Lesson 48 Latinum Institute Latin Reading Course
Latin Lesson 48: Nūllus (not any, no one)
Part A (Interleaved English-Latin Text)
48.1 Nūllus no puer boy in in viā the road est is
48.2 Nūlla no puella girl templum temple intrat enters
48.3 Nūllum no periculum danger nōs us terret frightens
48.4 Nūllī to no servō slave pecūniam money dō I give
48.5 Nūllam no spem hope hostēs the enemies habent have
48.6 Nūllō with no gladiō sword mīles the soldier pugnat fights
48.7 Nūllī no equī horses in in agrīs the fields currunt run
48.8 Nūllās no litterās letters scrībis you write
48.9 Nūlla no verba words dīcit he says
48.10 Nūllīs to no deīs gods sacrificia sacrifices facimus we make
48.11 Rēx the king nūllum no bellum war gerit wages
48.12 Magister the teacher nūllōs no librōs books legit reads
48.13 Nūllae no nāvēs ships in in portū the harbor manent remain
48.14 Nūlla no carmina songs poēta the poet cantat sings
48.15 Nūllīs with no armīs weapons urbem the city dēfendunt they defend
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Part A2 (Experimental Text with English Words Using Latin Cases)
Null-us boy-us in road-ā is-t Null-a girl-a temple-um enter-t Null-um danger-um us-ōs frighten-t Null-ī slave-ō money-am give-ō Null-am hope-em enemies-ēs have-nt
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Part B (Complete Sentences)
48.1 Nūllus puer in viā est. There is no boy in the road.
48.2 Nūlla puella templum intrat. No girl enters the temple.
48.3 Nūllum periculum nōs terret. No danger frightens us.
48.4 Nūllī servō pecūniam dō. I give money to no slave.
48.5 Nūllam spem hostēs habent. The enemies have no hope.
48.6 Nūllō gladiō mīles pugnat. The soldier fights with no sword.
48.7 Nūllī equī in agrīs currunt. No horses run in the fields.
48.8 Nūllās litterās scrībis. You write no letters.
48.9 Nūlla verba dīcit. He says no words.
48.10 Nūllīs deīs sacrificia facimus. We make sacrifices to no gods.
48.11 Rēx nūllum bellum gerit. The king wages no war.
48.12 Magister nūllōs librōs legit. The teacher reads no books.
48.13 Nūllae nāvēs in portū manent. No ships remain in the harbor.
48.14 Nūlla carmina poēta cantat. The poet sings no songs.
48.15 Nūllīs armīs urbem dēfendunt. They defend the city with no weapons.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Part C (Latin Only)
48.1 Nūllus puer in viā est.
48.2 Nūlla puella templum intrat.
48.3 Nūllum periculum nōs terret.
48.4 Nūllī servō pecūniam dō.
48.5 Nūllam spem hostēs habent.
48.6 Nūllō gladiō mīles pugnat.
48.7 Nūllī equī in agrīs currunt.
48.8 Nūllās litterās scrībis.
48.9 Nūlla verba dīcit.
48.10 Nūllīs deīs sacrificia facimus.
48.11 Rēx nūllum bellum gerit.
48.12 Magister nūllōs librōs legit.
48.13 Nūllae nāvēs in portū manent.
48.14 Nūlla carmina poēta cantat.
48.15 Nūllīs armīs urbem dēfendunt.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Part D (Grammar Explanation)
For English speakers, nūllus is best understood as meaning "no" or "not any" when modifying a noun. It follows the pattern of first and second declension adjectives but with some special features:
Forms:
Masculine: nūllus, nūllīus, nūllī, nūllum, nūllō
Feminine: nūlla, nūllīus, nūllī, nūllam, nūllā
Neuter: nūllum, nūllīus, nūllī, nūllum, nūllō
Key differences from English:
Must agree with its noun in gender, number, and case
Can be used in any case, unlike English "no"
Cannot be used with other adjectives like "the"
Common uses:
As an adjective modifying a noun
As a pronoun meaning "no one" (masculine)
In any case required by the sentence structure
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Part E (Cultural Context)
For English speakers, understanding nūllus requires cultural context:
Roman Negation:
Romans often preferred using nūllus over other forms of negation
Showed definiteness and finality in statements
Important in legal and formal contexts
Social Implications:
Used in emphatic denials
Common in philosophical arguments
Found in political speeches
Modern Relevance:
Similar to Romance language negatives
More precise than English "no"
Important in understanding Roman thought patterns
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Part F (Literary Citation)
Part F-A (Interleaved Text)
From Cicero's "Pro Archia" (12.30):
Nūllam no virtūtem virtue aliam other mercēde with reward quam than immortālitātis of immortality sequitur pursues
Part F-B (Complete Translation)
Nūllam virtūtem aliam mercēde quam immortālitātis sequitur. He pursues no other virtue with a reward than that of immortality.
Part F-C (Literary Analysis)
Cicero uses nūllus for emphasis, showing the exclusive focus on immortality as a reward for virtue. This demonstrates the word's power in philosophical discourse.
