If, historically, one set is predominately used as adverbs and the other as prepositions, then I will likely follow that pattern.Īlthough, after looking over the two synonym links you have provided, it seems like there is a pretty distinct difference between these. As I work more on writing in Latin, I have come to realize that I need a better understanding of the nuances of words, and I was confused by the words listed since it seemed like they were often used interchangeably. I was mostly looking for confirmation that I had understood Hemo's response. The book you linked to seems more comprehensive, which is great. I have a grammar book (New Latin Grammer, by Charles Bennet), and I have a copy of Doederlein's Handbook of Latin Synonyms, but it did not have anything specific about these words. The synonym links are particularly useful. ![]() Yes, thank you for the additional materials. 'We speak about/regarding nuts.' Nuces desunt. Of course, they have the same etymology, but mean quite different things: Loquimur de nucibus. 'He stands beneath a willow tree.'Īlso, be sure not to equate prepositions (like de) with preverbs/preverbatives like de. That is, you may write Stat supra for 'He stands on top.' but not Stat sub for 'he stands beneath.' The latter sub, being a preposition, needs a noun: Stat sub salice. super and suprā), but only adverbs may stand alone. This means that many words may function as both an adverb & a preposition (e.g. ![]() However, as often happens, the adverbial force of words such as suprā was reinterpreted, taken from the verb and given to the noun, so that its function became also that of a preposition. ![]() superus 'upper' for * superād (parte) 'on the upper part' > suprā) have in the Classical language become adverbs, meaning that they are to be understood grammatically as 'modifying the verb alone'. The bookish answer is that: words like sub and in and de are prepositions, so-called because they are 'put before' the nouns they govern whereas these latter formations in -ā (which historically are old ablative sg.
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