noli te vexare

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ruruinthenight
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Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2013 4:44 am
Location: New Zealand

noli te vexare

Post by ruruinthenight »

Any help, please?

Just a bit confused about this translation:
'noli te vexare',
from the full sentence:
'ecce! tertia hora noctis redii. noli te vexare.'

Initially, I translated it to mean "you don't [have] to worry"
then, I thought it may have been "don't you worry OR don't worry"
then I thought maybe it conveys something more like "I do not [want] to worry you"

now I'm unsure of all of them. Any super-quick, yet greatly appreciated, help out there?

Thanks!
Amber

Qimmik
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Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 10:15 pm

Re: noli te vexare

Post by Qimmik »

Noli is imperative, literally, "don't want", but it's used with infinitives in negative commands, i.e., prohibitions, as a negative infinitive. Thus, noli te vexare means "don't disturb yourself," i.e., "don't get upset," "don't worry."

ruruinthenight
Textkit Neophyte
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2013 4:44 am
Location: New Zealand

Re: noli te vexare

Post by ruruinthenight »

Thank you! That helps!

Since I'm still beginning my Latin journey, I lack the confidence to interpret sentences; I doubt myself a lot. I'm also an extramural student, so don't get the opportunity to process ideas with other students, so I really appreciate you taking the time to help.

Thanks again!

Qimmik
Textkit Zealot
Posts: 2090
Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2013 10:15 pm

Re: noli te vexare

Post by Qimmik »

I see I made a slip: I should have written "negative imperative" instead of "negative infinitive."

Noli(te) + infinitive is a sort of negative imperative or prohibition.

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