Dictionary formoraculum, oraculi(neuter)
Translation
oracle; prophecy, divine utterance
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Grammar
Cases
| Case | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativethe subject | oraculum | oracula |
| Vocativecalling someone: O ... | oraculum | oracula |
| Accusativethe direct object; after ad, in (into), per | oraculum | oracula |
| Genitiveof | oraculi | oraculorum |
| Dativeto, for | oraculo | oraculis |
| Ablativeby, with, from; after a, ab, cum, de, e, ex, in (in), sine | oraculo | oraculis |
Examples
.
They went to consult the oracle.
.
At the oracle they received an answer.
.
The oracles of the gods are true.
obscura .
The words of the oracle were obscure.
.
The oracle foretold death for the king.
Oraculum, oraculi is second declension neuter, from oro, "speak, plead", with the instrument suffix -culum: literally a speaking-place. It covers both the utterance and the shrine that issues it, so oraculum petere is to go and consult one and oraculum accipere is to come away with the answer.
Do not use it of the priestess herself; she is a vates or a sacerdos, and the mistranslation is common in student prose. In Christian writers the word drifts towards "divine word" generally, and the Vulgate applies it to the inner sanctuary of the temple, which has nothing to do with prophecy at all.
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oraculum: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Latin word "oraculum" (oracle; prophecy, divine utterance): 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 6, lesson 10: oraculum, addo, altitudo and 7 more words.