Difference between quantum and quantus, -a, -um
In Orberg LLPSI in Cap 8.72 he has Medus asking the shopkeeper to show him a ring:
Medus: "Ille post te. Quantum est pretium illius anuli?"
Orberg explains: quantus, -a, -um = quam magnus
then in cap 31.53 we have Cornelius asking Iulius how much Medus has stolen: "Quantum pecuniae abstulit"
Orberg explains: Quantum = quam multum
Each of these two uses has an separate entry in the vocabulary. What's the difference between them?
Quantum and Quantus, -a, -um
- Hampie
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Re: Quantum and Quantus, -a, -um
Quantum can mean both ‹how much› and ‹how many›?
Här kan jag i alla fall skriva på svenska, eller hur?
- lauragibbs
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Re: Quantum and Quantus, -a, -um
Linguistically, they are the same word but, as often in Latin, the neuter singular form can take on a life of its own.
quantum pretium: quantum here is an adjective modifying the noun, "what price?" "how great price?"
quantum pecuniae: here pecuniae is in the genitive, and the word quantum is being used on its own as a neuter noun, not as an adjective: "how much (of) money?" - the answer could be: multum pecuniae! a lot of money!
Like quantus, multus is an adjective where the neuter form - multum - is often used on its own with a partitive genitive, and it can also be used adverbially. If you look in a dictionary like Lewis & Short, you will see that the entry both for quantus and also for multus have sections devoted to the special uses of the neuter singular forms; this is true for lots of Latin words where the neuter singular has developed its own special uses:
http://athirdway.com/glossa/?s=quantus
http://athirdway.com/glossa/?s=multus
quantum pretium: quantum here is an adjective modifying the noun, "what price?" "how great price?"
quantum pecuniae: here pecuniae is in the genitive, and the word quantum is being used on its own as a neuter noun, not as an adjective: "how much (of) money?" - the answer could be: multum pecuniae! a lot of money!
Like quantus, multus is an adjective where the neuter form - multum - is often used on its own with a partitive genitive, and it can also be used adverbially. If you look in a dictionary like Lewis & Short, you will see that the entry both for quantus and also for multus have sections devoted to the special uses of the neuter singular forms; this is true for lots of Latin words where the neuter singular has developed its own special uses:
http://athirdway.com/glossa/?s=quantus
http://athirdway.com/glossa/?s=multus
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Re: Quantum and Quantus, -a, -um
Belated thanks for this..