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Parentibus optimis quibus si quid habeo acceptum refero.

English translation: To the best parents (in the world) to whom I owe for everything I have.

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Latin term or phrase:Parentibus optimis quibus si quid habeo acceptum refero.
English translation:To the best parents (in the world) to whom I owe for everything I have.
Entered by: SeiTT

14:24 Feb 10, 2013
Latin to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Dedications
Latin term or phrase: Parentibus optimis quibus si quid habeo acceptum refero.
Hi

I think the maximum is ten words, so I should be okay.

At the beginning of a copy of "Acts in the Apostles" in Greek, we read the following, perhaps a dedication:
Parentibus optimis quibus si quid habeo acceptum refero.

What does it mean, please? Please explain the grammar of it - I'm all at sea here.

Best wishes

Simon
SeiTT
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:21
To the best parents (in the world) to whom I owe for everything I have.
Explanation:
parentibus optimis - dativus
quibus - refers to the above, dativus in the clause with refero AND ablativus with acceptum
acceptum - past participle =having got something from somebody
refero - predicate of subordinate clause = to trace back something to somebody
si quid habeo - second subordinate clause, object to acceptum = if I have anything/everything I have
Selected response from:

Judit Babcsányi
Hungary
Local time: 19:21
Grading comment
Many thanks, excellent.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +1To the best parents (in the world) to whom I owe for everything I have.
Judit Babcsányi
5To [my] most noble parents, to whom I return this [book] just as I received it [from them].
Dominic Galante
4For the best of parents, to whom I make an acceptable return, if I have any (to make).
Joseph Brazauskas


  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
To [my] most noble parents, to whom I return this [book] just as I received it [from them].


Explanation:
Parentibus optimis -- dative case, used for the dedication

Quibus -- dative, beginning of relative clause; object of the verb refero

Si quid habeo acceptum -- "quid acceptum" is "the thing received". It's not exactly good Latin to use the verb habeo as an auxiliary verb to acceptum. Habeo means "I have". Sounds more like an Anglicism, "I have received it."

Refero -- first person singular present indicative active.

Dominic Galante
United States
Local time: 13:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Jim Tucker (X): si quid = si aliquid; what you call an anglicism is a prevalent proto-Romance construction; where is "just as"?
2 hrs
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19 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
To the best parents (in the world) to whom I owe for everything I have.


Explanation:
parentibus optimis - dativus
quibus - refers to the above, dativus in the clause with refero AND ablativus with acceptum
acceptum - past participle =having got something from somebody
refero - predicate of subordinate clause = to trace back something to somebody
si quid habeo - second subordinate clause, object to acceptum = if I have anything/everything I have

Judit Babcsányi
Hungary
Local time: 19:21
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in HungarianHungarian
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Many thanks, excellent.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Veronika McLaren: or to whom I am indebted for...
8 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
For the best of parents, to whom I make an acceptable return, if I have any (to make).


Explanation:
Lit., to whom I pay back (something) acceptable, if I have any acceptable return to make.

'Acceptum' is here the perfect passive particple used substantively. In this context, it is nearly equivilent to 'gratus', 'dear'; cf. Lewis & Short s.v. accipio ad fin.

Joseph Brazauskas
United States
Local time: 13:21
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 8
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