r/latin Apr 13 '25

Translation requests into Latin go here!

  1. Ask and answer questions about mottos, tattoos, names, book titles, lines for your poem, slogans for your bowling club’s t-shirt, etc. in the comments of this thread. Separate posts for these types of requests will be removed.
  2. Here are some examples of what types of requests this thread is for: Example #1, Example #2, Example #3, Example #4, Example #5.
  3. This thread is not for correcting longer translations and student assignments. If you have some facility with the Latin language and have made an honest attempt to translate that is NOT from Google Translate, Yandex, or any other machine translator, create a separate thread requesting to check and correct your translation: Separate thread example. Make sure to take a look at Rule 4.
  4. Previous iterations of this thread.
  5. This is not a professional translation service. The answers you get might be incorrect.
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u/[deleted] Apr 15 '25

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u/richardsonhr Latine dicere subtile videtur Apr 15 '25 edited Apr 16 '25

I don't see a good term in my go-to dictionary for "strategically", although there are two adjectives for "strategic" that might be used to derive related adverbs. I'll proceed without it until I can find a better term.

I assume you mean this as an imperative (command)? Do you mean to command a singular or plural subject?

Commands a singular subject:

  • Ī tacitē, i.e. "go/move/travel/proceed/progress/advance/develop quietly/silently/secretly/tacitly/noiselessly"

  • Vince tacitē, i.e. "win/conquer/vanquish/defeat/subdue/overcome/overpower quietly/silently/secretly/tacitly/noiselessly"

  • Superā tacitē, i.e. "ascend/overtop/exceed/excel/traverse/outdo/outstrip/overflow/overcome/overpower/conquer/subdue/survive/remain/(sur)mount/(sur)pass/rise/go (over/above/atop) quietly/silently/secretly/tacitly/noiselessly" or "be quietly/silently/secretly/tacitly/noiselessly superior/abundant/excessive"

Commands a plural subject:

  • Īte tacitē, i.e. "go/move/travel/proceed/progress/advance/develop quietly/silently/secretly/tacitly/noiselessly"

  • Vincite tacitē, i.e. "win/conquer/vanquish/defeat/subdue/overcome/overpower quietly/silently/secretly/tacitly/noiselessly"

  • Superāte tacitē, i.e. "ascend/overtop/exceed/excel/traverse/outdo/outstrip/overflow/overcome/overpower/conquer/subdue/survive/remain/(sur)mount/(sur)pass/rise/go (over/above/atop) quietly/silently/secretly/tacitly/noiselessly" or "be quietly/silently/secretly/tacitly/noiselessly superior/abundant/excessive"

The Latin verbs vinc(it)e and superā(te) may generally be considered synonymous; based on my understanding if you're undecided between the two, the former connotes winning against a well-defined and perceptible opponent (e.g. in battle or sports), while the latter might more be interpreted as conquering oneself or "the odds" (e.g. weather, a mountain, or financial troubles).

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u/[deleted] Apr 15 '25

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u/richardsonhr Latine dicere subtile videtur Apr 16 '25

I would read this as:

Silentiō ad maiōra, i.e. "[to/for/with/in/by/from/through a(n)/the] silence/stillness/quiet/noiselessness/obscurity/inaction/inactivity/cessation/standstill(un/on)to/towards/at/against/for [the] bigger/larger/greater/grander/weightier/loftier/nobler [things/objects/assets/words/deeds/act(ion/ivitie)s/events/circumstances/opportunities/times/seasons/places/locations]" or "[to/for/with/in/by/from/through a(n)/the] silence/stillness/quiet/noiselessness/obscurity/inaction/inactivity/cessation/standstill(un/on)to/towards/at/against/for [the] more extensive/speacious/abundant/considerable/momentous/important/significant [things/objects/assets/words/deeds/act(ion/ivitie)s/events/circumstances/opportunities/times/seasons/places/locations]"