Lesson 42 Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
Latin Lesson: multus -a -um (much, many)
Part A (Interleaved English and Latin Text)
42.1 Multī many puerī boys in in hortō garden lūdunt play
42.2 Urbs city multās many portās gates habet has
42.3 Multum much labōrem work hodiē today facimus we do
42.4 Senātor senator multā much cum with glōriā glory vīvit lives
42.5 Per through multōs many annōs years rēx king regnat reigns
42.6 Multae many stellae stars in in caelō sky lūcent shine
42.7 Dux leader multum much vīnum wine bibit drinks
42.8 In in forō forum multī many cīvēs citizens stant stand
42.9 Multās many epistulās letters scrībō I write amīcīs to friends
42.10 Agricola farmer multum much frūmentum grain habet has
42.11 Nāvis ship multa many arma weapons portat carries
42.12 Poēta poet multōs many librōs books legit reads
42.13 Multae many templī of the temple columnae columns altae tall sunt are
42.14 Magister teacher multīs to many discipulīs students fābulam story nārrat tells
42.15 Mercātor merchant multā much pecūniā with money mercēs goods emit buys
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Experimental Text: English Words with Bold Latin Endings
42.1 Many-i boy-i in garden-o play-unt
42.2 City-s many-as gate-as have-t
42.3 Much-um work-em today do-imus
42.4 Senator-us much-a with glory-a live-it
42.5 Through many-os year-os king-s reign-at
42.6 Many-ae star-ae in sky-o shine-unt
42.7 Leader-s much-um wine-um drink-it
42.8 In forum-o many-i citizen-es stand-unt
42.9 Many-as letter-as to friend-is write-o
42.10 Farmer-a much-um grain-um have-t
42.11 Ship-s many-a weapon-a carry-t
42.12 Poet-a many-os book-os read-it
42.13 Many-ae of the temple-i column-ae tall-ae are-unt
42.14 Teacher-s to many-is student-is story-am tell-at
42.15 Merchant-or with much-a money-a good-es buy-it
Key to Endings:
Noun Cases
Nominative: -us, -a, -um (singular); -i, -ae, -a (plural)
Accusative: -um, -am, -um (singular); -os, -as, -a (plural)
Ablative: -o, -a, -o (singular); -is (plural)
Genitive: -i, -ae, -i (singular)
Dative: -o, -ae, -o (singular); -is (plural)
Verb Endings
1st person singular: -o
3rd person singular: -t, -it
1st person plural: -mus
3rd person plural: -unt
Adjective Endings
Follow the same patterns as nouns
Must match their noun in gender, number, and case
Learning Tips:
Focus on the bolded endings to see the patterns
Notice how endings show relationships between words
Compare similar endings across different sentences
Practice adding these endings to other English words
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Part B (Complete Sentences)
