Lesson 45: Latin for Medics, Pharmacists and Herbalists

ferō ferre tulī lātum - bear, carry, endure

Introduction

The verb ferō is one of the most important and irregular verbs in Latin, meaning "to bear," "to carry," or "to endure." For medical professionals, this verb is essential as it appears frequently in medical texts describing patients bearing pain (dolōrem ferre), carrying medicines (medicāmenta ferre), or enduring treatments (cūrātiōnem ferre).

Definition: ferō is an irregular third conjugation verb with the principal parts: ferō (I bear/carry), ferre (to bear/carry), tulī (I bore/carried), lātum (borne/carried).

FAQ Schema Q: What does ferō mean in Latin? A: Ferō means "to bear," "to carry," or "to endure." In medical contexts, it often refers to bearing pain, carrying remedies, or enduring treatments.

This lesson will demonstrate how ferō is used in various medical, pharmaceutical, and herbal contexts, showing its different forms and constructions. The examples will include references to carrying herbs, bearing illnesses, and enduring medical procedures.

Educational Schema

• Subject: Latin Language Learning

• Level: Intermediate

• Focus: Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Herbal Latin

• Topic: The irregular verb ferō and its uses

• Learning Type: Self-study Reading Lesson

Key Takeaways:

• Ferō is an essential irregular verb with unique forms

• It has multiple meanings relevant to medicine: bear, carry, endure

• The perfect stem (tul-) and supine stem (lāt-) are completely different from the present stem

• Common in medical contexts for describing patient experiences and medical procedures

Part A (Interleaved English and Latin Text)

45.1 Aeger sick person dolōrem pain gravem severe fert bears

45.2 Medicī doctors herbās herbs salūtārēs healthful ferunt carry

45.3 Tulī I carried medicāmentum medicine ad to aegrum the sick person

45.4 Patiēns patient morbum disease diū for a long time tulit endured

45.5 Pharmacopōla pharmacist remedia remedies nova new ferre to carry dēbet ought

45.6 Vulnera wounds gravia severe fortiter bravely lāta borne sunt were

45.7 Herbārius herbalist plantās plants medicīnālēs medicinal ex from hortō garden fert carries

45.8 Febrem fever altam high per through noctēs nights trēs three tulērunt they endured

45.9 Feram I will bear cūrātiōnem treatment difficilem difficult patienter patiently

45.10 Medicus doctor auxilium help celeriter quickly tulit brought

45.11 Unguentum ointment ad to vulnus wound ferendum to be applied est is

45.12 Morbus disease contagiōsus contagious facile easily fertur is carried

45.13 Herbae herbs siccātae dried in in sacculīs small bags lātae carried sunt were

45.14 Ferēns bearing dolōrem pain aeger sick person auxilium help quaerit seeks

45.15 Vīrus poison per through sanguinem blood lātum carried est was

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Part B (Complete Natural Sentences)

45.1 Aeger dolōrem gravem fert. The sick person bears severe pain.

45.2 Medicī herbās salūtārēs ferunt. The doctors carry healthful herbs.

45.3 Tulī medicāmentum ad aegrum. I brought medicine to the sick person.

45.4 Patiēns morbum diū tulit. The patient endured the disease for a long time.

45.5 Pharmacopōla remedia nova ferre dēbet. The pharmacist ought to carry new remedies.

45.6 Vulnera gravia fortiter lāta sunt. Severe wounds were bravely borne.

45.7 Herbārius plantās medicīnālēs ex hortō fert. The herbalist carries medicinal plants from the garden.

45.8 Febrem altam per noctēs trēs tulērunt. They endured high fever for three nights.

45.9 Feram cūrātiōnem difficilem patienter. I will bear the difficult treatment patiently.

45.10 Medicus auxilium celeriter tulit. The doctor quickly brought help.

45.11 Unguentum ad vulnus ferendum est. The ointment must be applied to the wound.

45.12 Morbus contagiōsus facile fertur. The contagious disease is easily transmitted.

45.13 Herbae siccātae in sacculīs lātae sunt. Dried herbs were carried in small bags.

45.14 Ferēns dolōrem aeger auxilium quaerit. The sick person bearing pain seeks help.

45.15 Vīrus per sanguinem lātum est. The poison was carried through the blood.

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Part C (Latin Text Only)

45.1 Aeger dolōrem gravem fert.

45.2 Medicī herbās salūtārēs ferunt.

45.3 Tulī medicāmentum ad aegrum.

45.4 Patiēns morbum diū tulit.

45.5 Pharmacopōla remedia nova ferre dēbet.

45.6 Vulnera gravia fortiter lāta sunt.

45.7 Herbārius plantās medicīnālēs ex hortō fert.

45.8 Febrem altam per noctēs trēs tulērunt.

45.9 Feram cūrātiōnem difficilem patienter.

45.10 Medicus auxilium celeriter tulit.

45.11 Unguentum ad vulnus ferendum est.

45.12 Morbus contagiōsus facile fertur.

45.13 Herbae siccātae in sacculīs lātae sunt.

45.14 Ferēns dolōrem aeger auxilium quaerit.

45.15 Vīrus per sanguinem lātum est.

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Part D (Grammar Explanation)

Grammar Rules for ferō

Ferō is one of the most irregular verbs in Latin. Unlike regular third conjugation verbs, it has shortened forms and completely different stems for different tenses.

