1158.With singular names of towns and little islands, Plautus has the accusative alone twenty times, and twenty times within; Terence has, includingLēmnum,Ph.567, andCyprum,Ad.224, 230, the accusative alone six times, and twice within,in Lēmnum,Ph.66, andin Cyprum,Ad.278. Plural town names never havein.
1159.An appellativeurbemoroppidumaccompanying the accusative of a town name is usually preceded byinorad: as,ad urbem Fī̆dēnās tendunt, L. 4, 33, 10,they make for the city of Fidenae.Iugurtha Thalam pervēnit, in oppidum magnum, S.I.75, 1,Jugurtha arrived at Thala, a large town.
1160.When merely ‘motion towards’ or ‘nearness’ is meant,adis used: as,trēs viae sunt ad Mutinam,Ph.12, 22,there are three roads to Mutina.mīles ad Capuam profectus sum,CM.10,I went to the war as a private, to the region round about Capua.
1161.Proper names of countries are also sometimes put in the accusative in poetry, to denote aim of motion: as,abiīt Ālidem, Pl.Cap.573,he went away to Elis. So in prose also,Aegyptusin Cicero, Caesar, Nepos, Livy, and Tacitus: as,Germānicus Aegyptum proficīscitur, Ta. 2, 59,Germanicus sets out for Egypt. Rarely and in poetry names of peoples: as,sitientīs ībimus Āfrōs, V.E.1, 64,to thirst-parched Afrians we shall go. In general the accusative of country names is preceded byinorad, as are also appellatives regularly in prose; but in poetry, even appellatives without a preposition are common.
1162.(2.) The accusativesdomum,rūs, andforās, are used like proper names of towns: as,
(a.)eō domum, Pl.Mer.659,I’m going home.equitēs domum contendērunt, 2, 24, 4,the cavalry hurried home.domum reditiōnis spē sublātā, 1, 5, 3,the hope of a return home being out of the question(1129). (b.)rūs ībō, T.Eu.216,I shall go out of town. (c.)effūgī forās, T.Eu.945,I ran out of doors.
1163.The singulardomumis always retained by Caesar, even when two or more separate persons or parties are spoken of. Plautus, Sallust, and Nepos, have the pluraldomōsonce each, and Cicero and Livy use it occasionally.
1164.The accusativedomumordomōssometimes has an attribute, usually a possessive pronoun: as,domum suam quemque revertī, 2, 10, 4,for every man to go back to his home.alius alium domōs suās invītant, S.I.66, 3,they invite each other to their homes.aurum domum rēgiam comportant, S.I.76, 6,they bring all the gold to the house royal.cum domum rēgis dēvertissēs,D.17,when you went to stay at the king’s palace. The prepositioninis sometimes used when the attribute is a genitive or a possessive pronoun, and commonly when it is any adjective but a possessive pronoun.
1165.(3.) In old Latin,exsequiāsandīnfitiāsare also used witheō, and sometimesmalam crucemandmalam rem, though these last more commonly havein: as,
exsequiās Chremētī īre, T.Ph.1026,to go to Chremes’s funeral.ut eās malam crucem, Pl.Men.328,that thou mayst get thee to the accursed cross. Later writers, as Nepos, Livy, and Quintilian, useīnfitiās eōagain, and, from Sallust on,vēnum eōandvēnum dōsometimes occur forvēneōandvēndō.
1166.With the accusative in-tum(or-sum), called the supine, the idea of ‘aim’ passes over into that of ‘purpose:’ asmīlitātum abiīt, T.Hau.117,he’s gone away a soldiering(2270).
TWO ACCUSATIVES COMBINED.
1167.Many verbs may take two accusatives, an object and a predicate.
