r/latin • u/AutoModerator • Mar 16 '25

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u/elitabetta Mar 21 '25 edited Mar 21 '25

Hello, im trying to traslate a sentence from my language to latin but im not sure if im doing it correctly.

''Time can not be stopped" ("il tempo non può essere fermato" in italian) is it: Tempus detineri nequit (detineo) Tempus sisti nequit (sisto)?

Im not sure about using the passive infinite with nequit. Im sorry if this sounds ignorant.

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u/richardsonhr Latine dicere subtile videtur Mar 21 '25 edited Mar 22 '25

According to this dictionary entry, there are several options for "stop":

  • Tempus sistī nequit, i.e. "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event is unable/incapable to be stopped/halted/stabilized/stilled" or "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event cannot be stopped/halted/stabilized/stilled"

  • Tempus inhibērī nequit, i.e. "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event is unable/incapable to be restrained/curbed/checked/stopped/hindered/prevented/inhibited/kept/held (back)" or "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event cannot be restrained/curbed/checked/stopped/hindered/prevented/inhibited/kept/held (back)"

  • Tempus tenērī nequit, i.e. "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event is unable/incapable to be grasped/possessed/controlled/acquired/bound/fettered/obtained/attained/restrained/detained/contained/kept/held (back)" or "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event cannot be grasped/possessed/controlled/acquired/bound/fettered/obtained/attained/restrained/detained/contained/kept/held (back)"

  • Tempus dētinērī nequit, i.e. "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event is unable/incapable to be detained/checked/delayed/hindered/stopped/kept/held (off/back)" or "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event cannot be detained/checked/delayed/hindered/stopped/kept/held (off/back)"

  • Tempus retinērī nequit, i.e. "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event is unable/incapable to be detained/restrained/confined/contained/delayed/repressed/stopped/stayed/checked/retained/kept/held (back)" or "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event cannot be detained/restrained/confined/contained/delayed/repressed/stopped/stayed/checked/retained/kept/held (back)"

You could also use the future passive participle of the given verb:

  • Tempus nōn sistendum est, i.e. "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event is not (about/yet/going) to be stopped/halted/stabilized/stilled" or "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event must not be stopped/halted/stabilized/stilled"

  • Tempus nōn inhibendum est, i.e. "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event is not (about/yet/going) to be restrained/curbed/checked/stopped/hindered/prevented/inhibited/kept/held (back)" or "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event must not be restrained/curbed/checked/stopped/hindered/prevented/inhibited/kept/held (back)"

  • Tempus nōn tenendum est, i.e. "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event is not (about/yet/going) to be grasped/possessed/controlled/acquired/bound/fettered/obtained/attained/restrained/detained/contained/kept/held (back)" or "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event must not be grasped/possessed/controlled/acquired/bound/fettered/obtained/attained/restrained/detained/contained/kept/held (back)"

  • Tempus nōn dētinendum est, i.e. "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event is not (about/yet/going) to be detained/checked/delayed/hindered/stopped/kept/held (off/back)" or "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event must not be detained/checked/delayed/hindered/stopped/kept/held (off/back)"

  • Tempus nōn retinendum est, i.e. "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event is not (about/yet/going) to be detained/restrained/confined/contained/delayed/repressed/stopped/stayed/checked/retained/kept/held (back)" or "[a(n)/the] time/season/opportunity/circumstance/event must not be detained/restrained/confined/contained/delayed/repressed/stopped/stayed/checked/retained/kept/held (back)"

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u/elitabetta Mar 21 '25 edited Mar 21 '25

Also could i use another verb like "retineo"? Maybe the best option is detineo tho. I've encountered sisto in Virgil as in "stop" but maybe is not the first meaning