Principal Parts:

• ferō (I bear/carry) - present active

• ferre (to bear/carry) - present infinitive

• tulī (I bore/carried) - perfect active

• lātum (borne/carried) - supine/past participle

Present System Forms (based on fer- stem):

• Present: ferō, fers, fert, ferimus, fertis, ferunt

• Imperfect: ferēbam, ferēbās, ferēbat, ferēbāmus, ferēbātis, ferēbant

• Future: feram, ferēs, feret, ferēmus, ferētis, ferent

Perfect System Forms (based on tul- stem):

• Perfect: tulī, tulistī, tulit, tulimus, tulistis, tulērunt

• Pluperfect: tuleram, tulerās, tulerat, tulerāmus, tulerātis, tulerant

• Future Perfect: tulerō, tuleris, tulerit, tulerimus, tuleritis, tulerint

Passive Forms:

• Present Passive: feror, ferris, fertur, ferimur, feriminī, feruntur

• Perfect Passive: lātus sum, lātus es, lātus est, lātī sumus, lātī estis, lātī sunt

Common Mistakes:

1. Confusing the perfect stem (tul-) with the present stem (fer-)

2. Forgetting that the infinitive is ferre, not ferere

3. Not recognizing lātus, -a, -um as the past participle of ferō

4. Missing the passive meaning of fertur (is carried/transmitted)

5. Confusing forms of ferō with regular third conjugation verbs

Comparison with English: Unlike English "bear" (bore, borne), Latin ferō changes its entire stem. Think of it as if English used "bear, bore, taken" - completely different roots. The passive "fertur" often translates as "is transmitted" in medical contexts, similar to how diseases are "carried" or "spread."

Step-by-Step Guide for Recognizing Forms:

1. Look for fer- = present system (I bear, am bearing)

2. Look for tul- = perfect system (I bore, have borne)

3. Look for lāt- = participle/passive (borne, carried)

4. Check endings to determine person, number, and voice

5. In medical texts, fertur often = "is transmitted/spread"

Grammatical Summary:

• Conjugation: Irregular Third

• Stems: fer- (present), tul- (perfect), lāt- (supine)

• Common compounds: ad-ferō (bring to), au-ferō (carry away), con-ferō (bring together)

• Gerund: ferendī, ferendō, ferendum, ferendō

• Gerundive: ferendus, -a, -um (must be borne/carried)

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Part E (Cultural Context)

For English speakers learning medical Latin, understanding ferō provides insight into how Romans conceptualized medicine and healing. The verb appears frequently in ancient medical texts, particularly in Celsus's "De Medicina" and Pliny's "Natural History."

In Roman medicine, the concept of "bearing" or "enduring" (ferre) was central to the patient experience. Romans believed that the ability to bear pain (dolōrem ferre) was a sign of virtus (manliness/courage). This cultural value influenced medical practice, as physicians often expected patients to endure painful treatments with fortitude.

The passive form fertur was crucial in understanding disease transmission. Romans recognized that certain diseases were "carried" (feruntur) from person to person, though they lacked modern germ theory. They observed that contagious diseases seemed to be "borne through the air" (per āera feruntur).

In pharmaceutical contexts, ferō described the transportation of medicines. Roman pharmacists (pharmacopōlae) literally "carried" (ferēbant) remedies from place to place, as many were itinerant practitioners. The phrase "auxilium ferre" (to bring help) became a standard expression for medical assistance.

Herbalists used ferō to describe harvesting and transporting medicinal plants. The timing of when herbs were "carried from the field" (ex agrō lātae) was considered crucial for their potency. This reflects the Roman belief that the act of carrying herbs properly was part of their therapeutic preparation.

The compound forms of ferō also held medical significance. Auferre (to carry away) described removing disease, while adferre (to bring to) meant applying remedies. Understanding these nuances helps modern students appreciate the sophistication of Roman medical terminology.

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Part F (Literary Citation)

From Celsus, De Medicina 3.4.1:

Part F-A (Interleaved Text)

Febris fever autem moreover tum then maximē especially timenda to be feared est is cum when neque neither per through sudōrem sweat neque nor per through urīnam urine quicquam anything levātiōnis of relief fertur is brought et and tamen nevertheless corpus body nihilō by nothing levius lighter sed but potius rather gravius heavier fit becomes

Part F-B (Complete Translation)

Febris autem tum maximē timenda est cum neque per sudōrem neque per urīnam quicquam levātiōnis fertur, et tamen corpus nihilō levius sed potius gravius fit.