42.1 Multī puerī in hortō lūdunt. Many boys play in the garden.
42.2 Urbs multās portās habet. The city has many gates.
42.3 Multum labōrem hodiē facimus. We do much work today.
42.4 Senātor multā cum glōriā vīvit. The senator lives with much glory.
42.5 Per multōs annōs rēx regnat. The king reigns for many years.
42.6 Multae stellae in caelō lūcent. Many stars shine in the sky.
42.7 Dux multum vīnum bibit. The leader drinks much wine.
42.8 In forō multī cīvēs stant. Many citizens stand in the forum.
42.9 Multās epistulās amīcīs scrībō. I write many letters to friends.
42.10 Agricola multum frūmentum habet. The farmer has much grain.
42.11 Nāvis multa arma portat. The ship carries many weapons.
42.12 Poēta multōs librōs legit. The poet reads many books.
42.13 Multae templī columnae altae sunt. Many columns of the temple are tall.
42.14 Magister multīs discipulīs fābulam nārrat. The teacher tells a story to many students.
42.15 Mercātor multā pecūniā mercēs emit. The merchant buys goods with much money.
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Part C (Latin Text Only)
42.1 Multī puerī in hortō lūdunt.
42.2 Urbs multās portās habet.
42.3 Multum labōrem hodiē facimus.
42.4 Senātor multā cum glōriā vīvit.
42.5 Per multōs annōs rēx regnat.
42.6 Multae stellae in caelō lūcent.
42.7 Dux multum vīnum bibit.
42.8 In forō multī cīvēs stant.
42.9 Multās epistulās amīcīs scrībō.
42.10 Agricola multum frūmentum habet.
42.11 Nāvis multa arma portat.
42.12 Poēta multōs librōs legit.
42.13 Multae templī columnae altae sunt.
42.14 Magister multīs discipulīs fābulam nārrat.
42.15 Mercātor multā pecūniā mercēs emit.
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Part D (Grammar Explanation)
For English speakers learning Latin, multus -a -um is an important adjective that follows standard first/second declension patterns:
Forms:
Masculine: multus (singular), multī (plural)
Feminine: multa (singular), multae (plural)
Neuter: multum (singular), multa (plural)
Usage:
As an adjective: agrees with its noun in gender, number, and case
As a substantive: can stand alone meaning "many people/things"
With ablative: multō means "by far"
Common Cases:
Nominative: multī puerī (many boys)
Accusative: multās portās (many gates)
Ablative: multā glōriā (with much glory)
Dative: multīs discipulīs (to many students)
Special Note for English Speakers:
Latin distinguishes between countable ("many") and uncountable ("much") nouns just like English
Position is flexible: can come before or after its noun
When used substantively, takes the gender of what it represents
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Part E (Cultural Context)
For English speakers, understanding multus requires cultural context:
Roman Quantity Expression:
Romans often emphasized quantity in their writing
Large numbers showed power and success
Public displays often involved "many" people or things
Social Context:
Having "many" clients showed social status
"Much" wealth indicated political influence
"Many" friends demonstrated social success
Literary Usage:
Authors used multus to emphasize magnitude
Common in historical works describing armies
Frequent in poetry describing nature or emotions
Modern Relevance:
Similar to English many/much distinction
Important in understanding Roman values
Key to reading historical documents
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Part F (Literary Citation)
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Cicero's "De Amicitia" (7.23):
Multī many dīvitias riches dēspiciunt despise quōs whom parvō with little contentōs content tenuis simple vīctus lifestyle cultusque and refinement dēlectat delights
Part F-B (Complete Translation)
Multī dīvitias dēspiciunt quōs parvō contentōs tenuis vīctus cultusque dēlectat. Many despise riches, who are delighted by a simple lifestyle and refinement, being content with little.
Part F-C (Literary Analysis)
This passage demonstrates Cicero's use of multī as a substantive noun meaning "many people." It appears in a philosophical discussion about contentment and wealth, showing how the adjective can be used to make broad statements about human nature.
Part F-D (Grammatical Notes)
Multī: nominative plural masculine, used substantively
Subject of both dēspiciunt and dēlectat
Demonstrates how multī can function as a noun
Shows typical Latin word order flexibility
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Genre Section: Historical Narrative
Part A (Interleaved Text)
42.16 Multī many hostēs enemies ad against urbem city veniēbant were coming
42.17 Dux leader multās many legiōnēs legions in into Galliam Gaul dūxit led
42.18 Post after multa many proelia battles pāx peace facta made est was
42.19 Multī many mīlitēs soldiers in in bellō war cecidērunt fell
42.20 Multae many gentēs tribes Rōmānīs to the Romans sē themselves dēdērunt surrendered
42.21 Rēx king multum much aurum gold templīs to the temples dedit gave
42.22 Per through multōs many mēnsēs months urbs city obsessa besieged est was
42.23 Senātus senate multā many dōna gifts victōribus to the victors prōmīsit promised
42.24 Multae many nāvēs ships in in tempestāte storm perīerunt perished
42.25 Exercitus army multam much praedam plunder cēpit took
42.26 Multī many cīvēs citizens propter because of famem famine urbem city relīquērunt left
42.27 Imperātor emperor multā many templa temples aedificāvit built
42.28 Post after multōs many annōs years exsilī of exile dux leader rediit returned
42.29 Multae many urbēs cities bellō by war dēlētae destroyed sunt were
42.30 Multum much sanguinem blood terra earth bibit drank
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Part B (Complete Sentences)
