Ad Antoninum Imp et invicem, liber V - Commentary
Epistula 5.22
aegritudinem: from aegritudo, aegritudinis, f., “illness, sorrow”.
flagrantissimum: superlative of flagrans, antis: passionate, flaming.
auditionis: from auditio, auditionis, f., “lecture, lesson”.
consumpsei: archaic perfect ending for consumpsi.
tardiuscule: comparative adverb tardius modified by the diminutive suffix -cule. Translate as “a little later”.
inlibatam: from inlibatus, a, um, “unharmed, sound”.
incolumem: from incolumis, is, “safe”.
aegritudinem: from aegritudo, aegritudinis, f., “illness, sorrow”.
flagrantissimum: superlative of flagrans, antis: passionate, flaming.
auditionis: from auditio, auditionis, f., “lecture, lesson”.
consumpsei: archaic perfect ending for consumpsi.
tardiuscule: comparative adverb tardius modified by the diminutive suffix -cule. Translate as “a little later”.
inlibatam: from inlibatus, a, um, “unharmed, sound”.
incolumem: from incolumis, is, “safe”.
Epistula 5.23
repente: adv., “suddenly”.
angulo: from angulus, i, m., “corner”.
parietis: from paries, parietis, f., “wall”.
costam: from costa, ae, f., “back”.
inflixit: from infligo, ere: “to strike, hit”.
ictu: from ictus, us, m., “blow, hit”.
cubitum: supine from cubo, cubere: “to lie [down] / to go to bed”.
offendi: from offendo, ere: “to hit upon, to stumble upon”.
supra: adv., “further”.
accumberem: from accumbo, ere: “to lie down”.
volentibus: present participle from volo, velle.
repente: adv., “suddenly”.
angulo: from angulus, i, m., “corner”.
parietis: from paries, parietis, f., “wall”.
costam: from costa, ae, f., “back”.
inflixit: from infligo, ere: “to strike, hit”.
ictu: from ictus, us, m., “blow, hit”.
cubitum: supine from cubo, cubere: “to lie [down] / to go to bed”.
offendi: from offendo, ere: “to hit upon, to stumble upon”.
supra: adv., “further”.
accumberem: from accumbo, ere: “to lie down”.
volentibus: present participle from volo, velle.
Epistula 5.59 [74]
Have = ave, an informal greeting akin to “hail!” or “salutations!”.
praesertim: adv., “especially”.
incommodis: from incommodum, i, n., “inconvenience, trouble, injury”.
Merito: adv., “deservedly”.
proxuma: archaic spelling of proxima.
angore: from angor, angoris, m., “a strangling”. Here, however, the meaning is closer to the immense pressure produced by anxiety. Translate as, “anxiety” or “anguish”.
discrucior: from discrucio, are, “to torture [violently]”.
etiamsi: particle, “even if, although”.
eximunt: from eximo, eximere, “to take up, to consume, to waste”.
γνώμην: Greek accusative singular of γνώμη. Fronto frequently gave Marcus Aurelius different rhetorical assignments to complete (gnomai, loci communes, and hypotheses). A γνώμη was a sort of maxim (e.g., “nothing in excess”, μηδὲν ἄγαν) used to help students consider deeper philosophical and moral concerns. These γνώμαι can also be found at ad M. Aurelius 3.7 and 3.12.
nudiustertianum: from nudiustertianus, a, um, “the day-before-yesterday’s”
locum communem: A locus communis, like a γνώμη, was a rhetorical commonplace and a staple in elite education. A locis communis is a short argument based in traditional material and situations, akin to a literary topos. Cicero gives concise examples of loci communes in de Inventione 2.48: “Therefore, these arguments, which are able to be transferred into multiple cases, we call locos communes. For a locus communis contains a certain amplification either of an established fact, as if one would wish to show that he, who has killed a parent, is worthy of the greatest punishment (in which case, it ought not to be used unless the case has been argued and proved) or of a doubtful situation, which has probable angles of argumentation on either side, as that it is fitting for suspicions to be believed or that it is not fitting to be believed.” See ad M. Antonium de Orationibus 8 for another example.
adtrivimus: from adtero, adterere, “to rub away/waste away”.
exseri: from exsero, exserere, “to stretch out/take out”. Here, the sense is more of taking one’s hand out of his bed-clothes in order to write.
revera: “In fact”.
Portum: Portus, located 20 miles southwest of Rome, was the imperial harbor on the north shore of the Tiber. It was originally established by Claudius, but was greatly enlarged under the reign of Trajan.
Porci et Tulli et Crispi: It seems as if Marcus Aurelius had asked Fronto to bring along the works of M. Porcius Cato, M. Tullius Cicero, and G. Sallustius Crispus.
praecipuum: from praecipuus, a, um, “especial, special”.
Domina: Domitia Lucilla.
γνώμας: Greek accusative plural of γνώμη.
Have = ave, an informal greeting akin to “hail!” or “salutations!”.
praesertim: adv., “especially”.
incommodis: from incommodum, i, n., “inconvenience, trouble, injury”.
Merito: adv., “deservedly”.
proxuma: archaic spelling of proxima.
angore: from angor, angoris, m., “a strangling”. Here, however, the meaning is closer to the immense pressure produced by anxiety. Translate as, “anxiety” or “anguish”.
discrucior: from discrucio, are, “to torture [violently]”.
etiamsi: particle, “even if, although”.
eximunt: from eximo, eximere, “to take up, to consume, to waste”.
γνώμην: Greek accusative singular of γνώμη. Fronto frequently gave Marcus Aurelius different rhetorical assignments to complete (gnomai, loci communes, and hypotheses). A γνώμη was a sort of maxim (e.g., “nothing in excess”, μηδὲν ἄγαν) used to help students consider deeper philosophical and moral concerns. These γνώμαι can also be found at ad M. Aurelius 3.7 and 3.12.
nudiustertianum: from nudiustertianus, a, um, “the day-before-yesterday’s”
locum communem: A locus communis, like a γνώμη, was a rhetorical commonplace and a staple in elite education. A locis communis is a short argument based in traditional material and situations, akin to a literary topos. Cicero gives concise examples of loci communes in de Inventione 2.48: “Therefore, these arguments, which are able to be transferred into multiple cases, we call locos communes. For a locus communis contains a certain amplification either of an established fact, as if one would wish to show that he, who has killed a parent, is worthy of the greatest punishment (in which case, it ought not to be used unless the case has been argued and proved) or of a doubtful situation, which has probable angles of argumentation on either side, as that it is fitting for suspicions to be believed or that it is not fitting to be believed.” See ad M. Antonium de Orationibus 8 for another example.
adtrivimus: from adtero, adterere, “to rub away/waste away”.
exseri: from exsero, exserere, “to stretch out/take out”. Here, the sense is more of taking one’s hand out of his bed-clothes in order to write.
revera: “In fact”.
Portum: Portus, located 20 miles southwest of Rome, was the imperial harbor on the north shore of the Tiber. It was originally established by Claudius, but was greatly enlarged under the reign of Trajan.
Porci et Tulli et Crispi: It seems as if Marcus Aurelius had asked Fronto to bring along the works of M. Porcius Cato, M. Tullius Cicero, and G. Sallustius Crispus.
praecipuum: from praecipuus, a, um, “especial, special”.
Domina: Domitia Lucilla.
γνώμας: Greek accusative plural of γνώμη.
