astrid Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Today is dd's 11th birthday, and she shares her birthday with the Latin teacher at our local high school. Mr. Higgins has helped us with curriculum choices in the past, and he's the one who got us started on Cambridge Latin. He sent Molly a birthday email in Latin today and we'd like to reply in kind, of course. Here is what he sent: "Felicem natalem volo te agere hodie, Molly. Undecim annos habes! Feliciter eveniat!" We're stuck on this word...."agere." Can you HELP US, PLEASE??? :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plaid Dad Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Ago is one of those words with a huge range of possible English translations. In this case, the closest English meaning is "to spend (time)." But the first sentence just means "I hope that you have a happy birthday today, Molly" or even more loosely, "Enjoy your birthday!" That's not an exact, literal translation, but a truly literal translation wouldn't be a good translation in this case. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mamagistra Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Happy birthday, Molly! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrid Posted June 16, 2008 Author Share Posted June 16, 2008 That's why we were having trouble--- we were trying to translate it literally! Thanks tons! Astrid (and Molly!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
latinteach Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Today is dd's 11th birthday, and she shares her birthday with the Latin teacher at our local high school. Mr. Higgins has helped us with curriculum choices in the past, and he's the one who got us started on Cambridge Latin. He sent Molly a birthday email in Latin today and we'd like to reply in kind, of course. Here is what he sent: "Felicem natalem volo te agere hodie, Molly. Undecim annos habes! Feliciter eveniat!" We're stuck on this word...."agere." Can you HELP US, PLEASE??? :001_smile: Plaid Dad is, as usual, correct. "Agere" has a lot of meanings. If you look it up in a good Latin dictionary, you'll see it has literally dozens of definitions all having to do with action or behavior. Most elementary Latin books will give you the definition "to drive, act, or do." The New College Latin and English Dictionary, 3rd edition, gives all sorts of definitions including "celebrate." The reason that "agere" is in the infinitive is because this is an example of an indirect statement. Indirect statements occur with verbs meaning "say, hear, know, believe, see, think, etc." Volo means "I hope" and so fits in with the idea of "believing or thinking." The subject of an indirect statement is in the accusative: "te" and the verb is in the infinitive "agere." "Felicem natalem" is the direct object of "agere" and placed at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis. So "I hope that you celebrate a happy birthday today." Enough with the grammar. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crissy Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Happy birthday wishes to Molly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Happy Birthday, Molly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted June 16, 2008 Share Posted June 16, 2008 Happy Birthday, Molly! Keep up the good work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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