talkmagic.co.uk

No, it's not a very bad opening line for a stand up comedy routine, but my Latin is about as good as my coin work (I've studied neither) and could do with some input from someone who knows a bit.

What would the best Latin interpretation of "Protect the Daylight" be? My, so far, best response in another (non magic) forum was that in my signature, "Defende Lucem".

Some deplorable online translators have suggested "Servo" for protect too.

Any ideas?

What does 'protect the daylight' mean in English ?

Is it a call for environmental action, or is it in praise of the fact that the Sun rises each day ?

No idea about the Latin, but in Africa there is lovely greeting "May the Day Break"

Think of 'daylight' as a representation of the forces of good in some some kind of pseudo-occult context, as opposed to the forces of darkness.

Context is pretty important when translating Latin. What are you actually trying to say?

Caveat: I was awarded an 'E' in Latin, and that was over 20 years ago...

But you did use 'caveat' correctly...

Ian

E in Latin, 1984

Tommibus sittibus on the deskinorum,
deskibus collapsibus
Tommy on the floorum


greedoniz. Thrown out of latin aged 10

Ted wrote:Context is pretty important when translating Latin. What are you actually trying to say?

You know, I never realised it would be so tricky to articulate this, but I'll do my best.

Think of 'Protect the Daylight' as a kind of motto, if it were in a sentence (to provide context) it would be something like "(We) Protect the Daylight", referring to my above post as to what the daylight part is all about.

Any use?

OK, this is going to sound a little academic but it makes all the difference in Latin...

Is "Protect the Daylight" a command? If so you'd use the present imperative (e.g. "Protect!" as opposed to "we protect"). In English the spelling is the same. In Latin it isn't.

I'd quite forgotten about this thread!

Ted, what would be the Latin for both of them then?

Van_der_Belt wrote:I'd quite forgotten about this thread!

Ted, what would be the Latin for both of them then?

There is more than one word that translates as defend, but contegere sounds about right for your purposes. It means, "to cover, defend, protect or shield". It also happens to mean, "to hide", which is interesting.

Anyway, the verb we are using here is CONTEGERE.

I defend = contego

We defend = contegimus (there is an acute accent on the e)

Defend! = contegito (accent on the e again)

Please don't ask me any more about this. I hated it when I was 13 and I hate it now

Ted wrote:Please don't ask me any more about this. I hated it when I was 13 and I hate it now

[/Thread]

Nos terminus is hic....

I haven't forgotten this thread, but haven't been able to dig out my Latin dictionary yet.

The phrase that leaps to my mind is "Defensor Lucis", meaning "Defender of (the) Light". This would be very believable as a personal motto, or an esoteric title. Or if it's supposed to be plural (say, a motto of an organisation) then it would be "Defensores Lucis", "Defenders of (the) Light".

I realise this isn't quite a translation of what you asked for, but as a motto it sounds more believable than using "defend" or "protect" as a verb.

Robbie, you are quite brilliant!

If I was quite brilliant, I would have replied back in July...

My lovely Latin professor would be most disappointed in me if he knew.