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BRUTUM HOMINIS

English translation: a dimwit of a man

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Latin term or phrase:BRUTUM HOMINIS
English translation:a dimwit of a man
Entered by: Joseph Brazauskas

13:33 Mar 17, 2006
Latin to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Philosophy / literary translation
Latin term or phrase: BRUTUM HOMINIS
I came across this in Swift's "Battle of the Books". He gives it as the name of a spirit that hovers over graves until the body within is turned to dust. I need to know what the words mean so I can put it in a footnote.
JoGunn
Local time: 16:59
a dimwit of a man
Explanation:
'Brutus' is an adjective meaning 'dull, lacking in sense or reason' and is here used susbtantively; hence 'hominis', a genitive of quality or characteristic. The accusative must be due to some transitive verb omitted but implied.
Selected response from:

Joseph Brazauskas
United States
Local time: 12:59
Grading comment
Thank you.
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5a dimwit of a man
Joseph Brazauskas


  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
a dimwit of a man


Explanation:
'Brutus' is an adjective meaning 'dull, lacking in sense or reason' and is here used susbtantively; hence 'hominis', a genitive of quality or characteristic. The accusative must be due to some transitive verb omitted but implied.

Joseph Brazauskas
United States
Local time: 12:59
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 3
Grading comment
Thank you.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Pierre POUSSIN
36 mins
  -> Thank you.
agree  Rebecca Garber
2 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Leonardo Marcello Pignataro (X)
4 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Alfa Trans (X)
19 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Erzsébet Czopyk
2 days 1 hr
  -> Thank you.
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