A little help with Latin and Legion Ranks

[gamerdude873]

Hey just got a question for you Latin speakers. I'm having a little trouble confirming that i have the singular/plural forms of some roman army ranks right along with spelling issues, as well as one other question about the proper way to call a buck private.


What is the singular form of Immunes, is it Immunis? Forms of recruit, is it Tiro/Tirone? Forms of Tribunus/Tribunis (seen it spelled both ways)?

Now, is a private (sg) Miles Gregarius (pl) Milites Gregarii? I've also read that the private was referred to as a Miles just for short everyday use. Is that right, cause I've seen the term Gregaralis(spelling?) as well. I'm just really kind of confused, I only have a very vague idea of Latin mechanics, and just wanna make sure I've got this right. :help:

[A Terribly Harmful Name]

Latin Dictionary and Grammar Aid: http://www.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/lookup.pl?stem=Immun&ending=is

immunis -e [without duty , free, exempt]; in gen. [not working or not contributing; not sharing in, devoid of; stainless].

Immunis, e, being an adjective, is therefore used to characterize something. In this case let's assume miles immunis, which means "exempt soldier". The "e" denotes use with neutral nouns, e.g. "praemium immune".

"Tirone" is the ablative (or dative) of Tiro, which has genitive tironis and plural tirones. Tribunus is a second declension noun, and therefore, Tribunus, Tribuni, with Tribuni for the nominative plural. There is no such thing as "Tribunis", which I pointed out earlier, and the EB team, clever fellows they were, already noticed before.

Miles, itis means just "soldier" in the strict sense, so it's normal that it would be in normal everyday use for any legionary. You're right about the plural.

Also, you need a good understanding of the flexing of nouns and their sense within the sentence if you ever hope to understand Latin at all.

[gamerdude873]

Thanks so much for the help.


Also, you need a good understanding of the flexing of nouns and their sense within the sentence if you ever hope to understand Latin at all.

Tell me about it. I only got one thing completely correct! :P

[Urg]

Your latin is pretty good gamerdude. You only made a couple of errors.

Gregarius is an adjective which, in the context of miles, means "common" soldier.

An example of the plural (your milites gregarii is the correct plural form) is in Cicero's Pro Plancio, at 30:72:

At id etiam gregarii milites faciunt inviti ut coronam dent civicam et se ab aliquo servatos esse fateantur.

But this is a thing which even common soldiers do against their will, and they are reluctant to give a civic crown to a citizen, and to confess that they have been saved by any one

[gamerdude873]

Your latin is pretty good gamerdude.
Well, considering I've never had any form of a Latin Class, its more than most people know!