Such are verbs signifyingmake,keep,choose,nameorcall,have,think,recognizeorfind,show oneself, &c., &c.: as,longiōrem mēnsem faciunt,V.2, 129,they make the month longer.eum certiōrem faciunt, 5, 37, 7,they let him know.Ancum Mārcium rēgem populus creāvit, L. 1, 32, 1,the people made Ancus Marcius king.mē cēpēre arbitrum, T.Hau.500,they’ve chosen me as referee.Duellium ‘Bellium’ nōmināvērunt,O.153,Duellius they named ‘Bellius.’vīcīnam Capreīs insulam ‘Aprāgopolim’ appellābat, Suet.Aug.98,the island next to Capreae he called ‘the Castle of Indolence.’conlēgās adiūtōrēs habēbat,Sest.87,he had his colleagues as assistants.tē sapientem exīstimant,L.6,they consider you a sage.quem virum P. Crassum vīdimus,CM.61,what a man we saw in Crassus.sevērum mē praebeō,C.4, 12,I show myself stern. In the passive both the object and the predicate become nominatives: as,Caesar certior factus est, 3, 19, 5,Caesar was informed.
1168.In the sense ofconsider as equivalent to,dūcōandhabeō, less frequentlyputō, have the ablative withprō. Other constructions with these and the above verbs may be found in the dictionary.
1169.(1.) Some verbs of teaching and hiding, demanding and questioning, may take two accusatives, one of a person and one of a thing.
The commonest of these verbs aredoceōand its compounds, andcēlō;flāgitō,ōrō,poscō, androgō,interrogō. The thing is usually the neuter of a pronoun or enumerative word (1144): as, (a.)peior magister tē istaec docuit, nōn ego, Pl.B.163,a worse instructor taught thee that, not I.quid tē litterās doceam?Pis.73,why should I teach you your A B C’s?(b.)nōn tē cēlāvī sermōnem T. Ampiī,Fam.2, 16, 3,I have not kept you in the dark about the talk with Ampius. (c.)interim cōtīdiē Caesar Aeduōs frūmentum flāgitāre, 1, 16,1,meantime Caesar every day a dunning the Aeduans for the grain.Mīlēsiōs nāvem poposcit,V.1, 86,he called on the Miletus people for a vessel.quid me istud rogās?Fin.5, 83,why do you ask me that?Racilius mē sententiam rogāvit,QFr.2, 1, 3,Racilius asked me my opinion.
1170.Withdoceō, meaninginform,cēlō,rogō, andinterrogō, the ablative of the thing withdēis also used. And withflāgitōandposcō, sometimes the ablative of the person withab, withcēlōthe ablative of the person withdē.
1171.In the passive the person becomes the subject, and the accusative of a neuter pronoun or adjective is retained: as,
nōsne hoc cēlātōs tam diū, T.Hec.645,for us not to be told of this so long; rarely with reversed construction:quōr haec cēlāta mē sunt?Pl.Ps.490,why was this hid from me?Accusatives of appellatives are rare: as,omnīs mīlitiae artīs ēdoctus fuerat, L. 25, 37, 3,he had been thoroughly taught all the arts of war.interrogātus sententiam, L. 36, 7, 1,being asked his opinion. Other constructions ofdoctus, and of the passive ofcēlō,flāgitō,poscō,rogōandinterrogō, may be found in the dictionary.
1172.(2.) Verbs of wishing, reminding, inducing, and accusing, and some others, also sometimes take an accusative of the person and one of the thing.
Such arevolō,moneōand its compounds,hortorandcōgō;accūsō,arguō,īnsimulō,obiūrgō. The thing is usually the neuter of a pronoun or enumerative word (1144): as,quid mē voltis?Pl.Mer.868,what do you want of me?illud tē esse admonitum velim,Cael.8,on this point I want you to be reminded(1171). In old Latin, accusatives of appellatives also are thus used, and sometimes also withdōnōandcondōnō.
1173.(3.) The defining accusative is sometimes combined with an accusative of the person: as,tam tē bāsia multa bāsiāre, Cat. 7, 9,thee to kiss so many kisses(1140). But usually with an accusative of the person, the ablative takes the place of the defining accusative: as,ōdissem tē odiō Vatīniānō, Cat. 14, 3,I should hate thee with a Vatinian hate.
