Dictionary formbellum, belli(neuter)
Translation
war
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Grammar
Cases
| Case | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativethe subject | bellum | bella |
| Vocativecalling someone: O ... | bellum | bella |
| Accusativethe direct object; after ad, in (into), per | bellum | bella |
| Genitiveof | belli | bellorum |
| Dativeto, for | bello | bellis |
| Ablativeby, with, from; after a, ab, cum, de, e, ex, in (in), sine | bello | bellis |
Examples
Gallis .
They waged war against the Gauls.
confecto, .
When the war was over, he returned home.
ignota .
The cause of the war is unknown.
perierunt.
Many died in the war.
civilia deleverunt.
The civil wars destroyed the city.
, is a second declension NEUTER noun: , , , , , plural , , . Because it is neuter, is both nominative and accusative and is both nominative and accusative plural.
The verb it takes is , not : , "to wage war", and confecto, "the war having been finished", is Caesar's standard ablative absolute for wrapping up a campaign. The locative-looking , "in wartime", pairs with in bellique, at home and at war. The older form of the word was duellum, which is where the English doublet "duel" comes from, and that d is also why has nothing to do with bellus, "pretty" (the ancestor of "beautiful"). Watch the homograph: can be wars or pretty things, and only context tells you which.
Where this fits
Used in
Grammar articles
(8)The Latin Ablative Absolute: urbe capta, signo dato
The Latin Ablative Case and Its Many Uses
Latin Conditional Sentences: si, nisi and the Subjunctive
Latin Declensions: Chart of All Five and How to Spot Them
The Latin Genitive and Dative in Practice
Latin Gerunds and Gerundives: ars amandi, delenda est
Latin Passive Periphrastic: Carthago delenda est
The Latin Passive and Deponent Verbs: amatur, locutus sum
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bellum: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Latin word "bellum" (war): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
This word is taught in chapter 2, lesson 10: bellum, aio, fere and 6 more words.