Notes to Defixio ad Rhodinem

quomodo . . . seic correlative
in what way/according as . . . in the same way/so. Seic is an early Latin spelling for sic.
mortuus, -a, -um
dead; still; lifeless; mortuos = mortuus (see again in ll. 7, 11).
istic adverb
there; in this; refers to the grave in which the scroll is placed (see also l. 12).
sepio, -ire, -pui, -pultum
bury; overwhelm; it is repeated again in l. 12.
sermonor, (I deponent)
have conversation; discuss; loqui and sermonare (the correct form is sermonari) are in the infinitive after potest.
seic = sic, an early Latin spelling.
apud preposition with the accusative
on the part of; as far as . . . is concerned; it recurs in l.9, where it is spelled aput.
sit: optative subjunctive with Rhodine as its subject. The construction recurs again in ll. 10 (sit, valeat) and 14 (sit).
ita uti . . . seic correlative adverbs
just as . . . so.
acceptus, -a, -um
acceptable; welcome; pleasing; appears again in l. 10 with sit, an optative subjunctive.
tantum . . . quantum correlative adverbs
so great . . . as; tantum modifies valeat.
valeo, -ere, valui, valitum
be strong; be able; be effective; the optative subjunctive, with Rhodine as the subject.
quei = qui
Dis, Ditis m.
Dis, ruler of the underworld, known also as Pluto and Hades. Dite Pater is in the vocative case (click on SPQR for an image).
commendo (I)
commit; entrust.
ut(i) conjunction + subjunctive
so that (purpose), followed by [Rhodine] sit.
odium, -i n.
hatred; the idiom in odio esse = be hateful, followed by the dative.
item adverb
similarly, likewise, as well.


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