1174.The accusative of extent or duration, or of aim of motion is often combined with that of the object: as,
(a.)mīlia passuum decem novem mūrum perdūcit, 1, 8, 1,he makes a wall nineteen miles(1151).mātrōnae annum eum lūxērunt, L. 2, 7, 4.the married women wore mourning for him a year(1151). (b.)Ancus multitūdinem omnem Rōmam trādūxit, L. 1, 33, 1,Ancus moved the whole population over to Rome(1157).eōs domum remittit, 4, 21, 6,he sends them home again(1162). For other combinations, see1138,1198, and 2270.
1175.The dative denotes that for or to which a thing is or is done, and either accompanies single words, such as verbs, adjectives, sometimes adverbs, rarely substantives, or serves to modify the entire sentence. It has two principal uses.
1176.I. The dative is used as a complement. Complements may be roughly distinguished as essential or optional. But these two complements are not always separated by a sharp line, and the same dative may sometimes be referred indifferently to either head.
1177.(1.) TheEssential Complementis a dative of the person or thing added to an idea which is felt as incomplete without the dative (1180).
Thus,pāret,he is obedient, is a statement which is felt as incomplete without a dative added to denote what it is he is obedient to, in the sentencepāret senātuī,he is obedient to the senate. But when stress is put on the action merely, without reference to its bearing, such a verb may be used without a dative: as,pāret,he is obedient,he yields obedience.
1178.(2.) TheOptional Complement, that is, the dative of interest, advantage, or disadvantage, adds something to an idea that is already complete in itself (1205).
Thus,carmina cantō,I chant verses, is a statement entirely complete in itself; it may be modified or not, at option, by a dative, thus:carmina virginibus puerīsque cantō,verses for maids and boys I chant.
1179.II. The dative of certain substantives is used predicatively (1219).
(1.) THE ESSENTIAL COMPLEMENT.
The Dative with Verbs.
1180.Many verbs require a dative to complete their meaning.
With Verbs of Intransitive Use.
1181.(1.) Many verbs of intransitive use, particularly such as denote a state, disposition, feeling, or quality, take the dative: as,
quodne vōbīs placeat, displiceat mihī?Pl.MG.614,shall that which pleases you, displeasing be to me?sī Asiciō causa plūs prōfuit quam invidia nocuit,Cael.23,if his case has been more helpful to Asicius than the hostility has been damaging.imperat aut servit collēcta pecūnia cuique, H.E.1, 10, 47,for every man his garnered hoard or master is or slave.nōnne huic lēgī resistētis?Agr.2, 85,will you not stand out against this law?gymnasiīs indulgent Graeculī, Traj. in Plin.Ep.40 [49], 2,our Greek cousins are partial to gymnasiums.īgnōscās velim huic festīnātiōnī meae, in a letter,Fam.5, 12, 1,please excuse haste.huic legiōnī Caesar cōnfīdēbat maximē, 1, 40, 15,Caesar trusted this legion most of all.an C. Trebōniō ego persuāsī? cui nē suādēre quidem ausus essem,Ph.2, 27,or was it I that brought conviction to Trebonius? a man to whom I should not have presumed even to offer advice. In the passive, such verbs are used impersonally, the dative remaining (1034); personal constructions are rare and poetical.
1182.This dative is used with such verbs or verbal expressions as meanam pleasingordispleasing,helpfulorinjurious,command,yield, oram obedient,am friendly,partial, oropposed;spare,pardon,threaten,trust,advise,persuade,happen,meet. But the English translation is not a safe guide: many of the verbs used with a dative are represented transitively in English; and some verbs of the meanings above are used transitively in Latin: as,dēlectō,iuvō,laedō, &c., &c.
