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Question about Vocabulary

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 10:42 pm
by retypepassword
When I first encountered this, I just memorized the genitive form of the word as if it were a completely different word:

animus, -î: spirit, soul, mind
animî, -ôrum: high spirits, pride, courage

Why is the genitive form presented with a different meaning from the nominative (this happens several times throughout the book...)?

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 10:59 pm
by Tertius Robertus
it is not the genitive, rather, a plural form. Some words allow different meanigs in the plural form.

for instance:
castrum, i = fort

castra orum = millitary basecamp

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 11:06 pm
by retypepassword
So basically, whenever I see the word like:
animi, animorum, animis, or animos, it means pride/courage?

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 11:17 pm
by Tertius Robertus
not always. as i said, thay allow other meaning as if it were a new word, but it does not mean that thaey have not the normal plural.

see littera, ae for examples.

the context shall make it clear.

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 11:23 pm
by retypepassword
So basically, whenever I see a word presented in two forms, like the example I first posted, I can just memorize all the meanings for the one word (I don't have to make separate flash cards for the plural and singular)?

Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 11:30 pm
by Tertius Robertus
memorize them as they are given. if the "special" meanigs are to you presented first, memorize so, later bother with the "normal". vice versa

You ought to treat them as separate words, because its just what they are. though it is true that these words "plural only" have their meanings related to the word of origin. it is no big deal, really.

Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 3:31 pm
by retypepassword
Thanks for the help; I understand now. I have one more question: I read somewhere that it's best to learn foreign language vocabulary from context (by looking it up in the dictionary) after having learned one hundred words. How am I to do this if I'm studying from Wheelock's?

Thanks again.

Posted: Sun May 06, 2007 10:03 pm
by Tertius Robertus
sorry but i cannot answer that, i did not used wheelock, (i repplied because it was a grammar question :wink: ) someone should come here in your help.

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 7:50 pm
by Chris Weimer
Wheelock's has supplemental reading book.

Also, there aren't merely 100 words, but 1400 words that must be learned. You can read them here.

Once you got those, you can read through most texts with only consulting the dictionary every now and then.

Posted: Mon May 07, 2007 9:59 pm
by retypepassword
So basically, I just make flash cards for each of the words, learn all of them, get through Wheelock's, and I'm in the intermediate level?

Long way to go.. but I'll get there!

Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 5:15 am
by Merus Ipse
Similarly, we have a double meaning given to a plural of that same word in English:

spirit- soul, ghost
spirits- alcohol