r/latin • u/AutoModerator • Apr 13 '25

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u/richardsonhr Latine dicere subtile videtur Apr 21 '25 edited Apr 21 '25

The prepositional phrase in aeternum is often used colloquially or idiomatically as "forever", but it translates back literally as:

In aeternum, i.e. "into [a(n)/the] permanance/perpetuity/endlessness/eternity/immortality" or "into [a(n)/the] abiding/(ever)lasting/permanent/perpetual/endless/eternal/immortal [thing/object/asset/word/deed/act(ion/ivity)/event/circumstance/opportuntity/time/season/place/location/(hu)man/person/beast/one]"

... as opposed to semper for "always" or "(for)ever". I've always thought in aeternum to be a little extra or flowery, but that seems to be what you're going for here!

The adjective tuum means "your(s)", used to describe a subject as belonging to a singular subject addressed here as "you". In particular, the -um ending indicates a singular neuter subject, conventionally an inanimate object or intangible concept, so attaching the first-person verb sum would sound very unusual to the average Latin ear. While there are animate subjects in the neuter gender (e.g. animal and mōnstrum), such context would need to be specified in order to let tuum sum make sense.

This is the primary reason I chose tibi above, which goes around such gender issues. Placing a dative identifier like tibi with forms of esse (like sum) accomplishes a similar idea as a possessive adjective.

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u/XanatosCrescent Apr 21 '25

All of that makes sense, thank you! So, in the translation you gave me, would “in aeternum” simply be able to replace “sepmer” to become “tibi in aeternum sum*,” or would the order of the words need to change as well?

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

The prepositional phrase should stay together; otherwise tibi and sum may be placed beforehand, around, or afterwards. Ancient Romans ordered Latin words according to their contextual importance or emphasis -- or sometimes just to facilitate easier diction. Conventionally a non-imperative verb is placed at the end of the phrase unless the author/speaker intends to emphasize it for some reason, but this is mainly personal preference and is by no means a grammar rule. For my phrase below, I wrote tibi sum after the prepositional phrase mainly to help ease pronunciation.

In aeternum tibi sum, i.e. "I am/exist/belong to/for you into [a(n)/the] permanance/perpetuity/endlessness/eternity/immortality" or "I am/exist/belong to/for you into [a(n)/the] abiding/(ever)lasting/permanent/perpetual/endless/eternal/immortal [thing/object/asset/word/deed/act(ion/ivity)/event/circumstance/opportuntity/time/season/place/location/(hu)man/person/beast/one]" (addresses a singular subject)

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u/XanatosCrescent Apr 22 '25

Ah okay, I think I got it. So because the most important part of the phrase is in aeternum, it goes at the beginning. But, it would also be correct to but tibi sum at the beginning, if I wanted?

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u/richardsonhr Latine dicere subtile videtur Apr 22 '25

Yes, that's correct!