Lesson 40 Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
Latin Lesson: meus -a -um (my)
Part A (Interleaved English and Latin Text)
40.1 Pater father meus my in in hortō garden ambulat walks
40.2 Māter mother mea my rosam rose pulchram beautiful habet has
40.3 In in meō my librō book multae many fābulae stories sunt are
40.4 Ad to meam my vīllam villa amīcī friends veniunt come
40.5 Meum my equum horse in in agrō field videō I see
40.6 Fīlius son meus my linguam language Latīnam Latin discit learns
40.7 Servus slave meae my mātrī to mother cēnam dinner parat prepares
40.8 In in meīs my hortīs gardens rosae roses flōrent bloom
40.9 Cum with meīs my amīcīs friends lūdō I play
40.10 Canis dog meus my per through viam street currit runs
40.11 Fīlia daughter mea my carmina songs cantat sings
40.12 Ad to meum my templum temple ambulāmus we walk
40.13 Meī my servī slaves in in agrīs fields labōrant work
40.14 Magister teacher meās my litterās letters legit reads
40.15 Per through meum my hortum garden ambulō I walk
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Part B (Complete Sentences)
40.1 Pater meus in hortō ambulat. My father walks in the garden.
40.2 Māter mea rosam pulchram habet. My mother has a beautiful rose.
40.3 In meō librō multae fābulae sunt. In my book there are many stories.
40.4 Ad meam vīllam amīcī veniunt. Friends come to my villa.
40.5 Meum equum in agrō videō. I see my horse in the field.
40.6 Fīlius meus linguam Latīnam discit. My son learns the Latin language.
40.7 Servus meae mātrī cēnam parat. The slave prepares dinner for my mother.
40.8 In meīs hortīs rosae flōrent. In my gardens roses bloom.
40.9 Cum meīs amīcīs lūdō. I play with my friends.
40.10 Canis meus per viam currit. My dog runs through the street.
40.11 Fīlia mea carmina cantat. My daughter sings songs.
40.12 Ad meum templum ambulāmus. We walk to my temple.
40.13 Meī servī in agrīs labōrant. My slaves work in the fields.
40.14 Magister meās litterās legit. The teacher reads my letters.
40.15 Per meum hortum ambulō. I walk through my garden.
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Part C (Latin Only)
40.1 Pater meus in hortō ambulat.
40.2 Māter mea rosam pulchram habet.
40.3 In meō librō multae fābulae sunt.
40.4 Ad meam vīllam amīcī veniunt.
40.5 Meum equum in agrō videō.
40.6 Fīlius meus linguam Latīnam discit.
40.7 Servus meae mātrī cēnam parat.
40.8 In meīs hortīs rosae flōrent.
40.9 Cum meīs amīcīs lūdō.
40.10 Canis meus per viam currit.
40.11 Fīlia mea carmina cantat.
40.12 Ad meum templum ambulāmus.
40.13 Meī servī in agrīs labōrant.
40.14 Magister meās litterās legit.
40.15 Per meum hortum ambulō.
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Part D (Grammar Explanation)
The adjective "meus -a -um" is a possessive adjective meaning "my." For English speakers, understanding its usage requires attention to several key points:
Agreement:
Must agree with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case
Not with the person who possesses the item
Examples:
meus liber (masculine singular nominative)
mea villa (feminine singular nominative)
meum templum (neuter singular nominative)
Declension: Like other first/second declension adjectives, meus declines: Singular:
Masculine: meus, meī, meō, meum, meō
Feminine: mea, meae, meae, meam, meā
Neuter: meum, meī, meō, meum, meō
Plural:
Masculine: meī, meōrum, meīs, meōs, meīs
Feminine: meae, meārum, meīs, meās, meīs
Neuter: mea, meōrum, meīs, mea, meīs
Position:
Can appear before or after its noun
Often placed after for emphasis
Examples from our lesson:
Pater meus (after)
Meum equum (before)
Common Uses:
Direct possession
Family relationships
Personal belongings
Abstract concepts
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Part E (Cultural Context)
For English speakers, understanding "meus" requires cultural context:
Roman Family Structure:
Extended family was important
Possessive relationships were clearly marked
Family terms often used possessives
Social Status:
Ownership indicated social standing
Possession of slaves, property marked wealth
Personal relationships emphasized
Historical Context:
Romans valued personal property
Written records used possessives formally
Legal documents required precise possession
Modern Relevance:
Similar to English "my" but more complex
Shows Latin's precision in relationships
Helps understand Romance languages
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Part F (Literary Citation)
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Catullus (Poem 101):
Per through multas many gentēs nations et and multa many per through aequora seas vectus having traveled adveniō I come hās these ad to misērās sad frāter brother ad to īnferiās funeral rites ut so that tē you postrēmō finally dōnārem I might present mūnere with gift mortis of death et and mūtam mute nēquīquam in vain adloquerer might address cinerem ashes
Part F-B (Complete Translation)
Per multās gentēs et multa per aequora vectus adveniō hās miserās, frāter, ad īnferiās, ut tē postrēmō dōnārem mūnere mortis et mūtam nēquīquam adloquerer cinerem.
