Ischomachus, –i, m.
Isomachus is a character in the Oeconomicus, written by Xenophon after 362 BCE, who describes how he educated his wife in matters of the household, slaves, and farming. Cicero translated the work into Latin, to which Columella refers several times in Book 12.
persona, -ae f.
personage; part, character; mask; human being.
praeceptum, -i, n.
precept, instruction, rule, command; praecepta completes the direct object introduced by haec.
trado, -ere, -didi, -ditum
hand over, transmit, commit, intrust; the subject is antiqui, a substantive adjective.
vilica, -ae f.
female partner of the overseer (vilicus); indirect object.
demonstro (1)
designate; point out, describe; the subject nos is an emphatic 1st personan plural personal pronoun.
nec tamen adverb
nor, nevertheless; and yet not.
unus, -a, -um
only, alone, a predicate, when in combination with a possessive adjective, here eius, the vilica.
cura esse
be an object of care, have a care; followed by ut and four verbs in the subjunctive (custodiat . . . recognoscat atque consideret . . . sint), it amounts to an indirect command (see A&G 449.2c) to the villica (eius).
debeo, –ere, -ui, -itum
ought, must, should, followed by the complementary infinitive (cura esse).
claudo, –ere, clausi, clausum
shut up, enclose, lock up; clausa is the neuter plural of the perfect passive participle.
custodio, –ire –ivi –itum
guard, watch over, protect; subjunctive in an indirect command after cura esse debebit ut. The subject is the vilica.
tectum, -i, n.
roof, house, dwelling; dative of indirect object after the compound verb illata.
infero, -ferre, intuli, illatum
bring in; illata = neuter plural of the perfect passive participle acting as a noun.
recipio, -ere, -cepi, -ceptum
accept, retain, receive; future perfect indicative in a relative clause introduced by quae, neuter plural. The subject is the vilica, the object is illata.
subinde adverb
promptly, at frequent intervals.
recognosco, –ere –novi –nitum
review, inspect, call to mind again; subjunctive in an indirect command after cura esse debebit ut. The subject is the vilica.
considero (1)
notice, examine, take note of; subjunctive in an indirect command after cura esse debebit ut. The subject is the vilica.
ne negative adverb
lest; that . . .not: introduces a negative purpose clause.
aut . . . -ve correlative
either . . . or.
supellex, –ectilis, f.
domestic utensils, household stuff, furniture, goods.
vestis, -is, f.
clothing, attire, garment.
condo, –ere –didi –ditum
store, bury; build, establish; perfect passive participle modifying vestis.
situs, -us m.
position, arrangement; site; ablative of place without in.
dilabor, –labi, –lapsus/a sum
fall apart, go to ruin; decay; subjunctive after ne in a negative purpose clause.
frux, frugis f.
produce of the fields; fruits.
utensilis, -e
useful; materials, provisions, utensils (n. pl.); modified by alia.
neglegentia, -ae f.
carelessness, neglect; ablative of means.
desidia, -ae f.
idleness, inactivity, laziness, apathy; ablative of means with sua, reflexive possessive adjective refering to the vilica.
corrumpō, –ere –rūpī –ruptum
destroy, ruin, waste; subjunctive after ne in a negative purpose clause. The subjects are fruges and alia utensilia.
pluvius, -a, -um
rainy; ablative of time when, with diebus.
cum conjunction
when; temporal, it uses the future perfect indicative (potuerit) to indicate future time.
frigus, -oris n.
cold; cold spells (pl.); ablative of cause after non potuerit.
pruina, -ae f.
hoar-frost, rime, snow, winter; ablative of cause after non potuerit.
mulier, -eris f.
woman, a female (married or not), subject of non potuerit. Columella seems to be speaking of women in general here, not the vilica.
divum, -i n.
the sky; sub divo = under the open sky.
rusticus, -a, -um
of the country, rural, rustic; modifies opus.
obeo, –ire –ii –itum
go to meet, undertake, engage in.
lanificium, -ii n.
wool-working, spinning, weaving; click on SPQR for image of woman spinning wool.
reduco, -ere, -duxi, -ductum
bring back; draw back; restore; subjunctive after ut in a purpose clause following preparataeque sint et pectitae.
praeparatus, -a, -um (pp participle of praeparo)
made ready, prepared; the subject is lanae.
sum, esse, fui, futurum
be; the final subjunctive in an indirect command begun in 3.5 after cura esse debebit ut, its subject is praeparatae . . .pectitae lanae.
pectitum, -a, -um (pp participle of pecto)
combed, carded; et joins two equal expressions: praeparatae . . .pectitae.
quo = ut + the subjunctive when there is a comparative (here facilius, below minus ) in a purpose clause (see A&G 531.2a).
iusta, -orum n. pl.
tasks, duties; object of persequi atque exigere. Click on SPQR for fresco of tasks involved in cloth cleaning.
persequor, -qui, -secutus/a sum
perform, execute, follow after, pursue.
exigo, -ere, -egi, -actum
accomplish, complete.
noceo, -ere, -ui, -itum
harm, hurt; note the emphatic placement of nihil before the explanatory conjunction enim.