Moreover, fever is then especially to be feared when no relief is brought either through sweat or through urine, and nevertheless the body becomes no lighter but rather heavier.

Part F-C (Latin Text)

Febris autem tum maximē timenda est cum neque per sudōrem neque per urīnam quicquam levātiōnis fertur, et tamen corpus nihilō levius sed potius gravius fit.

Part F-D (Grammatical Notes)

This passage demonstrates the medical use of fertur in its passive sense. Here, levātiōnis fertur means "relief is brought/carried," showing how ferō was used to describe the movement or transmission of medical conditions. The construction quicquam levātiōnis (anything of relief) uses the partitive genitive. The parallel structure neque...neque emphasizes the absence of natural healing processes that would normally "carry away" the fever through bodily excretions. This reflects the Roman understanding that healing involved substances being "carried out" of the body.

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Genre Section: Medical Treatise

Part A (Interleaved Text)

45.16 Medicus physician prūdēns prudent herbās herbs recentēs fresh sēcum with himself semper always fert carries

45.17 Multī many aegrotī sick people dolōrēs pains atrōcēs terrible patienter patiently ferunt bear spē in hope salūtis of health

45.18 Pharmacopōla pharmacist expertus experienced tulerat had brought rādīcēs roots siccātās dried ex from Aegyptō Egypt

45.19 Venēnum poison per through vēnās veins celeriter quickly lātum carried cor heart oppugnat attacks

45.20 Mulieres women gravidae pregnant onera burdens corporis of body fortiter bravely ferunt bear

45.21 Ferre to carry aquam water calidam hot ad to aegrum sick person necesse necessary est is

45.22 Contagiō contagion pestilentiae of plague per through āera air fertur is carried ab from homine person ad to hominem person

45.23 Medicus doctor tulit brought novum new medicāmentum medicine quod which dolōrem pain levat relieves

45.24 Infāns infant febrem fever levem light facile easily fert bears sed but māter mother anxia anxious est is

45.25 Ferenda must be borne sunt are incommoda discomforts cūrātiōnis of treatment ut so that sanitas health restituātur may be restored

45.26 Herbārius herbalist perītus skilled ferēbat was carrying fasciculum bundle plantārum of plants rārārum rare

45.27 Sanguis blood īnfectus infected morbum disease ad to omnia all membra limbs fert carries

45.28 Tulimus we endured hiemem winter asperrimam very harsh in in quā which multī many morbīs by diseases oppressī oppressed sunt were

45.29 Medicāmenta medicines amāra bitter aegrotus sick person invītus unwilling ferre to take coāctus compelled est is

45.30 Lātae having been brought sunt were epistulae letters ad to medicum doctor clārum famous dē about morbō disease novō new

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Part B (Complete Natural Sentences)

45.16 Medicus prūdēns herbās recentēs sēcum semper fert. A prudent physician always carries fresh herbs with him.

45.17 Multī aegrotī dolōrēs atrōcēs patienter ferunt spē salūtis. Many sick people patiently bear terrible pains in hope of recovery.

45.18 Pharmacopōla expertus tulerat rādīcēs siccātās ex Aegyptō. The experienced pharmacist had brought dried roots from Egypt.

45.19 Venēnum per vēnās celeriter lātum cor oppugnat. Poison carried quickly through the veins attacks the heart.

45.20 Mulieres gravidae onera corporis fortiter ferunt. Pregnant women bravely bear the burdens of the body.

45.21 Ferre aquam calidam ad aegrum necesse est. It is necessary to bring hot water to the sick person.

45.22 Contagiō pestilentiae per āera fertur ab homine ad hominem. The contagion of plague is carried through the air from person to person.

45.23 Medicus tulit novum medicāmentum quod dolōrem levat. The doctor brought a new medicine which relieves pain.

45.24 Infāns febrem levem facile fert sed māter anxia est. The infant easily bears a light fever but the mother is anxious.

45.25 Ferenda sunt incommoda cūrātiōnis ut sanitas restituātur. The discomforts of treatment must be borne so that health may be restored.

45.26 Herbārius perītus ferēbat fasciculum plantārum rārārum. The skilled herbalist was carrying a bundle of rare plants.

45.27 Sanguis īnfectus morbum ad omnia membra fert. Infected blood carries disease to all the limbs.

45.28 Tulimus hiemem asperrimam in quā multī morbīs oppressī sunt. We endured a very harsh winter in which many were afflicted by diseases.

45.29 Medicāmenta amāra aegrotus invītus ferre coāctus est. The sick person is compelled to take bitter medicines unwillingly.

