Lesson 45 Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
Latin Lesson: dē (down from, about, concerning)
Part A (Interleaved English-Latin Text)
45.1 Caesar Caesar dē about bellō war cōgitat thinks
45.2 Multī many dē from templō temple veniunt come
45.3 Senātor senator dē about lēgibus laws loquitur speaks
45.4 Dē down from collibus hills aqua water fluit flows
45.5 Pater father dē about fīliō son sollicitus worried est is
45.6 Mīles soldier dē down from mūrō wall cadit falls
45.7 Orator orator dē about virṭūte virtue dīcit speaks
45.8 Magister teacher dē about litterīs literature docet teaches
45.9 Agricola farmer dē about agrīs fields cōgitat thinks
45.10 Dē from vīllā villa vertunt they turn ad to viam road
45.11 Mercātor merchant dē about pretiīs prices dīcit speaks
45.12 Legiō legion dē down from montibus mountains dēscendit descends
45.13 Poēta poet dē about amōre love cantat sings
45.14 Puellae girls dē about flōribus flowers gaudent rejoice
45.15 Philosophus philosopher dē about vītā life disputat discusses
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Part A-2 (English Words with Latin Case Endings)
45.1 Caesar-us about de war-o think-at 45.2 many-i about de temple-o come-unt 45.3 senator-us about de law-ibus speak-itur 45.4 about de hill-ibus water-a flow-it 45.5 father-us about de son-o worried-us be-t 45.6 soldier-us about de wall-o fall-it 45.7 orator-us about de virtue-e say-it 45.8 teacher-us about de letter-is teach-et 45.9 farmer-a about de field-is think-at 45.10 about de villa-a turn-unt to ad road-am 45.11 merchant-us about de price-is say-it 45.12 legion-o about de mountain-ibus descend-it 45.13 poet-a about de love-e sing-at 45.14 girl-ae about de flower-ibus rejoice-ent 45.15 philosopher-us about de life-a discuss-at
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Part B (Complete Sentences)
45.1 Caesar dē bellō cōgitat. Caesar thinks about war.
45.2 Multī dē templō veniunt. Many come from the temple.
45.3 Senātor dē lēgibus loquitur. The senator speaks about the laws.
45.4 Dē collibus aqua fluit. Water flows down from the hills.
45.5 Pater dē fīliō sollicitus est. Father is worried about his son.
45.6 Mīles dē mūrō cadit. The soldier falls from the wall.
45.7 Orator dē virtūte dīcit. The orator speaks about virtue.
45.8 Magister dē litterīs docet. The teacher teaches about literature.
45.9 Agricola dē agrīs cōgitat. The farmer thinks about the fields.
45.10 Dē vīllā vertunt ad viam. They turn from the villa to the road.
45.11 Mercātor dē pretiīs dīcit. The merchant speaks about prices.
45.12 Legiō dē montibus dēscendit. The legion descends from the mountains.
45.13 Poēta dē amōre cantat. The poet sings about love.
45.14 Puellae dē flōribus gaudent. The girls rejoice about the flowers.
45.15 Philosophus dē vītā disputat. The philosopher discusses about life.
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Part C (Latin Only)
45.1 Caesar dē bellō cōgitat.
45.2 Multī dē templō veniunt.
45.3 Senātor dē lēgibus loquitur.
45.4 Dē collibus aqua fluit.
45.5 Pater dē fīliō sollicitus est.
45.6 Mīles dē mūrō cadit.
45.7 Orator dē virtūte dīcit.
45.8 Magister dē litterīs docet.
45.9 Agricola dē agrīs cōgitat.
45.10 Dē vīllā vertunt ad viam.
45.11 Mercātor dē pretiīs dīcit.
45.12 Legiō dē montibus dēscendit.
45.13 Poēta dē amōre cantat.
45.14 Puellae dē flōribus gaudent.
45.15 Philosophus dē vītā disputat.
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Part D (Grammar Explanation)
The preposition "dē" is important for English speakers to understand because it can express several different but related concepts:
Physical Meaning:
Movement downward from something
Separation or departure from something
Always takes the ablative case
Abstract Meaning:
"About" or "concerning" a topic
"Regarding" or "with respect to"
Similar to English "about" but more formal
Case Usage:
Always requires the ablative case
The noun following "dē" must be in the ablative
Examples:
templum → dē templō
mūrus → dē mūrō
collis → dē colle
Common Combinations:
With verbs of speaking (dīcere, loquī)
With verbs of thinking (cōgitāre)
With verbs of movement (venīre, cadere)
Word Order:
Usually comes directly before its object
Can be separated for emphasis
Often starts the phrase it governs
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Part E (Cultural Context)
Understanding "dē" requires cultural context from Roman life:
Social Communication:
Romans frequently discussed topics formally
Public speaking was highly valued
Formal discussions often began with "dē"
Physical Space:
Roman architecture featured many levels
Movement down from buildings was common
Hills and elevation were important in Rome
Abstract Thought:
Romans loved philosophical discussion
Topics were often introduced with "dē"
Writing treatises "dē" subjects was common
Modern Connections:
Still used in academic titles
Example: "De Bello Gallico"
Influences formal English usage
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Part F (Literary Citation)
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Cicero's "Dē Officiīs" (1.1):
Dē about officiīs duties ad to tē you scrībō I write
Part F-B (Complete Translation)
Dē officiīs ad tē scrībō. I write to you about duties.
