CHAPTER IV.

Of the Significations of Words.

IT is not enough to know the eight kinds of Latin words by name, to divide them into classes, and to decline and conjugate them correctly: we must also know what they signify, that is, understand their meaning. Without this, the rest is nothing; since we cannot use them, nor put them together, nor understand any sentence in ancient writers without thus understanding its parts. The signification of a word, is the notion, the thought, which the ancients conveyed in it, or, more correctly, the thing which, by the use of a word, they imagined and set before them. The ancients often denote more than one thing, sometimes several of a related sense, by the same word. All this we must conceive in every word, and just as the ancients did, not as common dictionaries teach it, if we would understand their writings, and make progress in explaining them. Amongst words in general, those are the most weighty and important which denote incorporeal things, such as are not perceived by the senses; to which belong the names of virtues, crimes, qualities, &c.; as virtus, brevitas, longitudo, castitas, ætas, annus, mensis, nox, mens, ratio, consilium: with similar verbs; as cogito, intelligo &c.: and particles; as ita, sic, si &c.; on the knowledge of which more depends, than on the names of, nose, eye

&c.

Corporeal words are easy, and seldom have more than one meaning: but the incorporeal are more difficult and frequent with the ancients: upon these, then, our principal labor must be bestowed. Since the number of Latin words is great, an accurate knowledge of their signification is extensive and difficult, and requires long study, minute observation, and a clear understanding; besides that of many words the meaning is not clearly fixed or known, and has yet to be unveiled and discovered for the first time. It would be the excellence of a complete and copious grammar, distinctly to explain all these significations: but they may be better acquired from the works of the ancients, since we there see, where, how, and when they are used. Indeed a printed grammar would be too voluminous, were it to bring forward every word and its meanings illustrated, as they must be, by examples from ancient writers: and, moreover, for this purpose separate dictionaries have been composed, which, if judiciously drawn up, should be carefully studied. We shall, therefore, briefly treat of two particulars: 1.) point out some erroneous interpretations; 2.) attempt to facilitate the knowledge of the true signification.

I.) False significations must not be adopted, a fault which often occurs; as,

Ambitio does not mean pride, but rather love of honour, ambition, vanity: if a man strives after honour, and piques himself on certain outward things; likes to be praised, and to display himself, and to be in office.

Equor is, properly, a level or flat, from æquus level, even; thence the sea, because it is level; thence the sea generally.

Amoenus, pleasant, agreeable to the senses, particularly to the eyes thence peculiarly applied to places and situations; as, horti amœni, regio amoena: not homo amoenus, fortuna amoena also, agreeable to the ears; as verba, Gell. 2. 20. Animal from anima, breath, life, denotes a living creature: it is therefore applied to homo and bestia: hence, restrictively, a beast; as Varr. L. L. 6. 5, ab animalium vocibus tralata ad homines: so Plin. H. N. 28. 4.

Apparere (adp.), not, to appear i. e. to seem; but to appear, i.e. to be apparent or manifest; as, mendacium apparet, the falsehood is apparent; nantes apparent, men appear swimming. Arma are properly arms for defence; as helmet, shield &c.:

tela means arms for offence; as darts, swords, arrows &c. Hence arma means arms in general; as, arma capere, armis decertare, dimicare &c., when no particular kind is meant: it would be improper to say clypeus et hasta sunt arma.

Asser and assis (or axis) are distinguished: asser, a pole; assis, a board or plank.

Avarus, desirous of gold, avaricious; from avidus æris: not covetous, generally; for the latter includes not only those who desire money, but the parsimonious and niggardly, who are not denoted by avarus.

Calamitas is, not every misfortune, vexation or trouble; but something accompanied with loss: it must often be translated loss, deprivation.

Calumnia is not scandal, by which, in private society, one injures another's reputation; but 1.) an open, legal accusation of an innocent person: 2.) when, to injure or trouble another, one makes false explanations and pretences.

Clemens is not, generally, merciful, but soft, mild, gentle; one who is not easily provoked.

Conari, not, to dare, or venture, to be bold, in a bad sense;

but to attempt, endeavour, try, labour; also in a good sense.

Convicium, not merely an insult, or term of insult; but a loud or strong speech against any one, where one makes an earnest representation, blames, contradicts, chides, objects, reprimands.

Convincere, not to convince or convict generally, but of a bad

thing; as of theft, error &c. In a good sense, we use persuadere; as, thou wilt not convince me that thou art learned, tu mihi nunquam persuadebis &c.: I am convinced of the truth of the matter, persuasum mihi est, rem esse veram. More accurately, 1.) prove, shew: 2.) prove that something is not otherwise: 3.) prove something against one, convict: 4.) refute, confute, disprove.

Crimen, not transgression (except in the poets), but inasmuch as it is charged: hence a charge, accusation.

Diligentia, not labour, industry; but care, accuracy, foresight: when in any pursuit, one turns his attention to every part, and omits nothing. Industria means industry; but diligentia industry including care, accuracy, exactness.

Divertere, not to stop at an inn, but to separate, when a num.

ber of people separate, and go' different ways. Devertere means to stop at an inn. So to draw a sword, not distringere gladium, but destringere.

Exsistere 1.) to stand forth, be in sight, shew oneself, appear: 2.) to be.

Hactenus, or hac tenus, sc. parte, 1.) so far: 2.) thus far, in discourse, when one suddenly stops: 3.) what regards this point: 4.) thus far, to this time: this signification, though questioned, may be found Tac. Agr. 10: Ovid. Met. 5. 332: perhaps elsewhere; as Cic. Att. 11. 4: 5.) but, barely, thus far only, Tac. Ann. 14. 51: Ovid. Met. 15. 156. Honoratissimus, most honoured, not with most titles, but actually invested with many or great honours, places of honour.

Imo, not merely yes, but ironically, and expresses our yea rather,

Infans (non fans), not every child, but an infant, one that cannot yet speak, a child in the womb; ineloquent.

Labor 1.) labour: 2.) industry: 3.) fatigue: 4.) pain, adversity. Laqueus, not any rope, but with a knot; noose or snare.

Legem ferre 1.) to propose a law or (anglicè) bill: 2.) to make or pass a law.

Liberi, children, not as to age, but with respect to parents: hi sunt liberi mei: pater amat liberos suos. It would be wrong to say, viri sunt tam stulti, quam liberi, men are as foolish as children.

Magistratus, not the corporation of a town, but 1.) a separate superior office, as the consulship, the prætorship: 2.) the person who bears it.

Momentum, not weight generally, but in respect of the impulse which it gives to certain things; as, ad hostes fundendos &c. We cannot say, virtus est res magni momenti &c. It means 1.) impulse, impression, weight, moving force: 2.) circumstance, quality: 3.) point, part, smallness, fewness; state: 4.) motion, change.

Omnino 1.) generally: 2.) wholly: 3.) altogether, certainly. Opera 1.) labour, particularly of the body: 2.) time, leisure.

Opinio, not every opinion, but such as an ungrounded suspicion, fancy: opinari, to fancy, to think.

Petulantia, self-will, frivolity, impertinence, extravagance, malice: so petulans.

Pietas, must be understood according to the subject: it denotes love to God, parents, children, relatives, benefactors: this will be shewn by the connexion; it may sometimes be rendered piety, conscientiousness: it is the same with pius. Præiudicium, is not pre-judgement, a pre-conceived opinion; but 1.) something that precedes sentence, and may bias the