42.16 Multī hostēs ad urbem veniēbant. Many enemies were coming against the city.
42.17 Dux multās legiōnēs in Galliam dūxit. The leader led many legions into Gaul.
42.18 Post multa proelia pāx facta est. After many battles, peace was made.
42.19 Multī mīlitēs in bellō cecidērunt. Many soldiers fell in war.
42.20 Multae gentēs Rōmānīs sē dēdērunt. Many tribes surrendered themselves to the Romans.
42.21 Rēx multum aurum templīs dedit. The king gave much gold to the temples.
42.22 Per multōs mēnsēs urbs obsessa est. For many months the city was besieged.
42.23 Senātus multā dōna victōribus prōmīsit. The senate promised many gifts to the victors.
42.24 Multae nāvēs in tempestāte perīerunt. Many ships perished in the storm.
42.25 Exercitus multam praedam cēpit. The army took much plunder.
42.26 Multī cīvēs propter famem urbem relīquērunt. Many citizens left the city because of famine.
42.27 Imperātor multā templa aedificāvit. The emperor built many temples.
42.28 Post multōs annōs exsilī dux rediit. After many years of exile, the leader returned.
42.29 Multae urbēs bellō dēlētae sunt. Many cities were destroyed by war.
42.30 Multum sanguinem terra bibit. The earth drank much blood.
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Part C (Latin Text Only)
42.16 Multī hostēs ad urbem veniēbant.
42.17 Dux multās legiōnēs in Galliam dūxit.
42.18 Post multa proelia pāx facta est.
42.19 Multī mīlitēs in bellō cecidērunt.
42.20 Multae gentēs Rōmānīs sē dēdērunt.
42.21 Rēx multum aurum templīs dedit.
42.22 Per multōs mēnsēs urbs obsessa est.
42.23 Senātus multā dōna victōribus prōmīsit.
42.24 Multae nāvēs in tempestāte perīerunt.
42.25 Exercitus multam praedam cēpit.
42.26 Multī cīvēs propter famem urbem relīquērunt.
42.27 Imperātor multā templa aedificāvit.
42.28 Post multōs annōs exsilī dux rediit.
42.29 Multae urbēs bellō dēlētae sunt.
42.30 Multum sanguinem terra bibit.
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Part D (Grammar Analysis)
In historical narrative, multus -a -um appears frequently with specific patterns:
Time Expressions:
Per multōs mēnsēs (duration)
Post multōs annōs (time after which)
Multā aetāte (ablative of time within which)
Military Context:
Multae legiōnēs (subject/object of military actions)
Multī hostēs (describing enemy forces)
Multa proelia (battles and conflicts)
Case Usage in Historical Writing:
Accusative for direct objects (multās urbēs)
Ablative for means or instrument (multā virtūte)
Nominative for subjects of historical actions (multī mīlitēs)
Word Order in Historical Narrative:
Often placed before its noun for emphasis
Can be separated from its noun for stylistic effect
Frequently begins sentences in dramatic descriptions
Special Uses in Historical Context:
Expressing large quantities without specific numbers
Creating dramatic effect in battle descriptions
Emphasizing the scale of historical events
Common Combinations:
With military terms (legiōnēs, mīlitēs, hostēs)
With time words (annī, mēnsēs, diēs)
With abstract nouns (virtūs, glōria, honor)
These examples show how Roman historians used multus to convey the magnitude of historical events and military actions, a key feature of Latin historical narrative.
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