Lesson 41: Latin for Soldiers, Sailors and Military Strategists
meus -a -um (my)
Introduction
The possessive adjective meus -a -um means "my" in English and is one of the most fundamental words in Latin for expressing ownership and personal relationships. This first-person possessive adjective agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies, not with the possessor (as in English).
Definition: meus -a -um is a first-person singular possessive adjective meaning "my" or "mine." It declines like a regular first/second declension adjective, with the exception that the masculine vocative singular is mī (not mee).
FAQ Schema
Question: What does meus -a -um mean in Latin?
Answer: Meus -a -um is the Latin possessive adjective meaning "my" or "mine." It changes its ending to agree with the gender, number, and case of the noun it describes.
Educational Schema
Type: Language Learning Material
Subject: Latin Language
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Focus: Military Latin Vocabulary and Grammar
Topic: First-person possessive adjective (meus -a -um)
In this lesson, meus -a -um will appear in various military contexts, showing how Roman soldiers, sailors, and commanders expressed personal ownership and relationships. The examples will demonstrate different cases, genders, and word order patterns typical of authentic Latin military texts.
Key Takeaways:
meus -a -um agrees with the noun it modifies, not the speaker
The vocative masculine singular has the special form mī
Word order is flexible; meus can precede or follow its noun
In military contexts, it often expresses loyalty, duty, and personal responsibility
Understanding this adjective is essential for reading military dispatches and personal accounts
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Part A (Interleaved English and Latin Text)
41.1 Meus my centuriō centurion fortiter bravely pugnat fights
41.2 Gladium sword meum my acūtum sharp est is
41.3 Dūcō I lead meōs my mīlitēs soldiers ad to victōriam victory
41.4 Nāvis ship mea my in in portū harbor manet remains
41.5 Meī my comīlitōnēs fellow-soldiers mē me dēfendunt defend
41.6 Scrībō I write meae to my mātrī mother epistulam letter
41.7 Imperātor general meō my cōnsiliō advice ūtitur uses
41.8 Meārum of my legiōnum legions virtūs courage māgna great est is
41.9 Servō I save meum my scūtum shield dīligenter carefully
41.10 Meīs with my sociīs allies castra camp mūniō I fortify
41.11 Frāter brother meus my in in Galliā Gaul mīlitat serves
41.12 Vulnera wounds mea my gravia serious sunt are
41.13 Dēfendō I defend meam my patriam fatherland contrā against hostēs enemies
41.14 Meōrum of my equitum cavalry celerītās speed hostēs enemies terret terrifies
41.15 Pater father meus my tribūnus tribune mīlitum of soldiers fuit was
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Part B (Complete Natural Sentences)
41.1 Meus centuriō fortiter pugnat. My centurion fights bravely.
41.2 Gladium meum acūtum est. My sword is sharp.
41.3 Dūcō meōs mīlitēs ad victōriam. I lead my soldiers to victory.
41.4 Nāvis mea in portū manet. My ship remains in the harbor.
41.5 Meī comīlitōnēs mē dēfendunt. My fellow soldiers defend me.
41.6 Scrībō meae mātrī epistulam. I write a letter to my mother.
41.7 Imperātor meō cōnsiliō ūtitur. The general uses my advice.
41.8 Meārum legiōnum virtūs māgna est. The courage of my legions is great.
41.9 Servō meum scūtum dīligenter. I carefully preserve my shield.
41.10 Meīs sociīs castra mūniō. I fortify the camp with my allies.
41.11 Frāter meus in Galliā mīlitat. My brother serves in Gaul.
41.12 Vulnera mea gravia sunt. My wounds are serious.
41.13 Dēfendō meam patriam contrā hostēs. I defend my fatherland against enemies.
41.14 Meōrum equitum celerītās hostēs terret. The speed of my cavalry terrifies the enemies.
41.15 Pater meus tribūnus mīlitum fuit. My father was a military tribune.
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Part C (Latin Text Only)
