Translation
footprint, track; trace, vestige; moment, instant
Examples
nive videbantur.
The tracks of the enemy were visible in the snow.
.
He follows in his father's footsteps.
.
No trace of the war remained.
E .
He set out on the spot.
harena impressa .
Footprints had been pressed into the sand.
Vestigium, vestigii, n. Second declension neuter. The literal sense is the sole of the foot, then the mark it leaves, then any trace of something that has passed.
Two idioms are worth having. Vestigiis alicuius insistere is to follow in someone's footsteps, and e vestigio or in vestigio means "on the spot, instantly", the image being a man who has not moved out of his own footprint. That is where the temporal sense of "moment" comes from. English "vestige" has narrowed to a faint remnant, but a Latin vestigium is often a sharp fresh print, so do not soften it by default. The verb vestigo means to track as a hunter does, and investigo gives investigate.
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vestigium: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Latin word "vestigium" (footprint, track; trace, vestige; moment, instant): 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 part of lesson 11.