1183.The dative is rarely used with a form ofsumand a predicate noun corresponding in meaning with the verbs above (1181): as,quid mihi scelestō tibī̆ erat auscultātiō?Pl.R.502, i.e.quid tibī̆ auscultābam?why did I, ill-starred wretch, lend ear to thee?quī studiōsus re͡i nūllī aliaest, Pl.MG.802, i.e.quī studet,who lends his soul to nothing else. Or immediately with a noun: as,servitūs opulentō hominī, Pl.Am.166,slavery to a millionaire.optemperātiō lēgibus,Leg.1, 42,obedience to the laws.aemula labra rosīs, Mart. 4, 42, 10,lips rivalling the rose.
1184.Some verbs have a variable use without any difference of meaning: thus,cūrō,decet, andvītō, have sometimes the dative in old Latin, but usually the accusative. In Cicero,adūlorhas the accusative; from Nepos on, the dative as well.medeor,medicor, andpraestōlortake either the accusative or the dative.
1185.Some verbs have an accusative with one meaning, a dative of the complement, essential or optional, with another: seeaemulor,caveō,comitor,cōnsulō,conveniō,cupiō,dēspērō,maneō,metuō,moderor,prōspiciō,temperō,timeō, and the different uses ofinvideō, in the dictionary.
1186.In poetry, verbs of union, of contention, and of difference, often take a dative: as, (a.)haeret laterī lētālis harundō, V. 4, 73,sticks to her side the deadly shaft. So withcoëō,concurrō,haereō, and similarly withiungō,misceō. (b.)quid enim contendat hirundō cycnīs?Lucr. 3, 6,for how can swallow cope with swans?So withbellō,certō,contendō,pugnō. (c.)īnfīdō scurrae distābit amīcus, H.E.1, 18, 4,a friend will differ from a faithless hanger-on. So withdifferō,discrepō,dissentiō,distō.
1187.A verb often takes the dative, when combined withadversum,obviam, orpraestō, also withbene,male, orsatis, and the like: as,
fit ob viam Clōdiō,Mil.29,he runs across Clodius.cui bene dīxit umquam bonō?Sest.110,for what patriot had he ever a good word?nōs, virī fortēs, satis facere rē̆ī pūblicae vidēmur,C.1, 2,we doughty champions flatter ourselves we are doing our whole duty by the state. Similarly with verbs of transitive use.
1188.(2.) Many verbs of intransitive use compounded with a preposition take a dative connected in sense with the preposition: as,
manus extrēma nōn accessit operibus eius,Br.126,the last touch was not put upon his works.omnibus adfuit hīs pugnīs Dolābella,Ph.2, 75,Dolabella was on hand in all these battles.pontō nox incubatātra,V. 1, 89,over the deep, night broodeth black.cōgnitiōnibus dē Chrīstiānīs interfuī numquam, Plin.Ep. ad Trai.96 [97], 1,I have never been to any of the trials of the Christians.
1189.The prepositions are chieflyad,ante,com-,in,inter,ob,prae,sub, orsuper. In many compounds of these prepositions, however, the dative is due to the general meaning of the verb, as incōnfīdit mihī̆,he puts all trust in me(1181), as contrasted withcōnsentit mihī̆,he feels with me, nearly equivalent tosentit mēcum(1188).
1190.Instead of the dative, such verbs often have a prepositional construction, particularly when place, literal or figurative, is distinctly to be expressed: as,
accēdere in fūnus,Leg.2, 66,to go to a funeral.in morbum incidit,Clu.175,he fell ill.
1191.Some verbs of intransitive use take, when compounded, either the dative or the accusative. Seeadiaceō,antecēdō,anteeō,praecurrō,praestō,incēdō,inlūdō,īnsultō,invādō, in the dictionary. And some compounds acquire a transitive use altogether, asobeō,oppugnō: see1137.
With Verbs of Transitive Use.