41.1 Meus centuriō fortiter pugnat.
41.2 Gladium meum acūtum est.
41.3 Dūcō meōs mīlitēs ad victōriam.
41.4 Nāvis mea in portū manet.
41.5 Meī comīlitōnēs mē dēfendunt.
41.6 Scrībō meae mātrī epistulam.
41.7 Imperātor meō cōnsiliō ūtitur.
41.8 Meārum legiōnum virtūs māgna est.
41.9 Servō meum scūtum dīligenter.
41.10 Meīs sociīs castra mūniō.
41.11 Frāter meus in Galliā mīlitat.
41.12 Vulnera mea gravia sunt.
41.13 Dēfendō meam patriam contrā hostēs.
41.14 Meōrum equitum celerītās hostēs terret.
41.15 Pater meus tribūnus mīlitum fuit.
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Part D (Grammar Explanation)
Grammar Rules for meus -a -um
The possessive adjective meus -a -um follows first and second declension patterns with one important exception:
Declension of meus -a -um:
SINGULAR
Masculine: meus, meī, meō, meum, meō, mī (vocative)
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
Key Grammar Points:
Agreement: Unlike English "my" which never changes, Latin meus must agree with its noun in gender, number, and case
Special Vocative: The masculine singular vocative is mī, not mee (e.g., "mī fīlī" = "my son!")
Position: Can appear before or after the noun, with slight differences in emphasis
Substantive Use: Can be used without a noun to mean "my people/things" (e.g., meī = "my men")
Common Mistakes
Wrong Agreement: Students often make meus agree with themselves rather than the noun
WRONG: "mea pater" (trying to make it feminine because a daughter is speaking)
RIGHT: "meus pater" (masculine to agree with pater)
Forgetting Vocative: Using "meus" instead of "mī" in direct address
WRONG: "Meus amīce, venī!"
RIGHT: "Mī amīce, venī!" (My friend, come!)
English Word Order: Always placing meus before the noun
While "meus frāter" is correct, "frāter meus" is equally common and often more emphatic
Step-by-Step Guide for Using meus -a -um
Identify the noun you want to modify
Determine its gender (masculine, feminine, neuter)
Determine its number (singular, plural)
Determine its case (nominative, genitive, dative, etc.)
Select the matching form of meus
Place it before or after the noun based on desired emphasis
Comparison with English
English "my" is invariable, but Latin meus changes form:
"my sword" = gladius meus (masculine nominative)
"of my sword" = gladiī meī (masculine genitive)
"to my sword" = gladiō meō (masculine dative)
"my swords" = gladiī meī (masculine nominative plural)
This flexibility allows Latin to express relationships that require additional words in English.
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Part E (Cultural Context)
For Roman soldiers and military personnel, the concept of "mine" (meus) carried profound significance beyond mere ownership. In military contexts, meus expressed:
Personal Honor: A soldier's relationship with his equipment was sacred. "Meum scūtum" (my shield) represented not just property but personal honor—losing one's shield was the ultimate disgrace.
Military Hierarchy: When a soldier referred to "meus centuriō" or "meus imperātor," it expressed both possession and loyalty. This reciprocal relationship defined Roman military culture.
Family Connections: Military service often ran in families. References to "meus pater" or "meus frāter" in military contexts highlighted the hereditary nature of Roman military service, especially among the officer class.
Unit Pride: The phrase "meī comīlitōnēs" (my fellow soldiers) embodied the fraternal bonds within military units. This possessive expressed shared experience and mutual dependence in battle.
Naval Traditions: For sailors, "mea nāvis" represented both home and livelihood. Ships were often family enterprises, passed from father to son, making the possessive particularly meaningful.
Letters Home: Military men frequently wrote "meae mātrī" or "meae uxōrī" in letters, maintaining family connections across vast distances of empire. These possessives linked the military and domestic spheres.
The Roman military's emphasis on personal ownership and responsibility, expressed through meus, contributed to its legendary discipline and effectiveness. Each soldier's personal investment in "his" equipment, unit, and reputation created the foundation of Roman military supremacy.
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Part F (Literary Citation)
From Caesar's Commentāriī dē Bellō Gallicō (1.40):
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
Quod because sī if veteris of old contumēliae insult oblīvīscī to forget vellem I should wish, num surely not etiam also recentium of recent iniūriārum injuries, quod which mē me invītō unwilling iter journey per through prōvinciam province per by vim force temptāvit he attempted, memoriam memory dēpōnere to put aside possem could I?
Part F-B (Complete Text with Translation)
Quod sī veteris contumēliae oblīvīscī vellem, num etiam recentium iniūriārum, quod mē invītō iter per prōvinciam per vim temptāvit, memoriam dēpōnere possem?
But even if I should wish to forget the old insult, surely I could not also put aside the memory of recent injuries, namely that he attempted to force his way through the province against my will?
