How to use a latin dictionary

1. How to use a latin dictionary

2. objectives • I can: • Find a simple word in the assigned Latin dictionary • Compare using Whitaker’s Words to Cassell’s Latin Dictionary • Find a word using principal parts • Determine the part of speech for a word • Use the dictionary listing to infer the following • Declension or conjugation • Verb tense • Gender • Special grammatical irregularities • Usage by specific authors • bases

3. Whitaker’s words http://archives.nd.edu/words.html • Pros • Quick and easy for digital natives • Gives lots of information • Part of speech • Gender • Principal parts • Tense and voice • Case and number

4. Why not whitaker? • Just a few key strokes to an on-line translator and a failing grade and severely ticked off teacher • Does have errors • Most importantly, you can’t use it on the IB test but you can use Cassell’s Latin Dictionary. • The more familiar you are with using that dictionary, the easier it will be for you to do well on your test • Your goal and CMS’ expectation as well is for you to score well not just in class but on that test

5. How not to use the latin dictionary • Obviously, not every variation ( declined nouns, adjectives, and pronouns or conjugated verbs) will be listed. Otherwise, this gentleman might only being carrying ten to twenty words worth of the dictionary.

6. Mrs. Eagle, This word isn’t in the dictionary!

7. Dictionary formatting • Cassell’s Latin Dictionary has a specific format to limit the size and number of entries per word ( and confused the uninitiated). • Nouns are listed as: • Nominative singular, genitive singular gender definitions • E.g. Vir, viri m. man • From the genitive singular, you can deduce the declension (ae=1, i=2, is=3, us=4, ei=5) • Sometimes the listing will say “pl” meaning that word can only exist in the plural form • Adjectives and pronouns are listed as: • Masculine nominative singular, feminine nominative singular, neuter nominative singular • E.g. Troianus. Troiana, Troianum Trojan • From the listing you can determine the declension: • -us, -a, -um or -er, -a, -um first/second declension 2-1-2 • -er, -is, -e or -is, -e or something different, -is 3rd

8. Verbs Formatting • Verbs are listed usually in four principal parts: • 1st person singular present tense (o) • Present infinitive (re) • 1st person singular perfect tense (i) • Perfect passive participle/supine (us/um) • E.g. Scribo, scriber, scripsi, sciptum • If a verb is first conjugations (are), Cassell’s will only give the first two parts and assumes you know that the third will be –avi and the fourth will be -atum

9. Deponent verbs are listed in three forms, all passive and follow the –r, -i,-us sum pattern • E.g. Sequor, sequi, secutus sum to follow • Verbs that take special cases will usually include phrases such as “with genitive” or “with dative” • E.g. Credo, credere, credidicreditum with dative to belive, to trust • Some adjectives and nouns can also require special cases and will be noted like the verbs • The definition of a verb is given in the infinitive form such as “to sail” ; this does not mean that you translate it as an infinitive unless it is in the infinitive form in the sentence

10. Miscelleanous • Prepositions will usually have “+ acc “ or “+ abl” • Conjunctions, adverbs, and interjections normally have only one form. Adverbs are usually marked with “adv.” • If you look up a word such as “Tulit” and the dictionary says “see fero”, the word does not mean “see”. Look up “fero”. • Frequently, especially with verbs, the word you are looking for does not conform to the first principal part. Please look at the other principal parts before giving up and calling for help.

11. Other useful information • Many words include usage by specific authors. This can help you narrow down which is the most appropriate definition to use at that time. • Verg Vergil • Cic Cicero • Pl Plautus • Liv Livy • Cat Catullus • Hor Horace • Plin Pliny • Prop Propertius • Ov Ovid

12. Common Spelling changes To facilitate pronunciation, sometimes spellings are contracted. adc becomes acc adfaff adgagg adl all adp app adscasc adsp asp

13. conlcoll conmcomm inl ill inmimm inp imp inrirr submsumm

14. Vergil for Practice • Armavirumquecano, Troiae qui primus aboris • Italiam, fatoprofugus, Laviniaquevenit • litora, multumille et terrisiactatus et alto • vi superumsaevaememoremIunonisobiram; • multaquoque et bello passus, dumcondereturbem, 5 • inferretquedeosLatio, genus undeLatinum, • Albaniquepatres, atquealtaemoeniaRomae.