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An Introduction to Latin Adjectives

Adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in:

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  1. Number – Singular or Plural

  2. Gender – Masculine, Feminine, or Neuter

  3. Case – Nominative, Accusative, Genitive, etc.

 

Adjectives have declensions just like nouns, and this chapter follows the First and Second Declension. 

An extremely common adjective used in charters is ‘Predictus’ which means ‘the aforesaid’. Typically this will be used to refer to someone or something mentioned in a previous sentence. 

 

If the associated noun is a Second Declension noun and Masculine, then Predictus will also follow the Second Declension endings: 

 

  • (Nom.) Predictus Dominus – The aforesaid lord

  • (Acc.) Predictum Dominum

  • (Gen.) Pridicti Domini

  • (Dat.) Predicto Domino

  • (Abl.) Predicto Domino

 

If, however, the associated noun is feminine and 1st Declension, Predictus will follow First Declension endings.

 

(Nom.) Predicta Via – The aforesaid road

(Acc.) Predictam Viam

(Gen.) Pridicte Vie

(Dat.) Predicte Vie

(Abl.) Predicta Via

 

You may notice that for First and Second declension nouns, the adjective merely copies the same ending. This is a nice shortcut to see which noun the adjective is describing.

It is for this reason that such adjectives in dictionaries will often be given in this form.

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Bonus, -a, -um – Good

 

-us, -a, -um each correspondes to the masculine, feminine, and neuter nominative singular endings.

As an exercise to grasp case endings, give the correct form of Predictus for each noun in the following sentences:

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  1. Robertus concedit terras.

  2. Robertus dat tres acras Domino.


Answers: 

  1. Predictus Robertus concedit predictas terras.

  2. Predictus Robertus dat predictas tres acras predicto domino.

 

In terms of medieval legal-lingo, Predictus is one of the most common terms used, but there are other words frequently found in charters which translate and follow nouns in the same way, namely: 

  • Supradictus 

  • Supernominatus 

  • Suprascruptus

 

The first two translate as ‘the above-mentioned’ whilst suprascriptus translates as ‘the above-written’. 

 

Translate the following:

 

Ricardus filius predicti Willelmi terras predictas dat et hac carta confirmat ecclesie Sancti Nicholai.

 

Answer:

Richard, the son of the aforesaid William, gives and confirms by this charter the aforesaid land to the church of St. Nicholas.

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