clxxviii

Theme for this month: False cognates

virtus, virtutis f.

Definition: The qualities typical of a true man, manly spirit, resolution, valour, steadfastness, or similar, especially as showin in war; excellence of character or mind; moral excellence;

(Definition from Oxford Latin Dictionary)

Sententia: Livy Ab Urbe Condita 7.36.5

Decius 'macte virtute' inquit, 'milites Romani, este; vestrum iter ac reditum omnia saecula laudibus ferent;"

Decius says, 'Roman soldiers, be blessed for your courage; all ages will bear your journey and return with praises."

In this book of Livy, the Frontier Wars are described. Decius' troops just bravely invaded a camp in the middle of the night, and routed their enemy. In this selection, Decius praises his men, and just following it proposes that they wait to go back into the camp until daybreak, so that the men get just praise for their great deeds.

Many of you probably know this word already, either from Aeneid or elsewhere. In the Aeneid, at least, it occurs 39 times total, at least once in each book. However, it is interesting etymologically to note that it comes from "vir," man, + "-tus," which makes "vir" abstract. Thus, it literally means "manhood" or "courage," or similar qualities of a true man. This word then was used to mean "strength in character," and then "virtue." However, most of the time, especially in warlike scenes, it does NOT mean "virtue," but "courage" or similar.