Carried through many nations and across many seas, I arrive, brother, for these sad funeral rites, so that I might present you with death's final gift and speak in vain to your mute ashes.
Part F-C (Literary Analysis)
Catullus uses possessive relationships to create emotional impact. The poem shows personal loss and the deep connection between family members in Roman culture.
Part F-D (Grammatical Notes)
Possessive relationships shown through cases
Use of vocative "frater"
Personal pronouns emphasize relationship
Subjunctive mood shows purpose
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Genre Section: Personal Letters
Part A (Interleaved Text)
40.16 Mārcus Marcus meō my carissimō dearest amīcō to friend salūtem greetings dīcit says
40.17 Litterae letters tuae your mihi to me magnam great laetitiam joy meō to my animō spirit dedērunt gave
40.18 Meus my pater father tuum your patrem father in in forō forum heri yesterday vīdit saw
40.19 Nostra our amīcitia friendship mihi to me cārior dearer meā than my vītā life est is
40.20 Ad to meam my vīllam villa quam which prīmum first venī come
40.21 Mea my māter mother tuam your sorōrem sister ad to cēnam dinner vocāre to invite vult wishes
40.22 In in meīs my litterīs letters dē about meā my vītā life Rōmae at Rome scrībō I write
40.23 Servus slave meus my hās these litterās letters ad to tē you feret will carry
40.24 Omnēs all meī my amīcī friends tē you salūtant greet
40.25 Meī my līberī children tuōs your līberōs children vidēre to see cupiunt desire
40.26 Mea my uxor wife tuae to your uxōrī wife multam much salūtem health dīcit says
40.27 In in meō my hortō garden novās new rosās roses plantāvī I have planted
40.28 Dē about meīs my negōtiīs business in in aliīs other litterīs letters scrībam I will write
40.29 Valē farewell mī my amīce friend cārissime dearest
40.30 Meam my epistulam letter māne in the morning exspectā expect
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Part B (Complete Sentences)
40.16 Mārcus meō carissimō amīcō salūtem dīcit. Marcus sends greetings to my dearest friend.
40.17 Litterae tuae mihi magnam laetitiam meō animō dedērunt. Your letters gave great joy to my spirit.
40.18 Meus pater tuum patrem in forō heri vīdit. My father saw your father in the forum yesterday.
40.19 Nostra amīcitia mihi cārior meā vītā est. Our friendship is dearer to me than my life.
40.20 Ad meam vīllam quam prīmum venī. Come to my villa as soon as possible.
40.21 Mea māter tuam sorōrem ad cēnam vocāre vult. My mother wishes to invite your sister to dinner.
40.22 In meīs litterīs dē meā vītā Rōmae scrībō. In my letters I write about my life in Rome.
40.23 Servus meus hās litterās ad tē feret. My slave will carry these letters to you.
40.24 Omnēs meī amīcī tē salūtant. All my friends greet you.
40.25 Meī līberī tuōs līberōs vidēre cupiunt. My children wish to see your children.
40.26 Mea uxor tuae uxōrī multam salūtem dīcit. My wife sends many greetings to your wife.
40.27 In meō hortō novās rosās plantāvī. I have planted new roses in my garden.
40.28 Dē meīs negōtiīs in aliīs litterīs scrībam. I will write about my business matters in other letters.
40.29 Valē mī amīce cārissime. Farewell, my dearest friend.
40.30 Meam epistulam māne exspectā. Expect my letter in the morning.
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Part C (Latin Only)
40.21 Mea māter tuam sorōrem ad cēnam vocāre vult.
40.22 In meīs litterīs dē meā vītā Rōmae scrībō.
40.23 Servus meus hās litterās ad tē feret.
40.24 Omnēs meī amīcī tē salūtant.
40.25 Meī līberī tuōs līberōs vidēre cupiunt.
40.26 Mea uxor tuae uxōrī multam salūtem dīcit.
40.27 In meō hortō novās rosās plantāvī.
40.28 Dē meīs negōtiīs in aliīs litterīs scrībam.
40.29 Valē mī amīce cārissime.
40.30 Meam epistulam māne exspectā.
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Part D (Grammar Explanation)
In Roman letter writing, possessive adjectives played a crucial role in establishing and maintaining personal relationships. Let's analyze their usage in this genre:
Formal Letter Elements:
Opening greetings using possessive forms
Closing formulas with vocative and possessive
Example: "mī amīce cārissime" (my dearest friend)
Special Forms:
Vocative singular masculine: mī (not meus)
Used in direct address
Example: "mī amīce" vs. "meus amīcus"
Common Patterns:
Reciprocal possessives (my/your)
Family relationships
Social connections
Examples:
"meus pater tuum patrem" (my father... your father)
"mea uxor tuae uxōrī" (my wife... to your wife)
Stylistic Features:
Position varies for emphasis
Often paired with demonstratives
Used with terms of endearment
Examples:
"meō carissimō amīcō" (to my dearest friend)
"hās litterās" with "servus meus" (these letters... my slave)
Time Expressions:
Future arrangements
Past events
Examples:
"scrībam" (I will write)
"plantāvī" (I have planted)
The genre of letter writing conveys how Romans used possessive adjectives to navigate social relationships and express personal connections in written communication.
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