Dictionary formcasus, casus(masculine)
Translation
fall; chance, accident; misfortune
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Grammar
Cases
| Case | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativethe subject | casus | casus |
| Vocativecalling someone: O ... | casus | casus |
| Accusativethe direct object; after ad, in (into), per | casum | casus |
| Genitiveof | casus | casuum |
| Dativeto, for | casui | casibus |
| Ablativeby, with, from; after a, ab, cum, de, e, ex, in (in), sine | casu | casibus |
Examples
, .
It happened by chance, not by design.
.
He saw the fall of the city with his own eyes.
.
There are many mishaps in war.
discimus.
We are learning the cases of nouns.
.
No one knows his own fate.
Casus, casus, m., is fourth declension and is simply the noun of cado - a falling. From there: the fall of a city, an accident, a chance event, and then a misfortune, since the falls people write about are rarely lucky ones. Genitive singular casus is spelled like the nominative, and the plural casus like both.
The grammarians borrowed the same metaphor. A casus is a way a noun falls away from the upright nominative, the casus rectus, and English took "case" for the grammar, the lawsuit and the suitcase alike. The ablative casu is the ordinary adverb "by accident", and its near twin is forte. Casus belli is late Latin, not Cicero, but it is built correctly.
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casus: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Latin word "casus" (fall; chance, accident; misfortune): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
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Start your free weekThis word is taught in chapter 5, lesson 8: casus, coram, potestas and 6 more words.