taː/ much.ABL.F.SG membrorum /memˈbroː.rum/ of-limbs.GEN.N.PL quassatione /kʷas.saː.tiˈoː.ne/ shaking.ABL.F.SG venientium /we.niˈen.ti.um/ coming.PRES.PTCP.GEN.F.PL
F.2a Simplex simple erat was ex from causa cause simplici simple valetudo health multos many morbos diseases multa many fericula dishes fecerunt have-made
F.2b Simplex /ˈsim.pleks/ simple.NOM.F.SG erat /ˈe.rat/ was.3SG.IMPERF ex /eks/ from causa /ˈkau̯.saː/ cause.ABL.F.SG simplici /ˈsim.pli.kiː/ simple.ABL.F.SG valetudo /wa.leːˈtuː.doː/ health.NOM.F.SG multos /ˈmul.toːs/ many.ACC.M.PL morbos /ˈmor.boːs/ diseases.ACC.M.PL multa /ˈmul.ta/ many.NOM.N.PL fericula /feˈri.ku.la/ dishes.NOM.N.PL fecerunt /feːˈkeː.runt/ have-made.3PL.PERF
F-B: Original and Translation
"Innumerabilia praeterea febrium genera, aliarum impetu saevientium, aliarum tenui peste repentium, aliarum cum horrore et multa membrorum quassatione venientium? Simplex erat ex causa simplici valetudo: multos morbos multa fericula fecerunt."
→ "And besides, the countless kinds of fever, some raging in a violent onset, some creeping on as a slight sickness, some coming with shivering and much shaking of the limbs? Health was simple when its cause was simple: many dishes have made many diseases."
F-C: Original Only
Innumerabilia praeterea febrium genera, aliarum impetu saevientium, aliarum tenui peste repentium, aliarum cum horrore et multa membrorum quassatione venientium? Simplex erat ex causa simplici valetudo: multos morbos multa fericula fecerunt.
F-D: Grammar and Literary Commentary
- multa membrorum quassatione: multā is feminine ablative singular, agreeing with quassatione. It is a mass use, "much shaking", and the limbs are in the genitive (membrorum). This is the rigor of a fever, described as a quantity. - multos morbos multa fericula: two plurals, one accusative masculine (multos morbos, the object) and one nominative neuter (multa fericula, the subject). Latin can put the object first, and Seneca does so to set the two multi side by side. The word order gives the argument: many dishes, many diseases. - Simplex ... simplici: Seneca uses the same rhetorical figure as in multos ... multa, a word repeated in another case. Health was single because its cause was single. Disease is many because the dishes are many. - aliarum ... aliarum ... aliarum: "some ... others ... others", genitive plural feminine, agreeing with the fevers (febrium, from febris, feminine). The three present participles in the genitive (saevientium, repentium, venientium) describe three kinds of fever: sudden, insidious and shivering. - fericula: the text we followed prints fericula. The word is better known as ferculum, "a dish, a course", and some printings of this line have fercula. - genera: neuter plural. Its case depends on the verb in the preceding sentences, which are not quoted, so it is glossed here without a case.
Seneca was a Stoic moralist, not a physician. But his argument is the dietetic one which Celsus also makes: disease follows from how one lives, and the excess is in the plural.
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A description of a monastery's infirmary garden, in fifteen sentences. It is a pedagogical text composed for this lesson; sentence 87.30 echoes the medical commonplace that the place of recovery matters, but it is not a quotation.
