Academics Lesson IV—PMAQ Flashcards
Questions Influenced by Imperium by Julian Morgan, Liber Digitalis by David Jackson, and Latin Everywhere, Everyday by Elizabeth Heimbach
Give the Latin and English for the motto of the state of Maine.
Dirigō
Literal translation: I direct
More common meaning: I point the way
Fun Fact: When a Latin verb ends in -ō, the pronoun “I” is understood as the subject. This means that D**irigō is translated, not simply “direct”, but rather “I direct”. You may have heard the phrase “As goes Maine, so does the nation.” That expression comes from the fact that in presidential elections, the votes of a small number of voters in one community in Maine are always counted quickly, and, in the days before computer projections, these votes were used to predict the outcome of the whole election. The state motto is a reflection of this tradition.
Give the Latin and English for the motto of the state of New York.
Excelsior
Literal translation: Higher
More common meaning: Ever Upward
Fun Fact: Have you ever sung a Christmas carol with the refrain, Gloria in excelsis Deo? Those Latin words mean “Glory to God in the highest.” Here, Excelsior is another form of excelsis. It is called a comparative because you use it when you compare two things. Notice that in Latin comparatives end in -ior while in English they end in -er.
Give the Greek and English for the motto of the state of California.
Eureka (Εὕρηκᾰ)
Literal translation: I have discovered (it)
More common meaning: I have found it
Fun Fact: California’s motto is the Greek word Eureka, which means “I have discovered (it).” What was discovered in California in 1848?
Give the Latin and English for the motto of the state of Arkansas.
Regnat Populus
Literal translation: The people rule
Fun Fact: Do you know the phrase Senātus Populusque Rōmānus, which means the “Senate and People of Rome”? If so, you will recognize the Latin word populus. The first syllable of regnat appears in many English words that relate to ruling or to kings and queens. “Regalia”, for example, means “elegant attire worn for special occasions”.
Give the Latin and English for the motto of the state of Idaho.
Estō Perpetua
Literal translation: Be forever
More common meaning: May it last forever
Fun Fact: “Perpetual” in English makes perpetua easy to remember, and you can see that estō is related to esse, “to be”. The ending –tō makes the verb a command. Grammar books call a command an imperative.
Give the Latin and English for the motto of the state of New Mexico.
Crescit Eundō
Literal translation: it grows by going
More common meaning: it grows as it goes
Fun Fact: The Roman poet Vergil used this phrase in the Aeneid to describe the monster Rumor, who grows larger as she goes from one person to another. Here, however, the phrase means that New Mexico is a state that keeps getting bigger and better as it grows. A “crescendo” in music is a passage in which the volume keeps growing louder so it is easy to remember that the verb crescit means “grow.” Latin verbs ending in the letters –scō are called inceptives, and they indicate something that is just beginning to happen. For example, the Latin verb adolēscō means “to begin to grow up.”
Give the Latin and English for the motto of the state of Wyoming.
Cēdant arma togae
Literal translation: Let arms yield to the toga
More common meaning: Let war yield to peace
Fun Fact: You have probably seen pictures or statues of Roman orators wearing robes called togas. The toga was considered the national garment of Rome, and the right to wear one was accorded to male Roman citizens only. The poet Vergil proudly called the Romans the gēns togāta, the toga wearing people. Other nations were scornfully known as the brācātiī the trouser wearing people. Togas were made of wool and were long enough to wrap around the wearer twice. They were held in place by careful draping, never with pins. Thus, a man wearing a toga had to keep it in place with his left hand. Some wealthy Roman households actually included a valet called a vestiplicus who was skilled in the art of draping a toga. Because a toga was so bulky and difficult to keep in place, it was completely unsuitable for a soldier. In this motto, “toga” is used to symbolize peace while arma or “weapons” stand for “war”.
Give the Latin and English for the motto of the United States of America.
Ē Plūribus Ūnum
Literal translation: out of more one
More common meaning: Out of Many, One
Fun Fact: To Romans long ago this phrase was a description of stew or soup, one dish made from lots of different ingredients. To Americans today this motto is a reminder that our nation is made up of people from many different backgrounds and cultures. Another way to look at the phrase is to remember that we have one federal government made up of many states. You will see these Latin words on the Great Seal of the United States. They are also on the dollar bill, the penny, and the quarter.
Give the English for the Latin phrase Pāx Rōmāna.
the Roman Peace
Fun Fact: The Pāx Rōmāna denotes the peace dictated by the impressive strength of the Roman military. This period of peace is normally attributed to the rise of Augustus.
Give the English for the Latin phrase felicior Augustō, melior Trāiānō.
more fortunate than Augustus, better than Trajan
Fun Fact: In later years coins were minted in ancient Rome with this phrase on them.
Give the literal translation and the more common meaning for the Latin quotation “Carpe Diem”.
Literal translation: Seize the Day
More common meaning: enjoy today
In an English sentence: The teacher in the movie Dead Poets Society urged his students to make the most of the moment. “Carpe diem!” he cried.
Fun Fact: The Roman poet Horace used this phrase in a poem in which he warned against putting off too many things to the future. Horace knew that it is important to enjoy the present and to make good use of each day.
Who is credited with the quotation “Carpe Diem”?
Horace