actor, -oris m.
herdsman, agent, steward, manager; with sibi . . . aliis. . . servulis, indirect objects in the dative case after confecta fuerit.
honor, -oris m.
office, post; honor, dignity, preferment;
servulus, -i m.
young slave, lesser slave; a diminutive of servus, it may be the paternalistic "boy."
domus, -us f.
house, home; locative form = at home. Click on SPQR for reconstruction of a woman weaving a tunic or toga at home.
conficio, -ere, -feci, fectum
make ready, produce, prepare; future perfect passive form, with the subject vestis.
paterfamilias, patrisfamiliae m.
master of a house in respect to ownership, proprietor of an estate, head of a family.
ratiō, -onis f.
account, method, plan, reason; click on SPQR for fresco of women buying and selling cloth.
onero (1)
burden, overload, weigh down; present subjunctive in a purpose clause.
ille, illa, illud demonstrative projoun
that; he, she, it. The subject of habebit, it points to the four indirect commands in the subjunctive that follow ut: requirat . . . scisitetur exploretque . . . deducat.
perpetuus, -a, -um
continuous, unremitting; in perpetuum = permanently, forever, modifying custodiendum. Note the contrast with the duties in 3.5, which the vilica is to undertake subinde.
habeo, -ere, -ui, -itum
have; be obliged to (do something), when followed by an infinitive or future passive participle (here custodiendum). The subject of habebit is illud.
foris adverb
outside, out of doors.
rusticor (1 deponent)
till the ground, practise husbandry; live in the country.
familia -ae f.
group of slaves, household, family, all persons under the authority of one master; subject of processerit. Click on SPQR for reconstruction of a country villa destroyed in 79 CE by Vesuvius (now the Villa Pisanella).
procedo, -ere, -cessi, -cessum
go forth; proceed from; note the tense and indicative mood after temporal cum (see A&G 546).
requiro, -ere, -sivi/ii, -situm
look after; seek, search for, inquire after; the subject is vilica, the direct object is eos, who are described in the relative clause qui foris rusticari debebunt.
quis/quid = aliquis/aliquid after si, nisi, num, ne.
evenio, -ire,
befall, come to pass; it happens (impersonal), with ut.
contubernalis, -is m/f.
mate; partner of a slave; tent-companion (military); contubernalis eius refers to the vilicus. He is not her coniunx because slaves were not permitted marriage (connubium).
tergiversor (1 deponent)
turn one's back, hang back; evade; modifies [ali]quis.
fallo, -ere, fefelli, falsum
elude, slip away; deceive, trick, dupe, cheat; fail, disappoint. Each if-clause uses a perfect subjunctive (fefellerit . . . restiterit . . . delituerit) to indicate what has happened, followed by indirect commands in the present subjunctive (scisitetur exploretque . . . deducat) to indicate what the vilica must do in response.
sciscitor (1 deponent)
ask, question, learn; indirect command in the subjunctive, together with exploret.
utrum . . . an adverb
whether. . .or; introduces alternative questions, here indirect, followed by the subjunctive .
adversus, -a, -um
unfavorable, bad; ablative of cause modifying valetudine.
valetudo, -inis f.
health, condition of body, state; ablative of cause.
inhibitus, -a, -um
restrained, hindered, prevented; modifies [ali]quis, subject of restiterit.
resto, -are, -stiti
keep back, remain; resist, oppose; perfect subjunctive.
pigritia, -ae f.
sloth, sluggishness, laziness, indolence; ablative of cause.
delitisco, -ere, -tui
hide away, conceal oneself, seek shelter, lurk; perfect subjunctive.
comperio, -ire, i, itum
find out with certainty, learn; perfect subjunctive in a new if-clause with the vilica as subject.
vel adverb
even, perhaps.
simulo (1)
pretend, imitate, represent; modifies an unexpressed eum, the evasive slave.
languor, -oris m.
faintness, feebleness, weariness, sluggishness; direct object of simulantem.
cunctatio, -onis f.
delay, hesitation, doubt.
valetudinarium, -ii n.
sickroom, infirmary.
praesto, -are, -stiti/-stavi, -statum/stitum
it is preferable (impersonal), followed by the accusative and infinitive: [eum] fatigatum . . . requiescere. Translate the postpositive explanatory conjunction enim first. The worse alternative is introduced by quam.
fatigatus, -a, -um
exhausted, worn out; understand eum, followed by ablative of cause opere.
custodia, -ae f.
observation, care, protection.
requiesco, -ere,-evi, etum
rest, repose; infinitive after praestat, with fatigatum as subject.
pressus, -a, -um from premo
burdened, overcome; pressed; modifies unexpressed eum.
nimius, -a, -um
excessive, too great, too much.
noxa, -ae f.
harm, injury; direct object of concipere.
concipio, –ere –cepi –ceptum
give rise to, produce, generate; infinitive after praestat . . .quam.
quam minime adverb
as little as possible: see superlatives.
oportet, -ere, oportuit (impersonal)
it is proper, right, necessary; followed by the accusative (eam = the vilica) and infinitive (consistere).