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
87.16a Prope near infirmariam infirmary est is hortus garden parvus small sed but multis many herbis herbs plenus full
87.16b Prope /ˈpro.pe/ near infirmariam /in.firˈmaː.ri.am/ infirmary.ACC.F.SG est /est/ is.3SG.PRES hortus /ˈhor.tus/ garden.NOM.M.SG parvus /ˈpar.wus/ small.NOM.M.SG sed /sed/ but multis /ˈmul.tiːs/ many.ABL.F.PL herbis /ˈher.biːs/ herbs.ABL.F.PL plenus /ˈpleː.nus/ full.NOM.M.SG
87.17a In in prima first areola bed multa much salvia sage crescit grows
87.17b In /in/ in prima /ˈpriː.maː/ first.ABL.F.SG areola /aːˈre.o.laː/ bed.ABL.F.SG multa /ˈmul.ta/ much.NOM.F.SG salvia /ˈsal.wi.a/ sage.NOM.F.SG crescit /ˈkreːs.kit/ grows.3SG.PRES
87.18a Salvia sage multis many morbis diseases medetur heals
87.18b Salvia /ˈsal.wi.a/ sage.NOM.F.SG multis /ˈmul.tiːs/ many.DAT.M.PL morbis /ˈmor.biːs/ diseases.DAT.M.PL medetur /meˈdeː.tur/ heals.3SG.PRES.DEP
87.19a Iuxta next-to salviam sage est is multa much ruta rue cuius whose odor smell gravis strong est is
87.19b Iuxta /ˈiuk.staː/ next-to salviam /ˈsal.wi.am/ sage.ACC.F.SG est /est/ is.3SG.PRES multa /ˈmul.ta/ much.NOM.F.SG ruta /ˈruː.ta/ rue.NOM.F.SG cuius /ˈkui̯.ius/ whose.GEN.F.SG odor /ˈo.dor/ smell.NOM.M.SG gravis /ˈɡra.wis/ strong.NOM.M.SG est /est/ is.3SG.PRES
87.20a Rutam rue autem but aegris to-sick-people non not multam much dare to-give oportet it-is-proper
87.20b Rutam /ˈruː.tam/ rue.ACC.F.SG autem /ˈau̯.tem/ but aegris /ˈae̯.ɡriːs/ to-sick-people.DAT.M.PL non /noːn/ not multam /ˈmul.tam/ much.ACC.F.SG dare /ˈda.re/ to-give.INF oportet /oˈpor.tet/ it-is-proper.3SG.IMPERS
87.21a In in medio middle horto garden est is puteus well unde from-where multam much aquam water haurimus we-draw
87.21b In /in/ in medio /ˈme.di.oː/ middle.ABL.M.SG horto /ˈhor.toː/ garden.ABL.M.SG est /est/ is.3SG.PRES puteus /ˈpu.te.us/ well.NOM.M.SG unde /ˈun.de/ from-where multam /ˈmul.tam/ much.ACC.F.SG aquam /ˈa.kʷam/ water.ACC.F.SG haurimus /hau̯ˈriː.mus/ we-draw.1PL.PRES
87.22a Hortulanus gardener multum much laborat works nam for herbae herbs multam much curam care postulant demand
87.22b Hortulanus /hor.tuˈlaː.nus/ gardener.NOM.M.SG multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ADV laborat /laˈboː.rat/ works.3SG.PRES nam /nam/ for herbae /ˈher.bae̯/ herbs.NOM.F.PL multam /ˈmul.tam/ much.ACC.F.SG curam /ˈkuː.ram/ care.ACC.F.SG postulant /ˈpos.tu.lant/ demand.3PL.PRES
87.23a Aestate in-summer multi many flores flowers apparent appear rosae roses lilia lilies violae violets
87.23b Aestate /ae̯sˈtaː.te/ summer.ABL.F.SG multi /ˈmul.tiː/ many.NOM.M.PL flores /ˈfloː.reːs/ flowers.NOM.M.PL apparent /apˈpaː.rent/ appear.3PL.PRES rosae /ˈro.sae̯/ roses.NOM.F.PL lilia /ˈliː.li.a/ lilies.NOM.N.PL violae /ˈwi.o.lae̯/ violets.NOM.F.PL
87.24a Ex from rosis roses multum much olei of-oil rosacei of-rose paratur is-prepared
87.24b Ex /eks/ from rosis /ˈro.siːs/ roses.ABL.F.PL multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.NOM.N.SG olei /ˈo.le.iː/ of-oil.GEN.N.SG rosacei /roˈsaː.ke.iː/ of-rose.ADJ.GEN.N.SG paratur /paˈraː.tur/ is-prepared.3SG.PRES.PASS
87.25a Hoc this oleum oil multo by-much utilius more-useful est is quam than unguenta ointments peregrina foreign
87.25b Hoc /hok/ this.NOM.N.SG oleum /ˈo.le.um/ oil.NOM.N.SG multo /ˈmul.toː/ by-much.ABL.N.SG utilius /uːˈti.li.us/ more-useful.NOM.N.SG.COMP est /est/ is.3SG.PRES quam /kʷam/ than unguenta /unˈɡʷen.ta/ ointments.NOM.N.PL peregrina /pe.reˈɡriː.na/ foreign.NOM.N.PL
