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Latin Genealogical Word List: Difference between revisions
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Latin was used in the records of most European countries and in the Roman Catholic records of the United States and Canada. Because Latin was used in so many countries, local usage varied. Certain terms were commonly used in some countries but not in others. In addition, the Latin used in British records has more abbreviations than the Latin used in European records. | Latin was used in the records of most European countries and in the Roman Catholic records of the United States and Canada. Because Latin was used in so many countries, local usage varied. Certain terms were commonly used in some countries but not in others. In addition, the Latin used in British records has more abbreviations than the Latin used in European records. | ||
==Language Characteristics== | |||
===Variant Forms of Words=== | |||
In Latin, the endings of most words vary according to how the words are used in a sentence. Who—whose— whom or marry—marries—married are examples of words in English with variant forms. This word list gives the most commonly seen form of each Latin word. As you read Latin records, be aware that almost all words vary with usage. | In Latin, the endings of most words vary according to how the words are used in a sentence. Who—whose— whom or marry—marries—married are examples of words in English with variant forms. This word list gives the most commonly seen form of each Latin word. As you read Latin records, be aware that almost all words vary with usage. | ||
===Gender.=== | |||
Latin words for persons, places, and things (nouns) are classified as masculine, feminine, or neuter. For example, rex (king) is a masculine word, aetas (age) is a feminine word, and oppidum (town) is a neuter word. | |||
Words that describe persons, places, or things (adjectives) will have either masculine, feminine, or neuter endings. For example, in Latin you would write magnus rex (great king), magna aetas (great age), and magnum oppidum (large town). | Words that describe persons, places, or things (adjectives) will have either masculine, feminine, or neuter endings. For example, in Latin you would write magnus rex (great king), magna aetas (great age), and magnum oppidum (large town). | ||
This word list gives only the masculine form of adjectives. For example: | This word list gives only the masculine form of adjectives. For example: | ||
* noster, nostra, nostrum (our) is listed as noster | * noster, nostra, nostrum (our) is listed as noster | ||
* magnus, magna, magnum (great, large) is listed as magnus | * magnus, magna, magnum (great, large) is listed as magnus | ||
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Similarly, this word list gives only natus est ("he was born"). You can conclude that nata est means "she was born." The plural form nati sunt means "they were born." | Similarly, this word list gives only natus est ("he was born"). You can conclude that nata est means "she was born." The plural form nati sunt means "they were born." | ||
===Plurals.=== | |||
Plural forms of Latin words usually end in -i, -ae, or -es. Thus patrinus (godfather) becomes patrini (godparents), filia (daughter) becomes filiae (daughters), and pater (father) becomes patres (fathers). However, these same endings may also indicate other grammatical changes besides plurality. | |||
===Grammatical Use.=== | |||
The endings of Latin words can also vary depending on the grammatical use of the words. Latin grammar requires a specific type of ending for a word used as the subject of the sentence, used in the possessive, used as the object of a verb, or used with a preposition. Latin words fall into several classes, each with its own set of grammatical endings. | |||
If you do not find a Latin word in this list with the same ending as the word in your Latin document, find a similar ending in the examples below to see how the word in your document is used: | If you do not find a Latin word in this list with the same ending as the word in your Latin document, find a similar ending in the examples below to see how the word in your document is used: | ||
{| | {| | ||
|- | |- | ||
| filius | | filius | ||
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Words that show action (verbs) also vary depending on who is doing the action and whether the action is past, present, or future. For example, the Latin word baptizare (to baptize) will appear with various endings: | Words that show action (verbs) also vary depending on who is doing the action and whether the action is past, present, or future. For example, the Latin word baptizare (to baptize) will appear with various endings: | ||
{| | {| | ||
|- | |- | ||
| ''' Present''' | | ''' Present''' | ||
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|} | |} | ||
==Spelling== | |||
Spelling rules were not standardized in earlier centuries. The following spelling variations are common in Latin documents: | Spelling rules were not standardized in earlier centuries. The following spelling variations are common in Latin documents: | ||
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Examples: | Examples: | ||
* ejusdem or eiusdem | * ejusdem or eiusdem | ||
* civis or ciuis | * civis or ciuis | ||
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* quondam or condam | * quondam or condam | ||
==Additional Resources== | |||
This word list includes only the words most commonly found in genealogical sources. For further help, use a Latin-English dictionary. Latin-English dictionaries are available on each floor of the Family History Library. The call numbers begin with 473.21. | This word list includes only the words most commonly found in genealogical sources. For further help, use a Latin-English dictionary. Latin-English dictionaries are available on each floor of the Family History Library. The call numbers begin with 473.21. | ||
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McLaughlin, Eve. ''Simple Latin for Family Historians'', 2nd ed. Birmingham, England: Federation of Family History Societies, 1987. (FHL book 471.1 M273.) This booklet lists Latin words frequently used in English parish registers. | McLaughlin, Eve. ''Simple Latin for Family Historians'', 2nd ed. Birmingham, England: Federation of Family History Societies, 1987. (FHL book 471.1 M273.) This booklet lists Latin words frequently used in English parish registers. | ||
==Key Words== | |||
To find and use specific types of Latin records, you will need to know some key words in Latin. This section lists key genealogical terms in English and gives the Latin words that have the same or similar meanings. | To find and use specific types of Latin records, you will need to know some key words in Latin. This section lists key genealogical terms in English and gives the Latin words that have the same or similar meanings. | ||
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|} | |} | ||
==External Links== | |||
*[http://sunsite.ubc.ca/LatinDictionary/HyperText/ An On-line Latin word-list (Hypertext version) UBC SunSITE] | *[http://sunsite.ubc.ca/LatinDictionary/HyperText/ An On-line Latin word-list (Hypertext version) UBC SunSITE] | ||
*[http://www.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/words.exe Words (by William Whitaker)- Latin to English] | *[http://www.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/words.exe Words (by William Whitaker)- Latin to English] | ||