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In classical Latin, what was the vocative singular of 'deus'?
Did it follow the regular form for 2nd declension masculine nouns? If so, "dee" sounds a bit awkward.
Or did it follow the form of the irregular "meus", and thus become "di"? Or was it something else?
(In medieval Ecclesiastical Latin, the vocative became simply "Deus", as in Psalm 22 which begins "Deus meus, Deus meus...", with no trace of the classical vocative in either the noun or the possesive adjective. But my question is about what the ancient Romans did.)
9 Answers
- JeannieLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
It does not appear to have been used in the singular in classical times, so the actual form is debated. The link cites one source that used "o bone deus" around 50 AD.
I cannot imagine the form Dee, as even the singular meus was contracted to mi for the vocative. "Di magni" from Catullus is a plural vocative because both di and magni are nominative plural. The form would have been magne if god were singular.
Source(s): http://www.jstor.org/pss/270330 - ?Lv 45 years ago
All 2nd declension nouns ending -ius merely drop the -us ending while forming the vocative, although once you could wish the vocative of sword i'm no longer completely particular. i replaced into taught to remember it from the call Fattius, which turns into Fatti; that that may no longer a Roman call would not look to be counted, because it is controlled to adhere with me as a result some distance.
- dollhausLv 71 decade ago
According to Allen and Greenough (49.g), The vocative singular does not occur in classic Latin; it is said to have been 'dee' The Vulgate uses 'deus' as the vocative form.
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- Anonymous1 decade ago
Catullus XIV has 'Di Magni!' as a lighthearted oath.
Catullus was probably writing in standard Latin (though probably in a reasonably high register), and is arguably the best guide to normal Latin usage we have from the classical period.
(You could argue that this is not a vocative, but vocative seems the natural case for such an oath).
- 1 decade ago
quote
"The following 2nd declension nouns have minor irregularities: deus has nominative pl. dei or di, genitive pl. deorum or deum, ablative plural deis or dis"
it doesn't say anything about the vocative changing so i think dee is correct. but the expression "di immortales!" is in the nominative even though it's calling the gods so i can't be 100% sure
Source(s): Oxford Latin Course Part II - ?Lv 61 decade ago
"di" is the vocative plural, but the vocative singular I am told is non-existent. However, it would seem possible that the plural could be read with singular meaning.
- 1 decade ago
yes i do think deus in the voc. sing. is still deus (i.e the same as the singular nominitive)
Source(s): used to study latin
