Latin from Zero Samuel Johnson Statute

Inscription A . ☧ . Ω . SAMUELI . JOHNSON GRAMMATICO . ET . CRITICO SCRIPTORUM . ANGLICORUM LITTERATE . PERITO POETAE LUMINIBUS . SENTENTIARUM ET . PONDERIBUS . VERBORUM ADMIRABILI MAGISTRO . VIRTUTIS . GRAVISSIMO HOMINI . OPTIMO . ET SINGULARIS . EXEMPLI QUI . VIXIT . ANN . LXXV MENS . III . DIEB . XIII DECESSIT . IDIB . DECEMBR ANN . CHRIST . CIƆ . IƆCC . LXXXIIII SEPULT . IN . AED . SANCT . PETR . WESTMONASTERIENS . XIII . KAL . IANVAR ANN . CHRIST . CIƆ . IƆCC . LXXXV AMICI . ET . SODALES LITTERARII PECUNIA . CONLATA H . M . FACIUND . CURAVAR . Header A . ☧ . Ω . The Greek letter Alpha, the Greek letters Chi and Rho, a Christogram for Christ, the Greek letter Omega. A. is the Greek symbol Alpha. The first letter of the Greek alphabet, used here as a symbol of the beginning. ☧. is the Christogram Chi-Rho. A Christogram formed from the first two Greek letters of the word Christos; often used as a symbol for Jesus Christ. Ω. is the Greek symbol Omega. The last letter of the Greek alphabet, used here as a symbol of the end. Reading line one Samueli Johnson To Samuel Johnson Samueli. means “Samuel”. This is the dative singular form of the masculine noun “Samuelus,” indicating the indirect object or recipient of the action. It functions here as the object of an implied preposition, likely “to,” addressing Samuel directly. Johnson. means “Johnson”. This is a proper noun in the nominative singular case, masculine in gender. It functions as an apposition to “Samueli,” clarifying or specifying the identity of Samuel. As a foreign name, “Johnson” retains its original form without Latin inflection. Reading line two Grammatico et critico To the grammarian and critic Grammatico. means “grammarian”. This is the dative singular form of the masculine noun “grammaticus,” indicating the indirect object or recipient of the action. It refers to a person skilled in grammar or language studies. et. means “and”. This is a conjunction used to coordinate or link two nouns, showing that both “grammatico” and “critico” are recipients of the implied action. critico. means “critic”. This is the dative singular form of the masculine noun “criticus,” also indicating the indirect object or recipient. It refers to a person who evaluates or analyzes works critically. Reading line three Scriptorum Anglicorum Of English writers Scriptorum. means “writer”. This is the genitive plural form of the masculine noun “scriptor,” indicating possession or association. It refers to multiple writers or authors, emphasizing their collective identity. Anglicorum. means “English”. This is the genitive plural form of the masculine adjective “Anglicus,” agreeing with “Scriptorum” in case, number, and gender. It specifies the nationality or characteristic of the writers, marking them as English. Reading line four Litterate perito To the man skilled in literature Litterate. means “learned”. This is the vocative singular form of the masculine adjective “litteratus,” used for direct address. It highlights the quality of being educated or scholarly, addressing the person directly. perito. means “expert”. This is the dative singular form of the masculine adjective “peritus,” indicating the recipient or indirect object. It emphasizes skill or experience, functioning substantively as a noun. Reading line five Poetae To the poet Poetae. means “poet”. This is the nominative plural form of the masculine noun “poeta,” indicating multiple poets as the subject of the sentence. Despite its first declension ending in “-a,” “poeta” is masculine, which is atypical for Latin nouns. Reading line six Luminibus sententiarum In the brilliance of thoughts Luminibus. means “light”. It is a noun in the dative case, plural number, and neuter gender. Here, it functions as the indirect object, receiving the metaphorical association of enlightenment or guidance. Sententiarum. means “opinion”. It is a noun in the genitive case, plural number, and feminine gender. It serves as a possessive modifier, indicating that the lights belong to or are associated with the opinions. Reading line seven Et ponderibus verborum And in the weight of words Et. means “and”. It is a conjunction that links this phrase to a preceding context, introducing an additional idea or element to the discussion. Ponderibus. means “weight”. It is a noun in the ablative case, plural number, and neuter gender. Here, it functions as an ablative of means, indicating the instrument or method by which something is achieved—metaphorically, the significance or impact of the weights. Verborum. means “word”. It is a noun in the genitive case, plural number, and neuter gender. It serves as a possessive modifier, showing that the weights belong to or pertain to the words. Reading line eight Admirabili To the admirable man Admirabili. means “admirable”. It is an adjective in the dative case, singular number, and neuter gender. Depending on context, it could also be ablative, indicating either the recipient or the means of an action. The adjective agrees with an implied noun, which could refer to a person, thing, or concept, depending on the surrounding text. Reading line nine Magistro virtutis gravissimo To the most serious teacher of virtue Magistro. means “teacher”. It is a noun in the dative case, singular number, and masculine gender. Here, it functions as the indirect object, indicating the recipient of the action or dedication. Virtutis. means “virtue”. It is a noun in the genitive case, singular number, and feminine gender. It serves as a possessive modifier, defining the domain or quality associated