Part F-C (Latin Text Only)
Quod sī veteris contumēliae oblīvīscī vellem, num etiam recentium iniūriārum, quod mē invītō iter per prōvinciam per vim temptāvit, memoriam dēpōnere possem?
Part F-D (Grammatical Notes)
This passage showcases the ablative absolute construction "mē invītō" (with me unwilling/against my will). While not using meus directly, it demonstrates the personal nature of military authority. Key features:
mē invītō: Ablative absolute expressing opposition
Conditional contrary to fact: sī...vellem...possem
Rhetorical question: introduced by num expecting negative answer
Word order: Note how memoriam is separated from dēpōnere for emphasis
Caesar's personal involvement emphasized through first-person verbs and pronouns
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Genre Section: Military Dispatch
Part A (Interleaved Text)
41.16 Lēgātus legate meus my hodiē today ad to senātum senate litteras letters dē about nostrā our victōriā victory mittit sends
41.17 Meī my explōrātōrēs scouts nūntiāvērunt have reported ingentem huge hostium of enemies exercitum army trāns across flūmen river castra camp pōnere to place
41.18 Obsidiōne by siege oppressum pressed oppidum town meum my auxilium help ā from mē me petit seeks
41.19 Imperātor commander imperat orders ut that ego I cum with meīs my cohortibus cohorts prīmā at first lūce light proficīscar set out
41.20 Scrībō I write tibi to you quod because meus my praefectus prefect in in proeliō battle cecidit fell fortiter bravely pugnāns fighting
41.21 Meae my nāvēs ships longae long iam already parātae prepared sunt are ad for bellum war nāvāle naval
41.22 Hostēs enemies meōs my equitēs cavalry in into īnsidiās ambush perdūxērunt led sed but ego I eōs them servāvī saved
41.23 Meum my cōnsilium plan est is pontem bridge super over flūmen river aedificāre to build ut so that cōpiae forces celeriter quickly trānsīre to cross possint may be able
41.24 Vulnerātus wounded sum I am in in dextrō right bracchiō arm sed but mea my dextra right hand adhūc still gladium sword tenēre to hold potest is able
41.25 Meī of my mīlitēs soldiers fidēs loyalty numquam never dubitanda to be doubted est is nam for mēcum with me per through omnēs all Galliae of Gaul bellōs wars stetērunt they stood
41.26 Castra camp mea my in on colle hill mūnītō fortified posita placed sunt are unde whence tōtam whole plānitiem plain vidēre to see possumus we are able
41.27 Mittō I send tibi to you meum my tribūnum tribune quī who dē about rēbus matters gestīs accomplished plūra more things nārrāre to tell poterit will be able
41.28 Meōrum of my sagittāriōrum archers perītia skill hostium of enemies impetum attack tardāvit slowed dum while legiōnēs legions sē themselves īnstruere to draw up possent were able
41.29 Haec this mea my ūltima last epistula letter fortasse perhaps erit will be nam for crās tomorrow cum with hostibus enemies dēcrētōrium decisive proelium battle committēmus we shall join
41.30 Reddite give back meīs to my līberīs children hunc this gladium sword sī if ego I in in pugnā fight ceciderō shall have fallen ut so that meminerunt they may remember patris father suī their
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Part B (Complete Natural Sentences)
41.16 Lēgātus meus hodiē ad senātum litterās dē nostrā victōriā mittit. My legate sends letters to the senate today about our victory.
41.17 Meī explōrātōrēs nūntiāvērunt ingentem hostium exercitum trāns flūmen castra pōnere. My scouts have reported that a huge enemy army is making camp across the river.
41.18 Obsidiōne oppressum oppidum meum auxilium ā mē petit. The town, hard pressed by siege, seeks my help.
41.19 Imperātor imperat ut ego cum meīs cohortibus prīmā lūce proficīscar. The commander orders that I set out with my cohorts at first light.
41.20 Scrībō tibi quod meus praefectus in proeliō cecidit fortiter pugnāns. I write to you because my prefect fell in battle fighting bravely.
41.21 Meae nāvēs longae iam parātae sunt ad bellum nāvāle. My warships are already prepared for naval warfare.
41.22 Hostēs meōs equitēs in īnsidiās perdūxērunt, sed ego eōs servāvī. The enemies led my cavalry into an ambush, but I saved them.
41.23 Meum cōnsilium est pontem super flūmen aedificāre ut cōpiae celeriter trānsīre possint. My plan is to build a bridge over the river so that the forces may cross quickly.