45.30 Lātae sunt epistulae ad medicum clārum dē morbō novō. Letters were sent to the famous doctor about a new disease.

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Part C (Latin Text Only)

45.16 Medicus prūdēns herbās recentēs sēcum semper fert.

45.17 Multī aegrotī dolōrēs atrōcēs patienter ferunt spē salūtis.

45.18 Pharmacopōla expertus tulerat rādīcēs siccātās ex Aegyptō.

45.19 Venēnum per vēnās celeriter lātum cor oppugnat.

45.20 Mulieres gravidae onera corporis fortiter ferunt.

45.21 Ferre aquam calidam ad aegrum necesse est.

45.22 Contagiō pestilentiae per āera fertur ab homine ad hominem.

45.23 Medicus tulit novum medicāmentum quod dolōrem levat.

45.24 Infāns febrem levem facile fert sed māter anxia est.

45.25 Ferenda sunt incommoda cūrātiōnis ut sanitas restituātur.

45.26 Herbārius perītus ferēbat fasciculum plantārum rārārum.

45.27 Sanguis īnfectus morbum ad omnia membra fert.

45.28 Tulimus hiemem asperrimam in quā multī morbīs oppressī sunt.

45.29 Medicāmenta amāra aegrotus invītus ferre coāctus est.

45.30 Lātae sunt epistulae ad medicum clārum dē morbō novō.

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Part D (Grammar Explanation)

In this medical treatise section, ferō appears in various advanced constructions that demonstrate its versatility in medical Latin:

Gerundive Construction (45.25): "Ferenda sunt incommoda" - The gerundive ferenda (neuter plural agreeing with incommoda) expresses necessity or obligation. This passive periphrastic construction is common in medical prescriptions, meaning "must be borne/endured."

Perfect Participle as Adjective (45.19): "Venēnum...lātum" - The perfect participle lātum modifies venēnum, creating a compact expression for "poison (which has been) carried." This construction is frequent in describing the progression of diseases or treatments.

Historical Infinitive Context (45.21): "Ferre...necesse est" - The infinitive with necesse est expresses necessity. In medical texts, this construction often appears in treatment protocols.

Compound Subject with Singular Verb (45.22): "Contagiō...fertur" - Note how the singular passive fertur agrees with the singular subject contagiō, even though the action affects multiple people (ab homine ad hominem).

Relative Clause (45.23): "medicāmentum quod dolōrem levat" - The main verb tulit is separated from its object by a relative clause, a common feature in medical descriptions where properties of medicines are explained.

Perfect System in Past Narration (45.18, 45.28): "tulerat" (pluperfect) and "tulimus" (perfect) show completed actions in medical case histories. The pluperfect indicates an action completed before another past action.

Passive Perfect with Copula (45.30): "Lātae sunt epistulae" - The perfect passive participle agrees with the subject in gender, number, and case (feminine plural nominative), while sunt provides the tense.

Common Medical Collocations with ferō:

• dolōrem ferre (to bear pain)

• auxilium ferre (to bring help)

• morbum ferre (to carry disease)

• medicāmenta ferre (to take medicines)

• per sanguinem ferrī (to be carried through blood)

These examples show how ferō functions as a key verb in medical Latin for describing the movement of diseases, the transportation of medicines, and the endurance required in healing.

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About This Course

This course is part of the Latinum Institute's comprehensive Latin reading program, designed specifically for autodidacts learning Latin with a focus on medical, pharmaceutical, and herbal applications. The method, developed by Evan der Millner BA MA (Cantab. NZ, London), emphasizes natural language acquisition through extensive reading of carefully constructed Latin texts.

Since 2006, the Latinum Institute has been pioneering online Latin education through innovative approaches that combine traditional philological rigor with modern pedagogical insights. The reading method employed in these lessons draws from the successful language acquisition techniques used at latinum.substack.com and latinum.org.uk.

Each lesson in this series:

• Introduces vocabulary through extensive contextual repetition

• Provides interlinear support that gradually builds reading fluency

• Uses authentic Latin word order to prepare students for real texts

• Includes cultural and historical context essential for understanding ancient medical texts

• Features carefully selected literary passages from genuine Latin medical authors

The construed text approach in Part A allows beginners to decode Latin systematically while Parts B and C present increasingly natural Latin syntax. This graduated method has proven effective for self-directed learners who need to read Latin medical, pharmaceutical, and botanical texts for research or professional purposes.

Evan der Millner, curator of the Latinum Institute, brings decades of experience in classical languages and online education. His work has been recognized in various academic publications and online educational platforms. The Latinum Institute's materials are used by thousands of students worldwide, from medical researchers reading Renaissance pharmaceutical texts to herbalists studying classical botanical treatises.

For more resources and information about the complete Latinum method, visit latinum.substack.com and latinum.org.uk, where you'll find additional lessons, audio materials, and community support for your Latin learning journey.

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