1192.(1.) Many verbs of transitive use take the dative: as,
ē̆ī fīliam suam in mātrimōnium dat, 1, 3, 5,he gives this person his own daughter in marriage.decima legiō ē̆ī grātiās ēgit, 1, 41, 1,the tenth legion gave him thanks.huic fert subsidium Puliō, 5, 44, 13,to him Pulio brings aid.multīs idem minātur Antōnius,Ph.11, 2,to many Antony threatens the same.reliquī sēsē fugae mandārunt, 1, 12, 3,the rest betook themselves to flight.commendō vōbīs meum parvum fīlium,C.4, 23,unto your keeping do I commit the little son of mine.multī sē aliēnissimīs crēdidērunt, 6, 31, 4,many people put themselves in the hands of utter strangers.equitēs imperat cīvitātibus, 6, 4, 6,he issues orders to the communities for horse.
1193.This dative is used with such verbs asdō,trādō,tribuō,dīvidō,ferō,praebeō,praestō,polliceor,prōmittō,dēbeō,negō,mōnstrō,dīcō,nārrō,mandō,praecipiō, &c., &c. In the passive construction, the accusative becomes nominative, the dative remaining.
1194.(2.) Many verbs of transitive use compounded with a preposition take a dative connected in sense with the preposition: as,
nihil novī vōbīs adferam,RP.1, 21,I shall not lay any novelty before you.lēgēs omnium salūtem singulōrum salūtī antepōnunt,Fin.3, 64,the law always puts the general safety before the safety of the individual.timōrem bonīs iniēcistis,Agr.1, 23,you have struck terror into the hearts of patriots.nōluērunt ferīs corpus obicere,RA.71,they would not cast his person before ravenous beasts.nēminem huic praeferō, N. 8, 1, 1,there is nobody I put before him.hībernīs Labiēnum praeposuit, 1, 54, 2,he put Labienus over the winter-quarters.anitum ōva gallīnīs saepe suppōnimus,DN.2, 124,we often put ducks’ eggs under hens.
1195.The prepositions arecircum,dē,ex,post, or those named in 1189. In many compounds of transitive use, however, the dative is due to the general meaning of the verb, as with those spoken of in 1189.
1196.With these verbs, a prepositional construction is often used, as with the verbs of intransitive use (1190): as,
iam diū nihil novī ad nōs adferēbātur,Fam.2, 14,no news has got to us this long time. For compounds ofcircumandtrānswith two accusatives, see1138.
1197.Verbs of transitive use compounded withcom-have oftener the ablative withcum: as,cōnferte hanc pācem cum illō bellō,V.4, 115,just compare this peace with that war. See also in the dictionary,coniungōandcompōnō; also the indirect compoundscomparō,compare, fromcompār, andcommūnicō.
1198.With a few compounds ofadorin, a second accusative is exceptionally used: as,arbitrum illum adēgit,Off.3, 66,he had the other man up before a daysman. So withinmittō, Pl.Cap.548,īnsinuō, Lucr. 1, 116, &c., &c. Regularly withanimum advertō: as,animum advertī columellam,TD.5, 65,I noticed a modest shaft.quā rē animum adversā, Caes.C.1, 80, 4,this fact being paid heed to: compare 1138.
1199.A few compound verbs admit either the dative of the person or thing and accusative of the thing, or the accusative of the person or thing and ablative of the thing; such areadspergōandīnspergō,circumdō,circumfundō,exuōandinduō,impertiō,interclūdō; also the uncompoundeddōnō: as,praedam mīlitibus dōnat, 7, 11, 9,he presents the booty to the soldiers.scrībam tuum ānulō dōnāstī,V.3, 185,you presented your clerk with a ring. For the different constructions ofinterdīcō, see the dictionary.
The Dative with Adjectives.
1200.The dative with many adjectives and some adverbs denotes that to which the quality is directed.
Such have the meaning ofuseful,necessary,fit,easy,agreeable,known,near,belonging,friendly,faithful,like, and most of their opposites; the adjective is often predicative: as,vēr ūtile silvīs(1036), V.G.2, 323,the spring is good for woods.est senātōrī necessārium nōsse rem pūblicam,Leg.3, 41,for a senator it is indispensable to be conversant with government.ōrātiōnis genus pompae quam pugnae aptius,O.42,a style better suited to the parade than to the field.convenienter nātūrae vīvere,Off.3, 13,to live in touch with nature.
