Dictionary formpectus, pectoris(neuter)
Translation
breast, chest; heart, feeling
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Grammar
Cases
| Case | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominativethe subject | pectus | pectora |
| Vocativecalling someone: O ... | pectus | pectora |
| Accusativethe direct object; after ad, in (into), per | pectus | pectora |
| Genitiveof | pectoris | pectorum |
| Dativeto, for | pectori | pectoribus |
| Ablativeby, with, from; after a, ab, cum, de, e, ex, in (in), sine | pectore | pectoribus |
Examples
.
The spear went into the soldier's chest.
.
He carries a great grief in his heart.
.
The wound in the chest was serious.
.
Brave hearts do not fear war.
.
Anger stays in the hearts of men.
Pectus, pectoris, n., third declension neuter, so the nominative and accusative are identical in both numbers: pectus in the singular, pectora in the plural. The stem pector- carries the rest.
Anatomically it is the ribcage, the front of the chest. In the poets and in prose alike it is also where thought and feeling live, so a mind full of courage is a pectus rather than a cor, and the Latin for learning something by heart runs through it. That gives translators a choice on almost every appearance: chest, breast or heart, and the wrong one flattens the line. English pectoral and expectorate come from the same word, which is a fair reminder that the Latin starts with the bone and only then moves inwards.
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pectus: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Latin word "pectus" (breast, chest; heart, feeling): 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 3, lesson 11: pectus, versus, duco and 7 more words.