You singular formal?

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solitario
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You singular formal?

Post by solitario »

SALVETE OMNES, S.V.B.E.V.

Is there a you singular formal tense in Latin?
Every Romance language I have encountered shares the 3rd person singular (he, she, it) with you singular formal.
But I haven't encountered such a thing in any of the Latin grammars yet.

MVLTAS GRATIAS!
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benissimus
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Post by benissimus »

Not in formal Latin, but I can't speak for Vulgar Latin from which the Romance languages originate.
flebile nescio quid queritur lyra, flebile lingua murmurat exanimis, respondent flebile ripae
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tdominus
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Post by tdominus »

In Spanish, at least, "usted." is a contraction of "your grace", which is why it is in the third person. I can't vouch for other languages. Perhaps a similar phrase existed in vulgar latin.
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