Found in Antiquity

Category: Ancient Language

  • Another Latin word for kill

    While I was translating some unseen Latin passages with my high school tutoring student, lo and behold, we came across another word for kill which I hadn’t yet collected! This word is: cōnficiō, cōnficere, cōnfēcī, cōnfectum (con [with] + facere [make]) to make, effect, complete, accomplish; to wear out, consume, destroy; thus, to put an…

  • Greek words for love, in context

    A while ago, I tallied up the Latin words for kill. Today I’m doing something different: I’ll be studying the Greek words for love. Can I hear an “aww” from the audience? Or… was that a sigh of impatience? Because to be honest, I’m tired of people talking about the Greek words for love.  It’s…

  • How to beg for mercy in Latin

    How to beg for mercy in Latin

    What do you do when you have committed a sacrilege, when the Emperor has overheard your snide remark,[1] when you handed in your essay late, or you forgot to attend a meeting with your superior? You may have offended a higher power, who would rightly chastise you for your misdeeds. You must now avail yourself…

  • Far too many Latin words for kill

    Far too many Latin words for kill

    How many words does Latin have for kill? One of the quirky, somewhat morbid attractions of Latin is that it has many, many words for kill. If you’ve ever studied Latin, you’ll probably remember interficere and necāre, two very classic verbs for kill. But it seems that the more literature you read, the more creative…

  • A word in Latin

    fritillus, -ī m dice box. Example sentence: Marcus shook the dice box again. “Argh!” he said. “The lowest roll possible!” Marcus iterum fritillum iecit. “Heu!” inquit. “Canis!”

  • A word in Latin

    pūnītor, -ōris m avenger. Example sentence: “Have you seen the new Avengers movie?” “No, I haven’t even seen the first one.” “vidistine pelilculam cinematographicam novam ‘Punitores’?” “immo, peliculam cinematographicam primam etiam non vidi.”