41.24 Vulnerātus sum in dextrō bracchiō, sed mea dextra adhūc gladium tenēre potest. I am wounded in my right arm, but my right hand can still hold a sword.
41.25 Meōrum mīlitum fidēs numquam dubitanda est, nam mēcum per omnēs Galliae bellōs stetērunt. The loyalty of my soldiers is never to be doubted, for they have stood with me through all the wars of Gaul.
41.26 Castra mea in colle mūnītō posita sunt, unde tōtam plānitiem vidēre possumus. My camp is placed on a fortified hill, from where we can see the whole plain.
41.27 Mittō tibi meum tribūnum quī dē rēbus gestīs plūra nārrāre poterit. I send you my tribune who will be able to tell you more about our accomplishments.
41.28 Meōrum sagittāriōrum perītia hostium impetum tardāvit dum legiōnēs sē īnstruere possent. The skill of my archers slowed the enemy attack while the legions were able to form up.
41.29 Haec mea ūltima epistula fortasse erit, nam crās cum hostibus dēcrētōrium proelium committēmus. This will perhaps be my last letter, for tomorrow we shall join decisive battle with the enemy.
41.30 Reddite meīs līberīs hunc gladium sī ego in pugnā ceciderō, ut meminerunt patris suī. Return this sword to my children if I fall in battle, so that they may remember their father.
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Part C (Latin Text Only)
41.16 Lēgātus meus hodiē ad senātum litterās dē nostrā victōriā mittit.
41.17 Meī explōrātōrēs nūntiāvērunt ingentem hostium exercitum trāns flūmen castra pōnere.
41.18 Obsidiōne oppressum oppidum meum auxilium ā mē petit.
41.19 Imperātor imperat ut ego cum meīs cohortibus prīmā lūce proficīscar.
41.20 Scrībō tibi quod meus praefectus in proeliō cecidit fortiter pugnāns.
41.21 Meae nāvēs longae iam parātae sunt ad bellum nāvāle.
41.22 Hostēs meōs equitēs in īnsidiās perdūxērunt, sed ego eōs servāvī.
41.23 Meum cōnsilium est pontem super flūmen aedificāre ut cōpiae celeriter trānsīre possint.
41.24 Vulnerātus sum in dextrō bracchiō, sed mea dextra adhūc gladium tenēre potest.
41.25 Meōrum mīlitum fidēs numquam dubitanda est, nam mēcum per omnēs Galliae bellōs stetērunt.
41.26 Castra mea in colle mūnītō posita sunt, unde tōtam plānitiem vidēre possumus.
41.27 Mittō tibi meum tribūnum quī dē rēbus gestīs plūra nārrāre poterit.
41.28 Meōrum sagittāriōrum perītia hostium impetum tardāvit dum legiōnēs sē īnstruere possent.
41.29 Haec mea ūltima epistula fortasse erit, nam crās cum hostibus dēcrētōrium proelium committēmus.
41.30 Reddite meīs līberīs hunc gladium sī ego in pugnā ceciderō, ut meminerunt patris suī.
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Part D (Grammar Explanation for Genre Section)
The military dispatch genre showcases several advanced uses of meus -a -um:
1. Substantive Usage
"meī explōrātōrēs" (41.17) - Here meī functions as "my men" specifically scouts
"meīs līberīs" (41.30) - The possessive with family terms shows personal stakes
2. Military Technical Terms
"meae nāvēs longae" (41.21) - Note the agreement with feminine plural
"meōrum sagittāriōrum" (41.28) - Genitive plural showing unit possession
3. Emotional Weight
"mea ūltima epistula" (41.29) - The possessive adds pathos to "last letter"
"meus praefectus" (41.20) - Shows personal loss in military hierarchy
4. Complex Constructions
"meōrum mīlitum fidēs" (41.25) - Genitive plural dependent on abstract noun
"cum meīs cohortibus" (41.19) - Ablative of accompaniment
5. Word Order for Emphasis
"Castra mea" (41.26) - Possessive after noun emphasizes ownership
"meum cōnsilium est" (41.23) - Possessive before noun introduces new topic
Common Patterns in Military Dispatches:
Authority: "meus lēgātus," "meum cōnsilium"
Responsibility: "meī mīlitēs," "meae nāvēs"
Personal investment: "mea dextra," "meum auxilium"
These dispatches demonstrate how meus in military contexts conveys not just possession but command responsibility, personal honor, and emotional investment in outcomes.
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