Latin/Chapter 2 Verse

Using a Dictionary
Foremost, Latin verbs are listed using the present indicative first person singular active construct of the verb. For example, to find the meaning of the verb amāre, you must find amō listed in the dictionary. Some verbs like esse and ferre are highly irregular and use different stems to form the perfect tenses.

Nouns are usually much easier. They are always given in the nominative singular. If you see a noun such as vōcem and do not know what it is, do not fret. If you look for voc- in the dictionary, you will not find what you are looking for. The ending -em typically belongs to the third-declension accusative; thus, be aware that third-declension nouns have radically changing stems. Those that have the consonant c or g usually have the consonant x in the nominative singular. Thus the nominative singular of vōcem is vōx, and rēx becomes rēgem in the accusative singular. There are plenty of other simple rules which you will learn through experience.

Words that do not conjugate or decline (like prepositions and particles) are listed under their only form.

Vocabulary

 * 1) affectus, -ūs, m., goodwill
 * 2) confessiō, -ōnis, f., confession
 * 3) dē, from, about, concerning
 * 4) liber, librī, m., book
 * 5) malus -a -um, evil, bad
 * 6) placeō -ēre + dative, to please (placuīsse is a perfect infinitive)
 * 7) filia, -ae f., daughter
 * 8) puella, -ae f., girl

Other Difficulties

 * 1) quod ad mē attinet, as far as I'm concerned
 * 2) cum scriberentur, when they were written (imperfect passive subjuntive)
 * 3) quid sentiant, what they think (present subjunctive in indirect question)
 * 4) ipsī viderint, (loosely) they will see in their own way (future perfect)
 * 5) eōs placēre sciō, accusative-infinitive construction for indirect statement: "I know they [the books] please"