1201.Some adjectives of this class have the dative of a person, the accusative withadof a thing: soaccommodātus,aptus,idōneus,necessārius, andūtilis; and some denoting feeling have also the accusative with a preposition:aequus,inīquus,fidēliswithin,benevoluswithergā, andimpiuswithadversus.propiorandproximussometimes accompany an accusative, likeprope,propius, andproximē.
1202.The adjectivescommūnis,propriusoraliēnus,sacer,tōtus, often accompany the construction of the genitive of the owner: see1238. Foraliēnuswith the ablative, see1306. Sometimesaliēnushas the ablative withab.
1203.Some adjectives denoting relationship, connection, friendship or hostility, become substantives, and as such, admit the genitive also (1103): such are (a.)adfīnis,cōgnātus; (b.)aequālis,familiāris,fīnitimus,pāranddispār,propīnquus,vīcīnus; (c.)adversārius,amīcus,inimīcus,necessārius.
1204.In Plautus and Terence,similis,the like,the counterpart, and its compounds, regularly take the genitive. The dative, as well as the genitive, is also used from Ennius on, particularly of a limited or approximate likeness: see the dictionary.
(2.) THE OPTIONAL COMPLEMENT.
1205.The dative of a person or thing interested, benefited, harmed, may be added at option to almost any verb: as,
cōnservāte parentī fīlium, parentem fīliō,Cael.80,save the son for the father, the father for the son.mea domus tibī̆ patet, mihī̆ clausa est,RA.145,the very house I own is open for you, is shut upon me.cui flāvam religās comam, simplex munditiīs?H. 1, 5, 4,for whom bind’st thou in wreaths thy golden hair, plain in thy neatness?nōn audēret facere haec viduae mulierī, quae in mē fēcit, T.Hau.953,he durst not to an unprotected female do what he hath done towards me.
1206.The place of a verb with the dative of interest is sometimes filled by an interjection,ecce,ei,em, orvae: as,ei mihi quālis erat, E. 1, 7, V. 2, 274,ah me, how ghastly he did look.vae vīctīs, Pl.Ps.1317, said by Brennus, 390B.C., L. 5, 48, 9,woe worth the worsted.vae capitī atque aetātī tuae, Pl.R.375,a murrain on thy head and life.
1207.The dative is often added to the entire sentence, where either a genitive or a possessive pronoun limiting a substantive might be used.
In such cases the dative expresses interest, advantage, or disadvantage, while the genitive would simply indicate the owner or the object: as,trānsfīgitur scūtum Puliōni, 5, 44, 7,unfortunately for Pulio, his shield gets pierced through and through.mīlitantī in Hispāniā pater ē̆ī moritur, L. 29, 29, 6,while serving in Spain he had the misfortune to lose his father.huic ego mē bellō ducem profiteor,C.2, 11,I here proclaim myself captain for this war.sēsē Caesarī ad pedēs prōiēcērunt, 1, 31, 2,they cast themselves at Caesar’s feet.nostrīs mīlitibus spem minuit, 5, 33, 5,it dashed the hopes of our soldiers.extergē tibi manūs, Pl.Most.267,wipe off thy hands.vellunt tibi barbam lascīvī puerī, H.S.1, 3, 133,the wanton gamins pull thy beard, poor soul.
1208.This dative is sometimes detached from the verb, and used immediately with a substantive, instead of the genitive: as,Philocōmasiō custōs, Pl.MG.271,the keeper for Philocomasium.rēctor iuvenī, Ta. 1, 24,a mentor for the young man. So particularly with a gerundive in official expressions: as,cūrātor mūrīs reficiendīs,OG.19,commissioner for rebuilding the walls.
