1 When an adjective is applied predicatively to something definite, the corresponding "indefinite" form is used. 2 The "indefinite" superlatives may not be used attributively.
The genitive and dative singular are not in common use (with exceptional attestations being analogical) and substituted with forms ofrōbur (rōboris,rōborī).
The plural forms of this noun are often treated as a separateplurale tantum noun, with a distinct meaning of physical force. An analogical nominative/accusativevīs is occasionally found, beginning with Lucretius.[1]
FromProto-Indo-European*wéyh₁si, second-person singular present of*wéyh₁ti. This particular form is suppletive, in contrast to the other forms ofvolō, which derive fromProto-Indo-European*welh₁-. (Proto-Italic*wels became a separate word (vel(“or, and/or”), to be specific) in Latin.)
The verbnōlle originally had the formnēvīs for the second person singular present indicative active. However, that form was rendered obsolete along withnēvolt andnōltis, rendering it defective; for the second person singular in particular,vīs is used instead with the particlenōn.
^Weiss, Michael L. (2009)Outline of the Historical and Comparative Grammar of Latin[1], Ann Arbor: Beech Stave Press,→ISBN, § III, pages255-6
“vis”, inCharlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879)A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
“vis”, inCharlton T. Lewis (1891)An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
"vis", in Charles du Fresne du Cange’sGlossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
vis inGaffiot, Félix (1934)Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
Carl Meißner, Henry William Auden (1894)Latin Phrase-Book[3], London:Macmillan and Co.
there is a storm at sea:mare ventorum vi agitatur et turbatur
straight on:rectā (viā)
to wish any one a prosperous journey:aliquem proficiscentem votis ominibusque prosequi (vid. sect. VI. 11, noteProsequi...)
to be robust, vigorous:bonis esse viribus
as well as I can; to the best of my ability:pro viribus orpro mea parte
to burst into a flood of tears:lacrimas, vim lacrimarum effundere, profundere
to enjoy good health:bona (firma, prospera) valetudineesse oruti (vid. sect. VI. 8., noteuti...)
to lay hands on oneself:manus, vim sibi afferre
to perform the last offices of affection:supremis officiis aliquem prosequi (vid sect. VI. 11., noteProsequi...)
to have considerable influence on a question:magnam vim habere ad aliquid
to be favoured by Fortune; to bask in Fortune's smiles:fortunae favore orprospero flatu fortunae uti (vid. sect. VI. 8., noteuti...)
to wish prosperity to an undertaking:aliquid optimis ominibus prosequi (vid. sect. VI. 11., noteProsequi...)
to honour, show respect for, a person:aliquem honore afficere, augere, ornare, prosequi (vid. sect. VI. 11., noteProsequi...)
to strain every nerve, do one's utmost in a matter:omnibus viribusornervis contendere, ut
to strain every nerve, do one's utmost in a matter:omni ope atque opera oromni virium contentione eniti, ut
to strain every nerve, do one's utmost in a matter:pro viribus eniti et laborare, ut
there seems a prospect of armed violence; things look like violence:res spectat ad vim (arma)
to express clearly, make a lifelike representation of a thing:exprimere aliquid verbis ororatione (vid. sect. VI. 3, noteadumbrare...)
to possess presence of mind:praesenti animo uti (vid. sect. VI. 8, noteuti...)
to behave with cruelty:crudelitate uti (vid. sect. VI. 8, noteuti...)
to use insulting expressions to any one:contumeliosis vocibus prosequi aliquem (vid. sect. VI. 11, noteProsequi...)
to use violence against some one:vim adhibere, facere alicui
to do violence to a person:vim inferre alicui
to kill with violence:vim et manus afferre alicui (Catil. 1. 8. 21)
to meet force by force:vim vi depellere
to meet force by force:vi vim illatam defendere
to vote (in the popular assembly):suffragium ferre (vid. sect. VI. 4, noteNot sententiam...)
to accuse a person of violence, poisoning:accusare aliquem de vi, de veneficiis
to procure a very large supply of corn:frumenti vim maximam comparare
by force of arms:vi et armis
to force a way, a passage:iter tentare per vim (cf. sect. II. 3)
to have recourse to force of arms:ad vim et arma descendere (vid. sect. V. 9, noteSimilarly...)
to fight hand-to-hand, at close quarters:collatis signis (viribus) pugnare
(ambiguous) the frost set in so severely that..:tanta vis frigoris insecuta est, ut
(ambiguous) bodily strength:vires corporis or merelyvires
(ambiguous) to gain strength:vires colligere
(ambiguous) to lose strength:vires aliquem deficiunt
(ambiguous) as long as one's strength holds out:dum vires suppetunt
(ambiguous) to become old and feeble:vires consenescunt
(ambiguous) vivid, lively imagination:ingenii vis orceleritas
(ambiguous) what do you mean to do:quid tibi vis?
(ambiguous) oratorical power:vis dicendi
(ambiguous) what is the meaning, the original sense of this word:quae est vis huius verbi?
(ambiguous) the fundamental meaning of a word:vis et notio verbi, vocabuli
(ambiguous) enthusiasm:ardor, inflammatio animi, incitatio mentis, mentis vis incitatior
“vis”, inHarry Thurston Peck, editor (1898),Harper's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities, New York: Harper & Brothers
“vis”, inWilliam Smith et al., editor (1890),A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, London: William Wayte. G. E. Marindin
“vis”, inRichard Stillwell et al., editor (1976),The Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites, Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press
De Vaan, Michiel (2008)Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages (Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series; 7)[4], Leiden, Boston: Brill,→ISBN
Julius Pokorny (1959),Indogermanisches etymologisches Wörterbuch, in 3 vols, Bern, München: Francke Verlag
1 The indefinite superlative forms are only used in the predicative. 2 Dated or archaic. 3 Only used, optionally, to refer to things whose natural gender is masculine.