Part F-D (Grammatical Notes)
Nūllam: feminine accusative singular
Modifies virtūtem (direct object)
Shows typical placement at start of phrase
Creates emphasis through position
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Genre Section: Military Narrative
Part A (Interleaved Text)
48.16 Nūllus no hostis enemy castra the camp oppugnat attacks
48.17 Dux the leader nūllās no cōpiās troops in into urbem the city mittit sends
48.18 Nūlla no legiō legion flūmen the river trānsit crosses
48.19 Nūllum no auxilium help sociī the allies mittunt send
48.20 Nūllī no equitēs horsemen collem the hill tenent hold
48.21 Mīlitēs the soldiers nūllā with no morā delay prōcēdunt advance
48.22 Nūllae no sagittae arrows in in pharētrīs the quivers manent remain
48.23 Imperator the commander nūllum no signum signal dat gives
48.24 Nūllī to no tribūnō tribune imperia orders dantur are given
48.25 Centuriōnēs the centurions nūllōs no hostēs enemies vident see
48.26 Nūllum no perīculum danger castrīs to the camp appropinquat approaches
48.27 Explōrātōrēs the scouts nūllās no insidiās ambushes inveniunt find
48.28 Nūllō with no tēlō weapon barbarī the barbarians pugnant fight
48.29 Nūlla no castra camps in in montibus the mountains sunt are
48.30 Nūllīs with no scūtīs shields cohortēs the cohorts prōgrediuntur advance
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Part B (Complete Sentences)
48.16 Nūllus hostis castra oppugnat. No enemy attacks the camp.
48.17 Dux nūllās cōpiās in urbem mittit. The leader sends no troops into the city.
48.18 Nūlla legiō flūmen trānsit. No legion crosses the river.
48.19 Nūllum auxilium sociī mittunt. The allies send no help.
48.20 Nūllī equitēs collem tenent. No horsemen hold the hill.
48.21 Mīlitēs nūllā morā prōcēdunt. The soldiers advance with no delay.
48.22 Nūllae sagittae in pharētrīs manent. No arrows remain in the quivers.
48.23 Imperator nūllum signum dat. The commander gives no signal.
48.24 Nūllī tribūnō imperia dantur. Orders are given to no tribune.
48.25 Centuriōnēs nūllōs hostēs vident. The centurions see no enemies.
48.26 Nūllum perīculum castrīs appropinquat. No danger approaches the camp.
48.27 Explōrātōrēs nūllās insidiās inveniunt. The scouts find no ambushes.
48.28 Nūllō tēlō barbarī pugnant. The barbarians fight with no weapon.
48.29 Nūlla castra in montibus sunt. There are no camps in the mountains.
48.30 Nūllīs scūtīs cohortēs prōgrediuntur. The cohorts advance with no shields.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Part C (Latin Only)
48.16 Nūllus hostis castra oppugnat.
48.17 Dux nūllās cōpiās in urbem mittit.
48.18 Nūlla legiō flūmen trānsit.
48.19 Nūllum auxilium sociī mittunt.
48.20 Nūllī equitēs collem tenent.
48.21 Mīlitēs nūllā morā prōcēdunt.
48.22 Nūllae sagittae in pharētrīs manent.
48.23 Imperator nūllum signum dat.
48.24 Nūllī tribūnō imperia dantur.
48.25 Centuriōnēs nūllōs hostēs vident.
48.26 Nūllum perīculum castrīs appropinquat.
48.27 Explōrātōrēs nūllās insidiās inveniunt.
48.28 Nūllō tēlō barbarī pugnant.
48.29 Nūlla castra in montibus sunt.
48.30 Nūllīs scūtīs cohortēs prōgrediuntur.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Part D (Grammar Explanation)
In this military narrative section, nūllus is used to describe various aspects of warfare and military operations where something is notably absent. Let's analyze its usage:
Position in Military Commands:
Often placed at the beginning for emphasis
Can precede or follow the noun it modifies
Creates dramatic effect in military reports
Case Usage in Military Context:
Nominative: nūllus hostis (no enemy) as subject
Accusative: nūllās cōpiās (no troops) as direct object
Ablative: nūllā morā (with no delay) in ablative of manner
Dative: nūllī tribūnō (to no tribune) as indirect object
Agreement Patterns:
With military terms:
Masculine: nūllus hostis, nūllī equitēs
Feminine: nūlla legiō, nūllae sagittae
Neuter: nūllum signum, nūlla castra (plural)
Special Military Vocabulary:
Terms for troops: cōpiae, legiō, cohortēs
Equipment: tēla, scūta, sagittae
Positions: collis, castra, montes
Personnel: dux, imperator, tribūnus
Common Constructions in Military Writing:
With ablative of means: nūllō tēlō pugnant
With ablative of manner: nūllā morā prōcēdunt
In negative reports: nūllōs hostēs vident
The examples show how Roman military writers used nūllus to report:
Absence of enemy activity
Lack of equipment or resources
Missing tactical support
Clear battlefield conditions
Negative reconnaissance reports
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