Translation question from Nutting exercise 39

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pin130
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Translation question from Nutting exercise 39

Post by pin130 »

"Let's put two dolls in the cradle"--in the cradle is translated as "in cunis". Why is cradle singular translated with the plural cunis? Also, since "in" here means "into" why wouldn't the accusative be used?

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bedwere
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Re: Translation question from Nutting exercise 39

Post by bedwere »

You should acquire the habit of checking words in the dictionary:

cūnae, ārum is one of the nomina pluralia tantum.

You could also use the accusative in cunas, but in cunis is correct. There are examples of both usages. I guess it depends on whether one focuses on the action or on the final status.

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Re: Translation question from Nutting exercise 39

Post by Nesrad »

I remember thinking about which case to use when writing the key. "In cunās" didn't seem idiomatic with "collocare".
Last edited by Nesrad on Wed Oct 24, 2018 9:09 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Barry Hofstetter
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Re: Translation question from Nutting exercise 39

Post by Barry Hofstetter »

Nesrad wrote:I remember thinking about which case to use when writing the key. "In cunās" didn't seem idiomatic with "collocare". But I will add it in parentheses.
Both usages (and others) are attested:

col-lŏco (conl-), āvi, ātum, 1, v. a., to place together, to arrange, to station, lay, put, place, set, set up, erect, etc., a thing (or person) somewhere (class. in prose and poetry; cf.: statuo, pono, sisto). I. Lit. A. In gen.; constr. usu. with in and abl. (cf. Ramsh. Gr. p. 467 sq.; Zumpt, Gr. § 489); more rarely with in and acc.; also with other prepositions, or absol.

Lewis, C. T., & Short, C. (1891). Harpers’ Latin Dictionary (p. 367). New York; Oxford: Harper & Brothers; Clarendon Press.
N.E. Barry Hofstetter

Cuncta mortalia incerta...

pin130
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Re: Translation question from Nutting exercise 39

Post by pin130 »

Thanks very much for your answers. After I wrote the question I remembered that Nutting did mention the verb colloco is used with the ablative and not the accusative as might be expected. I did look up the word "cunae" and noticed that the genitive was given as cunarum, but I didn't know why. But if there is no singular
how would you differentiate between putting two dolls in one cradle or putting two dolls in two cradles?

whsiv
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Re: Translation question from Nutting exercise 39

Post by whsiv »

You would use the adjective bini, ae, a.

From Lewis and Short:
B Taking the place of the cardinal number duo, with substt. which are plur. only, or with those which have a diff. signif. in the plur. from the sing. (cf. Serv. ad Verg. A. 8, 168): binae (litterae), two, Cic. Att. 6, 1, 9: bina castra, id. Phil. 12, 11, 27: binae hostium copiae, id. Imp. Pomp. 4, 9; Val. Max. 1, 6, 2: inter binos ludos, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 52, § 130; cf.: binis centesimis faeneratus est, id. ib. 2, 3, 70, § 165: bini codicilli, Suet. Oth. 10.—Esp.: bina milia, two thousand, Sisenn. ap. Non. p. 80, 4: bina milia passuum, Quint. 6, 3, 77.—

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Re: Translation question from Nutting exercise 39

Post by pin130 »

Does that mean that if "cunis" is used without a qualifying adjective it necessarily means one cradle?

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Re: Translation question from Nutting exercise 39

Post by bedwere »

pin130 wrote:Does that mean that if "cunis" is used without a qualifying adjective it necessarily means one cradle?
Yes, it does.

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