| Keywords |
|
| ID |
3 |
| Text |
Liber in partibus Donati (800 - 812) Smaragdus of Saint-Mihiel |
| Quotation |
De genitivo casu. “Genitivus” ideo vocatur, quia per eum et genus ostendimus et gentem, ut “Carolus, Pipini filius” et “Troianae gentis rex”.Qui et “possessivus” recte vocatur, quia per eum possessiones monstrantur, ut “Caroli regis regnum” et “Caroli regis palatium” et “Caroli regis fiscus” |
| Translation |
The case genitive. The genitive is so called because we show through it the descent (genus) and the people (gentem), as in the case of: “Charlemagne, Pipin’s son” and “king of the Trojan people”. It is also rightly called “possessive”, because one’s possessions are declared through it, as for instance: “King Charlemagne’s realm” and “King Charlemagne’s palace” and “King Charlemagne’s treasury”. (C. Grifoni) |
| Summary |
Smaragdus uses Charlemagne as example to explain the nature of the genitive. The genitive derives its name from its faculty to show the descent (genus) of a person and the people (gens) this person belongs to. The genitive can also show one's possessions. |
| Quotation source |
p. 76, 32-37 |
| Temporal Coverage |
752 - 812 |
| Associated use case(s) |
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| Spatial Coverage Objects |
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| Comment |
The Latin word "genus" means biological descent, whereas the word "gens" indicates more generally a big group of persons without further characterisation. The former commentators on this passage of Donatus used Priamus, king of Troja, as example. Smaragdus introduces Charlemagne in the role of king of the Trojan people. |