87.26a Plurimae most herbae herbs in in umbra shade siccantur are-dried paucae few in in sole sun
87.26b Plurimae /ˈpluː.ri.mae̯/ most.NOM.F.PL.SUPERL herbae /ˈher.bae̯/ herbs.NOM.F.PL in /in/ in umbra /ˈum.braː/ shade.ABL.F.SG siccantur /sikˈkan.tur/ are-dried.3PL.PRES.PASS paucae /ˈpau̯.kae̯/ few.NOM.F.PL in /in/ in sole /ˈsoː.le/ sun.ABL.M.SG
87.27a Frater brother infirmarius infirmarian multos many annos years in in hoc this horto garden vixit has-lived
87.27b Frater /ˈfraː.ter/ brother.NOM.M.SG infirmarius /in.firˈmaː.ri.us/ infirmarian.NOM.M.SG multos /ˈmul.toːs/ many.ACC.M.PL annos /ˈan.noːs/ years.ACC.M.PL in /in/ in hoc /hoːk/ this.ABL.M.SG horto /ˈhor.toː/ garden.ABL.M.SG vixit /ˈwiːk.sit/ has-lived.3SG.PERF
87.28a Plus more de about herbis herbs scit knows quam than multi many medici physicians urbani of-the-city
87.28b Plus /pluːs/ more.ACC.N.SG.COMP de /deː/ about herbis /ˈher.biːs/ herbs.ABL.F.PL scit /skit/ knows.3SG.PRES quam /kʷam/ than multi /ˈmul.tiː/ many.NOM.M.PL medici /ˈme.di.kiː/ physicians.NOM.M.PL urbani /urˈbaː.niː/ of-the-city.NOM.M.PL
87.29a Aegri sick-people qui who multos many dies days in in lecto bed iacuerunt have-lain hic here sedent sit et and aerem air purum pure spirant breathe
87.29b Aegri /ˈae̯.ɡriː/ sick-people.NOM.M.PL qui /kʷiː/ who.NOM.M.PL multos /ˈmul.toːs/ many.ACC.M.PL dies /ˈdi.eːs/ days.ACC.M.PL in /in/ in lecto /ˈlek.toː/ bed.ABL.M.SG iacuerunt /ia.kuˈeː.runt/ have-lain.3PL.PERF hic /hiːk/ here sedent /ˈse.dent/ sit.3PL.PRES et /et/ and aerem /ˈaː.e.rem/ air.ACC.M.SG purum /ˈpuː.rum/ pure.ACC.M.SG spirant /ˈspiː.rant/ breathe.3PL.PRES
87.30a Nam for multum much interest it-matters quo which loco place aeger sick-man convalescat recovers ut as antiqui ancient medici physicians docuerunt taught
87.30b Nam /nam/ for multum /ˈmul.tum/ much.ADV interest /ˈin.te.rest/ it-matters.3SG.IMPERS quo /kʷoː/ which.ABL.M.SG loco /ˈlo.koː/ place.ABL.M.SG aeger /ˈae̯.ɡer/ sick-man.NOM.M.SG convalescat /kon.waˈles.kat/ recovers.3SG.PRES.SUBJ ut /ut/ as antiqui /anˈtiː.kʷiː/ ancient.NOM.M.PL medici /ˈme.di.kiː/ physicians.NOM.M.PL docuerunt /do.kuˈeː.runt/ taught.3PL.PERF
Part B: Natural Sentences
87.16 Prope infirmariam est hortus parvus, sed multis herbis plenus. → "Near the infirmary there is a garden, small but full of many herbs."
87.17 In prima areola multa salvia crescit. → "In the first bed a great deal of sage is growing."
87.18 Salvia multis morbis medetur. → "Sage is a remedy for many diseases."
87.19 Iuxta salviam est multa ruta, cuius odor gravis est. → "Next to the sage there is plenty of rue, which has a strong smell."
87.20 Rutam autem aegris non multam dare oportet. → "But rue should not be given to the sick in large amounts."
87.21 In medio horto est puteus, unde multam aquam haurimus. → "In the middle of the garden is a well, from which we draw plenty of water."
87.22 Hortulanus multum laborat, nam herbae multam curam postulant. → "The gardener works hard, for herbs need a great deal of care."
87.23 Aestate multi flores apparent: rosae, lilia, violae. → "In summer many flowers appear: roses, lilies, violets."
87.24 Ex rosis multum olei rosacei paratur. → "A good deal of rose oil is made from the roses."
87.25 Hoc oleum multo utilius est quam unguenta peregrina. → "This oil is much more useful than foreign ointments."
87.26 Plurimae herbae in umbra siccantur, paucae in sole. → "Most herbs are dried in the shade, few in the sun."
87.27 Frater infirmarius multos annos in hoc horto vixit. → "The infirmarian brother has lived many years in this garden."