with the teacher. Gravissimo. means “most serious”. It is the superlative form of the adjective “gravis,” in the dative case, singular number, and masculine gender. It modifies “magistro,” emphasizing the teacher’s exceptional gravity or seriousness. Reading line ten Homini optimo et To the best and most honorable man, and Homini. means “man”. It is a noun in the dative case, singular number, and masculine gender. It functions as the indirect object of the phrase, indicating the recipient of something. Optimo. means “best”. This is a superlative adjective in the dative case, singular number, and masculine gender, agreeing with “homini” in case, number, and gender. It modifies “homini,” emphasizing the exceptional quality of the man. Et. means “and”. It is a conjunction serving as a coordinator, linking this phrase to another element that follows. Reading line eleven Singularis exempli Of singular example Singularis. means “singular”. This is an adjective in the genitive case, singular number, and neuter gender, functioning as a modifier of “exempli.” It conveys a sense of uniqueness or rarity. Exempli. means “example”. This is a noun in the genitive case, singular number, and neuter gender. It serves as the head of the phrase, indicating possession or association, as in “of example.” Reading line twelve Qui vixit annos septuaginta quinque Who lived seventy-five years Qui. means “who”. It is a relative pronoun in the nominative case, singular number, and masculine gender. It introduces a relative clause and serves as the subject of the verb “vixit,” referring back to an implied antecedent. Vixit. means “lived”. This is a verb in the indicative mood, perfect tense, active voice, and third person singular. It functions as the predicate of the relative clause, describing a completed action in the past. ANN. is an abbreviation of annos. annos means “years”. This is a noun in the accusative case, plural number, and masculine gender. It serves as the direct object of “vixit,” indicating the duration of time lived. Annus in the accusative plural, counting the years of life. LXXV. is the Roman numeral for 75. Here it has cardinal force and is read septuaginta quinque. Reading line thirteen Menses tres dies tredecim Three months, thirteen days MENS. is an abbreviation of menses. menses means “months”. This is a noun in the nominative case, plural number, and masculine gender. It functions as the subject or focus of the phrase, indicating a time span. Mensis in the accusative plural, counting the months. III. is the Roman numeral for 3. Here it has cardinal force and is read tres. DIEB. is an abbreviation of dies. dies means “days”. This is a noun in the nominative case, plural number, and masculine gender. It serves as a parallel subject to “menses,” introducing a second time span. Dies in the accusative plural, counting the days. XIII. is the Roman numeral for 13. Here it has cardinal force and is read tredecim. Reading line fourteen Decessit idibus Decembris He died on the Ides of December Decessit. means “depart, die”. It is a verb in the indicative mood, perfect tense, active voice, and third person. As the predicate of the sentence, it conveys a completed action, with the subject implied rather than explicitly stated. IDIB. is an abbreviation of idibus. idibus means “Ides”. It is a noun in the ablative case, plural number, and feminine gender. It serves as the object of an implied preposition, indicating the time when the action occurred. Idibus, the ablative plural of Idus, the middle day of a Roman month. DECEMBR. is an abbreviation of Decembris. Decembris means “December”. It is a noun in the genitive case, singular number, and masculine gender. It functions as a genitive modifier, specifying the month in which the Ides occur. Genitive of December, agreeing with idibus to mean ‘of December.’ Reading line fifteen Anno Christi mille septingenti octoginta quattuor In the year of Christ 1784 ANN. is an abbreviation of Anno. Anno means “year”. It is a noun in the ablative case, singular number, and masculine gender. It serves as the object of an implied preposition, indicating the time when the action or event occurred. Ablative singular of annus, ‘in the year.’ CHRIST. is an abbreviation of Christi. Christi means “Christ”. It is a noun in the genitive case, singular number, and masculine gender. It functions as a possessor, specifying that the year is associated with Christ. Genitive of Christus, ‘of Christ.’ CIƆ. is the Roman numeral for 1000. Here it has apostrophus force and is read mille. IƆCC. is the Roman numeral for 700. Here it has apostrophus force and is read septingenti. LXXXIIII. is the Roman numeral for 84. Here it has additive force and is read octoginta quattuor. Reading line sixteen Sepultus in aedibus Buried in the building SEPULT. is an abbreviation of Sepultus. Sepultus means “buried”. It is a participle in the nominative case, singular number, masculine gender, and perfect passive form. It functions as the subject, describing the state of the individual as having been buried. Perfect passive participle of sepelio, ‘to bury.’ In. means “in”. It is a preposition governing the ablative case. It introduces the location where the burial occurred. AED. is an abbreviation of aedibus. aedibus means “house”. It is a noun in the ablative case, plural number, and feminine gender. It serves as the object of the preposition “in,” indicating the place where the burial took place. Ablative plural of aedes, ‘building’ or ‘church,’ used with ‘in.’ Reading line seventeen Sancti Petri Of Saint Peter SANCT. is an abbreviation of Sancti. Sancti means “holy”. It is an adjective in the genitive case, singular number, and masculine gender. It serves as a modifier, agreeing with “Petri” and indicating possession or association. Genitive singular of sanctus, ‘of the saint.’ PETR. is an abbreviation of Petri. Petri means “Peter”. It is a noun in the genitive case, singular number, and masculine gender. It functions as the head of the phrase, referring specifically to Saint Peter in a religious context. Genitive of Petrus, the name Peter. Reading line eighteen Westmonasteriensis Of Westminster Westmonasteriensis. means “of Westminster”. This is a third-declension adjective in the nominative singular masculine form, functioning as the subject of the line. It is derived from the proper noun “Westmonasterium” and indicates a geographic or institutional association with Westminster. Reading line nineteen Ante diem tertium decimum Kalendas Ianuarias On the thirteenth day before the Kalends of January Ante. means “before”. It is a preposition governing the accusative case, introducing the temporal relationship central to this Roman calendar date. Diem. means “day”. This is a second-declension noun in the accusative singular masculine form, serving as the object of the preposition “ante.” XIII. is the Roman numeral for 13. Here it has ordinal force and is read tertium decimum. KAL. is an abbreviation of Kalendas. Kalendas means “Kalends”. This is a first-declension noun in the accusative plural feminine form, referring to the first day of a month in the Roman calendar. It is governed by “ante.” Kalendae, ‘the Kalends,’ the first day of a Roman month. IANVAR. is an abbreviation of Ianuarias. Ianuarias means “January”. This is a first/second-declension adjective in the accusative plural feminine form, modifying “Kalendas” to specify the month being referenced. Accusative plural of Ianuarius, agreeing with Kalendas. Reading line twenty Anno Christi mille septingenti octoginta quinque In the year of Christ 1785 ANN. is an abbreviation of Anno. Anno means “year”. This is a second-declension noun in the ablative singular masculine form, used to indicate time when. The preposition “in” is implied, as is common in Latin temporal expressions. Ablative singular of annus, ‘in the year.’ CHRIST. is an abbreviation of Christi. Christi means “Christ”. This is a second-declension noun in the genitive singular masculine form, showing possession or association. It specifies the calendar system being referenced, namely the Anno Domini system. Genitive of Christus, ‘of Christ.’ CIƆ. is the Roman numeral for 1000. Here it has apostrophus force and is read mille. IƆCC. is the Roman numeral for 700. Here it has apostrophus force and is read septingenti. LXXXV. is the Roman numeral for 85. Here it has additive force and is read octoginta quinque. Reading line twenty-one Amici et sodales Friends and companions Amici. means “friend”. This is a noun in the nominative plural form, masculine gender, functioning as the subject of the phrase. It introduces the idea of friendship or camaraderie. et. means “and”. This is a coordinating conjunction, linking the two nouns “amici” and “sodales” to form a compound subject. sodales. means “companion”. This is a noun in the nominative plural form, masculine gender, functioning parallel to “amici” as part of the subject. It emphasizes a bond of fellowship or shared purpose. Reading line twenty-two Litterarii Literary Litterarii. means “literary”. This is an adjective in the nominative plural form, masculine gender, functioning as the subject of the phrase. It agrees with an implied plural masculine noun, which is not explicitly stated but can be inferred from the context. Reading line twenty-three Pecunia conlata Money having been contributed Pecunia. means “money”. This is a noun in the nominative singular form, feminine gender, functioning as the subject of the phrase. It refers to wealth or currency, which is the central focus of the statement. conlata. means “collected”. This is a perfect passive participle in the nominative singular form, feminine gender, agreeing with “pecunia” in case, number, and gender. It functions as the predicate, describing an action completed in the past. Reading line twenty-four Hoc monumentum faciendum curaverunt Caused this monument to be made H. is an abbreviation of hoc. hoc means “this”. This is a demonstrative pronoun in the nominative singular form, neuter gender, functioning as the subject. It agrees with “monumentum” in gender, number, and case, emphasizing specificity. Hoc, ‘this,’ neuter accusative modifying monumentum. M. is an abbreviation of monumentum. monumentum means “monument”. This is a noun in the accusative singular form, neuter gender, functioning as the direct object of the sentence. It refers to a physical structure or commemorative object. Monumentum, ‘monument,’ neuter accusative. FACIUND. is an abbreviation of faciendum. faciendum means “to be made”. This is a gerundive (future passive participle) in the accusative singular form, neuter gender, agreeing with “monumentum.” It expresses necessity or obligation, indicating that the monument must be created. Gerundive of facio, ‘to be made.’ CURAVAR. is an abbreviation of curaverunt. curaverunt means “to take care”. This is a verb in the perfect active indicative mood, third person plural. It serves as the predicate, describing the action of ensuring or arranging the creation of the monument. Perfect tense of curo, ‘they took care that’ or ‘they caused.’ Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit digitalmonastery.substack.com