HOW TO USE A LATIN DICTIONARY

OBJECTIVES I can:

Find a simple word in the assigned Latin dictionary Compare using Whitaker’s Words to Cassell’s Latin Dictionary Find a word using principal parts Determine the part of speech for a word Use the dictionary listing to infer the following

Declension or conjugation Verb tense Gender Special grammatical irregularities Usage by specific authors bases

WHITAKER’S WORDS HTTP://ARCHIVES.ND.EDU/WORDS.HTML Pros

Quick and easy for digital natives

Gives lots of information Part of speech Gender Principal parts Tense and voice Case and number

WHY NOT WHITAKER? Just a few key strokes to an on-line translator and a failing grade and

severely ticked off teacher

Does have errors

Most importantly, you can’t use it on the IB test but you can use Cassell’s Latin Dictionary. The more familiar you are with using that dictionary, the easier it will be for you

to do well on your test Your goal and CMS’ expectation as well is for you to score well not just in class

but on that test

HOW NOT TO USE THE LATIN DICTIONARY Obviously, not every variation ( declined nouns, adjectives, and pronouns

or conjugated verbs) will be listed. Otherwise, this gentleman might only being carrying ten to twenty words worth of the dictionary.

MRS. EAGLE, THIS WORD ISN’T IN THE DICTIONARY!

DICTIONARY FORMATTING Cassell’s Latin Dictionary has a specific format to limit the size and

number of entries per word ( and confused the uninitiated). Nouns are listed as:

Nominative singular, genitive singular gender definitions E.g. Vir, viri m. man From the genitive singular, you can deduce the declension (ae=1, i=2, is=3, us=4, ei=5) Sometimes the listing will say “pl” meaning that word can only exist in the plural form

Adjectives and pronouns are listed as: Masculine nominative singular, feminine nominative singular, neuter nominative singular E.g. Troianus. Troiana, Troianum Trojan From the listing you can determine the declension:

-us, -a, -um or -er, -a, -um first/second declension 2-1-2 -er, -is, -e or -is, -e or something different, -is 3rd

VERBS FORMATTING Verbs are listed usually in four principal parts:

1st person singular present tense (o) Present infinitive (re) 1st person singular perfect tense (i) Perfect passive participle/supine (us/um)

E.g. Scribo, scriber, scripsi, sciptum

If a verb is first conjugations (are), Cassell’s will only give the first two parts and assumes you know that the third will be –avi and the fourth will be -atum

Deponent verbs are listed in three forms, all passive and follow the –r, -i,-us sum pattern

E.g. Sequor, sequi, secutus sum to follow

Verbs that take special cases will usually include phrases such as “with genitive” or “with dative”

E.g. Credo, credere, credidi creditum with dative to belive, to trust

Some adjectives and nouns can also require special cases and will be noted like the verbs

The definition of a verb is given in the infinitive form such as “to sail” ; this does not mean that you translate it as an infinitive unless it is in the infinitive form in the sentence

MISCELLEANOUS Prepositions will usually have “+ acc “ or “+ abl” Conjunctions, adverbs, and interjections normally have only one form. Adverbs

are usually marked with “adv.”

If you look up a word such as “Tulit” and the dictionary says “see fero”, the word does not mean “see”. Look up “fero”.

Frequently, especially with verbs, the word you are looking for does not conform to the first principal part. Please look at the other principal parts before giving up and calling for help.

OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION Many words include usage by specific authors. This can help you narrow

down which is the most appropriate definition to use at that time. Verg Vergil Cic Cicero Pl Plautus Liv Livy Cat Catullus Hor Horace Plin Pliny Prop Propertius Ov Ovid

COMMON SPELLING CHANGESTo facilitate pronunciation, sometimes spellings are contracted.

adc becomes acc

adf aff

adg agg

adl all

adp app

adsc asc

adsp asp

conl coll

conm comm

inl ill

inm imm

inp imp

inr irr

subm summ

VERGIL FOR PRACTICE Arma virumque cano, Troiae qui primus ab oris

Italiam, fato profugus, Laviniaque venit

litora, multum ille et terris iactatus et alto

vi superum saevae memorem Iunonis ob iram;

multa quoque et bello passus, dum conderet urbem, 5

inferretque deos Latio, genus unde Latinum,

Albanique patres, atque altae moenia Romae.

VERBS CHALLENGES The word has “av….” or “ at….” ; take that off and add “o”

Appellaverant appello

“u. v. x s “ probably a third principal part. Take of u,v,s,x and add “o” “x” substitute “c” followed by “o” eo io

Duxit duco

CORE VERBS Sum esse fui futurus to be

Fero, ferre, tuli, latum bear carry

Ago, agere, egi, actum do

Tollo, tollere, sustuli, sublatum lift up, raise

Facio, facere, feci, factum do, make compound fic

Capio, capere, cepi, captum capture, take compound cip

Cedo cedere cessi cessum yield go

Eo, ire, ivi/ii, itus go

Mitto, mittere,misi, missum send

Gradior, gradi, gradus sum compound gred

Do, dare, dedi, datum give compound didi

NOUN ISSUES c substitute x

at …. Try …as, atis