consisto, -ere, -stiti, -stitum
stand still; stop; be at rest; infinitive after oportebit.
sedentarius, -a, -um
sitting, sedentary; modifies opera (eius = the vilica).
modo . . . modo adverb
now ... now; at one moment ... at another; sometimes ... sometimes; see also below tum etiam.
tela, -ae f.
web, warp, loom; click on SPQR for reconstruction of a Roman floor loom.
debeo, -ere, -ui, itum
have, owe; ought (synonymous with oportet); introduces the following complementary infinitives: accedere . . . docere . . . addiscere . . . invisere . . . curare . . . aperire . . . liberare, with vilica understood as the subject of each.
accedo, -ere, -cessi, -cessum
come near to, approach.
addisco, –ere –didici
learn further, be informed; infinitive after debebit.
intellego, -ere, -lexi, -lectum
understand; potential subjunctive.
cibus, -i m.
food, nourishment; click on SPQR for fresco of slaves preparing food.
inviso, –ere –visi –visitum
visit, go to see, inspect; infinitive after debebit.
culina, -ae f.
kitchen; click on SPQR for reconstruction of a wealthy family's kitchen.
bubīle, -is n.
stall for oxen.
praesepe, -is n.
manger, stall.
emundo
clean out, cleanse; emundanda, gerundive modifying bubilia . . . praesepia.
vaco (1)
be free from; be empty; be without; present subjunctive in a potential condition after si.
inbēcillus, -a, -um
weak, feeble, indisposed; ablative of separation with the preposition ab, after a verb of lacking.
identidem adverb
again and again, continually.
inmunditia, -ae f.
uncleanness, impurity, filth; ablative of separation without a preposition after a verb of freeing.
exigo, –ere –egi –actum
demand, require, call for; the perfect subjunctive after circumstantial cum.
ordino (1)
arrange, put in order; the perfect passive participle modifies valetudinaria.
saluber, -bris, -bre
healthy, healthful; modifies valetudinaria.
langueo, -ere
be unwell, weak, feeble, idle; understand eis as the subject of the present participle.
praebeo, –ere –ui –itum
furnish, supply, offer; subjunctive after ut in a purpose clause.
promus, -i m.
steward; servant who distributes household stores; dative case after intervenire.
cellarius, -ii m.
storekeeper; servant in charge of provisions in the larder or cellar; dative case after intervenire.
appendo, -ere, -pendi, -pensum
weigh out; the present participle modifies promis . . . cellariis, with aliquid as its direct object.
metior, -iri, mensus/a sum
measure, distribute; the present participle modifies promis . . . cellariis, with aliquid as its direct object.
intervenio, -ire,-veni, -ventum
drop in; come between, intervene. The infinitives in this section (intervenire . . . interesse . . .percipere . . . recensere . . . insistere) depend on debebit in 3.8, continuing the list of duties of the vilica.
intersum, –esse –fui
be among, take part in; attend to (+ dative)
pastor, -oris m.
herdsman, shepherd; indirect object of interesse.
stabulum. -i n.
stall; stable.
fructus, -us m.
produce; product, proceeds.
cogo, -ere, coegi, coactum
collect, compress; force; with fructum= milking. Modifies pastoribus.
fetus, -us m.
young, offspring; direct object of subrumantibus.
ovis, ovis f.
sheep; genitive plural.
pecus, -udis f.
head of cattle; domestic animal, one of a herd; genitive plural.
subrumo, -are
put an animal to suck; modifies pastoribus.
tonsura, -ae f.
shearing, clipping, trimming
utique adverb
especially, surely; at any rate, without fail.
percipio, –ere, –cēpi, –ceptum
watch, perceive, observe, comprehend.
vellus, -eris n.
wool shorn off, fleece.
recenseo, -ere, -ui
count, enumerate, recount, review.
insisto, -ere,
press upon, urge (+ dative): atriensibus. Followed by ut and the subjunctive in succeeding substantive clauses of purpose (see A&G 563): exponant . . . nitidentur . . . liberentur . . . tradantur.
atriensis, -is m.
overseer, steward, chief servant.
supellex, -ectilis f.
household stuff, furniture, goods.
expono, -ere, -posui, -positum
set forth, offer, expose. The subject is atrienses. The subjunctive follows (insistere) in a substantive clause of purpose (see also below: nitidentur . . . liberentur . . . tradantur).
aerāmentum, -i n.
copper or bronze vessel or utensil.
dētergeō, -ere, -tersi, -tersum
wipe, cleanse
nitido (1)
make bright, scour, polish. The subject is aeramenta detersa; the subjunctive follows insistere ut.
rubigo, -inis f.
rust, blight, mildew; ablative of separation.
refectio, -onis f.
restoration, repair, recovery, refreshing
desidero (1)
be missing, lacking; long for, desire; subject is quae (antecedant is cetera), the direct object is refectionem.
faber, -bri
forger, smith, artificer, carpenter, joiner; dative after tradantur.
concinno (1)
repair; prepare for use;gerundive, modifying cetera.


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