1209.Verbs of warding off sometimes take a dative, especially in poetry, also those of robbing and ridding: as, (a.)hunc quoque arcēbis gravidō pecorī, V.G.3, 154,him also wilt thou for the pregnant herd keep far.sōlstitium pecorī dēfendite. V.E.7, 47,the summer’s heat keep distant for the flock. (b.)torquem dētrāxit hostī,Fin.1, 35,he pulled a torque away from his enemy.ēripiēs mihī̆ hunc errōrem,Att.10, 4, 6,you will rid me of this mistake.
1210.With verbs of motion the dative of the person interested denotes in poetry the end of motion also: as,multōs Danaūm dēmittimus Orcō, V. 2, 398,we send down many a Danaan for the nether king. So also the dative of personified words of place: as,it clāmor caelō, V. 5, 451,up goes a shout for heaven, i.e.heaven hears a shout.sēdibus hunc refer ante suīs, V. 6, 152,first bear him duly to his place of rest, i.e. let his expectant grave receive him.
The Emotional Dative.
1211.The dative of the personal pronoun is often used with expressions of emotion, interest, surprise, or derision: as,
quid mihi Celsus agit?H.E.1, 3, 15,how fares me Celsus?Tongilium mihī̆ ēdūxit,C.2, 4,he took out Tongilius, bless my soul.at tibī̆ repente, cum minimē exspectārem, vēnit ad mē Canīnius māne,Fam.9, 2, 1,but bless you, sir, when I least dreamt of it, who should drop in on me all at once but Caninius, bright and early.
The Dative of the Possessor.
1212.The dative is used with forms ofsumto denote the possessor: as,
est hominī cum deō similitūdō,Leg.1, 25,man has a resemblance to god.an nescīs longās rēgibus esse manūs?O.E.16, 166,dost possibly not know kings have long arms?suos quoique mōs, T.Ph.454,to every man his own pet way. So also with the compoundsabsum,dēsum,supersum: as,hoc ūnum Caesarī dēfuit, 4, 26, 5,this was all Caesar lacked.
1213.(1.) Withmihī̆ est nōmen, the name is put either in the dative or in the nominative: as,
mihī̆ nomen est Iūliō, ormihī̆ nōmen est Iūlius, Gell. 15, 29, 1,my name is Julius. In old Latin and in Sallust, the dative: as,nōmen Mercuriōst mihī, Pl.Am. prol.19,my name is Mercury; later the nominative: as,canibus pigrīs nōmen erit Pardus, Tigris, Leo, J. 8, 34,the craven cur shall sport the name of ‘Lion, Tiger, Pard.’Cicero uses the nominative or rarely the dative, Livy oftener the dative than the nominative. Tacitus puts adjectives in the dative, substantives in the nominative, rarely in the genitive. Caesar does not use the construction.
1214.(2.) With the activesnōmen dō,indō,pōnō,tribuō, &c., the name may be in the dative or in the accusative; with the passive of these expressions, the name may be in the dative or in the nominative: as,
quī tibi nōmen īnsānō posuēre, H.S.2, 3, 47,who’ve put on thee the nickname Crank.quī fīliīs Philippum atque Alexandrum nōmina inposuerat, L. 35, 47, 5,who had given his sons the names Philip and Alexander. A genitive dependent onnōmenis used once by Tacitus and in very late Latin.
1215.With a gerundive, the dative of the possessor denotes the person who has the action to do: see2243. For the ablative withab, or forhabeō, see2243,2245.
1216.This dative is sometimes used with the perfect participle, and the tenses formed with it: as,mihī̆ est ēlabōrātum,Caecil.40,I have it all worked out.carmina nūlla mihī sunt scrīpta, O.Tr.5, 12, 35,no poetry have I ready made. Rarely with passives of the present system: as,nūlla placēre diū nec vīvere carmina possunt, quae scrībuntur aquae pōtōribus, H.E.1, 19, 2,no verse can take or be longlived that by teetotallers is writ.