Question about a word in an inscription

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cdm2003
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Question about a word in an inscription

Post by cdm2003 »

I was reading a new book last night on Latin inscriptions. I came across a word which I didn't know and could not find any form of in two paperback dictionaries and the OLD. The reference (according to the book) is CIL 10.6087 and ILS 886 and the phrase in question is:

AEDEM . SATVRNI . FECIT. DE . MANIBIS

My problem is with "manibis." The book, "Roman Lives" translates the phrase as "build the temple of Saturn out of war booty." However, I do not know this word (or form thereof) "manibis," nor was I able to uncover any potential nominative form. It could, I suppose, be a misspelling, but of what I'm not sure. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,
Chris
Horum omnium fortissimi sunt Belgae

Alatius
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Re: Question about a word in an inscription

Post by Alatius »

It's from manubiae, -arum, fpl. Evidently, the form with i is a rare variant. The ending -is, rather than -iis, is due to contraction.

cdm2003
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Re: Question about a word in an inscription

Post by cdm2003 »

Gratias tibi Alatio maxime ago,
Chris

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