87.28 Plus de herbis scit quam multi medici urbani. → "He knows more about herbs than many physicians in the city."
87.29 Aegri, qui multos dies in lecto iacuerunt, hic sedent et aerem purum spirant. → "Patients who have lain in bed for many days sit here and breathe the clean air."
87.30 Nam multum interest quo loco aeger convalescat, ut antiqui medici docuerunt. → "For it makes a great difference where a patient recovers, as the physicians of old taught."
Part C: Latin Text Only
87.16 Prope infirmariam est hortus parvus, sed multis herbis plenus.
87.17 In prima areola multa salvia crescit.
87.18 Salvia multis morbis medetur.
87.19 Iuxta salviam est multa ruta, cuius odor gravis est.
87.20 Rutam autem aegris non multam dare oportet.
87.21 In medio horto est puteus, unde multam aquam haurimus.
87.22 Hortulanus multum laborat, nam herbae multam curam postulant.
87.23 Aestate multi flores apparent: rosae, lilia, violae.
87.24 Ex rosis multum olei rosacei paratur.
87.25 Hoc oleum multo utilius est quam unguenta peregrina.
87.26 Plurimae herbae in umbra siccantur, paucae in sole.
87.27 Frater infirmarius multos annos in hoc horto vixit.
87.28 Plus de herbis scit quam multi medici urbani.
87.29 Aegri, qui multos dies in lecto iacuerunt, hic sedent et aerem purum spirant.
87.30 Nam multum interest quo loco aeger convalescat, ut antiqui medici docuerunt.
Part D: Grammar Notes
- Every use of multus in one garden. The adjective is singular (multa salvia, 87.17; multa ruta, 87.19; multam aquam, 87.21; multam curam, 87.22) and plural (multis herbis, 87.16; multis morbis, 87.18; multi flores, 87.23; multos annos, 87.27; multi medici, 87.28; multos dies, 87.29). There is the neuter noun with the genitive (multum olei rosacei, 87.24), the adverb (multum laborat, 87.22; multum interest, 87.30), the ablative of degree (multo utilius, 87.25), the comparative (plus, 87.28) and the superlative (plurimae, 87.26). - plenus + ablative (87.16): multis herbis plenus, "full of many herbs". Plenus also takes the genitive. - medeor + dative (87.18): multis morbis medetur. Medeor is a deponent verb, passive in form and active in meaning, and it takes the dative of what is healed. - non multam (87.20): the negative goes before the adjective it limits. "Not much rue" is a warning about the dose. - Accusative of extent of time (87.27, 87.29): multos annos, multos dies, "for many years, for many days", with no preposition. - Indirect question (87.30): quo loco aeger convalescat, with the subjunctive, depends on interest. Multum interest is an idiom: "it matters greatly". - Medieval vocabulary. Infirmaria (infirmary) and infirmarius (the brother in charge of it) are words of the monasteries, not of classical Latin. Hortulanus (gardener) is a late Latin word; the Vulgate uses it in John 20:15. Oleum rosaceum (rose oil) is a classical term.
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- multus /ˈmul.tus/. The stress always falls on mul- in the two-syllable forms. In multōrum /mulˈtoː.rum/ and multārum /mulˈtaː.rum/ the long penult takes the stress. - Length tells the case. multa /ˈmul.ta/ (nominative feminine singular; neuter plural) against multā /ˈmul.taː/ (ablative feminine singular). multī (genitive singular or nominative plural) and multō (dative or ablative singular) end in long vowels. - plūs, plūrēs, plūrimus: long ū throughout, /pluːs/, /ˈpluː.reːs/, /ˈpluː.ri.mus/. - v is pronounced /w/ and c is always /k/ in the classical pronunciation used here: vini /ˈwiː.niː/, cicatrix /kiˈkaː.triks/. In the ecclesiastical pronunciation, c before e or i is /tʃ/ (cicatrix /tʃiˈka.triks/) and v is /v/. - ae is a diphthong /ae̯/ in the classical pronunciation (aeger /ˈae̯.ɡer/) and /e/ in the ecclesiastical. - Greek words keep their aspirate in careful classical speech: pharmacopola /pʰar.ma.koˈpoː.la/. - Spelling. The text is printed without macrons, as in the rest of the course. Valetudo is the classical spelling, also written valitudo. Seneca's fericula is spelled as in the edition followed (see Section F).
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