Part F-C (Literary Analysis)
This opening shows how Romans introduced topics in formal writing. The preposition "dē" signals the subject matter of the entire work.
Part F-D (Grammatical Notes)
"dē" takes ablative "officiīs"
Word order emphasizes topic
Direct and formal style
Typical of Roman philosophical writing
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Genre Section: Philosophical Writing
Part A (Interleaved Text)
45.16 Philosophus the philosopher dē about sapientiae wisdom rēbus matters scrībit writes
45.17 Multī many dē about immortālitāte immortality animī of the soul disputant discuss
45.18 Senex the old man dē about virtūte virtue iuvenēs the young men docet teaches
45.19 Dē about dīvīnīs divine rēbus matters saepe often meditāmur we meditate
45.20 Sapientēs wise men dē about nātūrā nature deōrum of the gods loquuntur speak
45.21 Magister the teacher dē about summō highest bonō good discipulōs pupils interrogat questions
45.22 Dē about fātō fate graviter seriously philosophī philosophers cōgitant think
45.23 Scrīptor the writer dē about vītae of life fīne purpose librum book componit composes
45.24 Discipulī students dē about iūstitiā justice et and lēgibus laws disputant discuss
45.25 Dē about amīcitiā friendship multī many veterēs ancient ones scrīpsērunt wrote
45.26 Philosophus the philosopher dē about animō mind et and corpore body disserit discourses
45.27 Sapientēs wise men dē about vēritāte truth semper always quaerunt seek
45.28 Dē about mōribus customs hominēs men doctī learned scrībunt write
45.29 Magister the teacher dē about pulchrō beauty et and bonō good explicat explains
45.30 Dē about sapientiae of wisdom studiō pursuit multī many librī books sunt are
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Part B (Complete Sentences)
45.16 Philosophus dē sapientiae rēbus scrībit. The philosopher writes about matters of wisdom.
45.17 Multī dē immortālitāte animī disputant. Many discuss about the immortality of the soul.
45.18 Senex dē virtūte iuvenēs docet. The old man teaches the young men about virtue.
45.19 Dē dīvīnīs rēbus saepe meditāmur. We often meditate about divine matters.
45.20 Sapientēs dē nātūrā deōrum loquuntur. The wise men speak about the nature of the gods.
45.21 Magister dē summō bonō discipulōs interrogat. The teacher questions the pupils about the highest good.
45.22 Dē fātō graviter philosophī cōgitant. The philosophers think seriously about fate.
45.23 Scrīptor dē vītae fīne librum componit. The writer composes a book about the purpose of life.
45.24 Discipulī dē iūstitiā et lēgibus disputant. The students discuss about justice and laws.
45.25 Dē amīcitiā multī veterēs scrīpsērunt. Many ancient writers wrote about friendship.
45.26 Philosophus dē animō et corpore disserit. The philosopher discourses about mind and body.
45.27 Sapientēs dē vēritāte semper quaerunt. The wise men always seek concerning truth.
45.28 Dē mōribus hominēs doctī scrībunt. Learned men write about customs.
45.29 Magister dē pulchrō et bonō explicat. The teacher explains about beauty and goodness.
45.30 Dē sapientiae studiō multī librī sunt. There are many books about the pursuit of wisdom.
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Part C (Latin Only)
45.16 Philosophus dē sapientiae rēbus scrībit.
45.17 Multī dē immortālitāte animī disputant.
45.18 Senex dē virtūte iuvenēs docet.
45.19 Dē dīvīnīs rēbus saepe meditāmur.
45.20 Sapientēs dē nātūrā deōrum loquuntur.
45.21 Magister dē summō bonō discipulōs interrogat.
45.22 Dē fātō graviter philosophī cōgitant.
45.23 Scrīptor dē vītae fīne librum componit.
45.24 Discipulī dē iūstitiā et lēgibus disputant.
45.25 Dē amīcitiā multī veterēs scrīpsērunt.
45.26 Philosophus dē animō et corpore disserit.
45.27 Sapientēs dē vēritāte semper quaerunt.
45.28 Dē mōribus hominēs doctī scrībunt.
45.29 Magister dē pulchrō et bonō explicat.
45.30 Dē sapientiae studiō multī librī sunt.
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Part D (Grammar Explanation)
In philosophical writing, the preposition "dē" takes on special importance:
Technical Usage:
Introduces philosophical topics
Often appears in work titles
Links abstract concepts
Common Philosophical Combinations:
dē sapientiae (about wisdom)
dē animō (about the soul/mind)
dē virtūte (about virtue)
dē vēritāte (about truth)
dē bonō (about the good)
Sentence Structures:
Often opens sentences for emphasis
Frequently paired with verbs of:
Speaking (dīcere, loquī)
Writing (scrībere)
Thinking (cōgitāre)
Teaching (docēre)
Discussing (disputāre)
Case Usage in Philosophy:
Abstract nouns in ablative
Often modified by adjectives
Can be followed by genitive of specification
Multiple topics linked with et
Word Order Patterns:
Topic introduction: Dē + ablative at start
Mid-sentence for subordinate points
Multiple dē phrases possible
Can separate dē from its noun for emphasis
These sentences demonstrate how Roman philosophical writing used "dē" to structure complex discussions of abstract topics.
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