练英语、学拉丁语：Roman numeration（罗马数字）

 

Roman numeration

The Romans counted according to decimal mathematics, just like we do, but with a different style of writing.

decimal[5desimEl]adj.十进的, 小数的, 以十为基础的, 十进制n.小数（decim+al）

源自拉丁语 decima [第十部分]，源自decem [十]。

注：decima是decem的序数词。

英语中的9～12月份的名称中分别用到拉丁语数字septem（7）, octo（8），novem（9）, decem（10）。在这4个拉丁语数字后面加上-ber并加上2就成了：

September[sEp5tembE]n.九月(略作Sep)（septem(7)+ber）

也就是说，九月中用到的是拉丁语数字7。这是因为历史的原因产生的有趣现象。

October[Ck5tEubE]n.十月(略作Oct)（octo(8)+ber）

November[nEu5vembE]n.十一月(略作Nov)(novem(9)+ber)

December[di5sembE]n.十二月(略作Dec)(decem(10)+ber)

您只要能认识拉丁语数字7～10，也就基本上可以轻松掌握英语中的9～12月份的名称。反过来说，记忆英语中的9～12月的前提是先熟悉拉丁语数字7～10。

 

It is useful to know this method of writing because we still run across these numbers today.

So here is a layout of the numbers so we can remember them.

layout[5lei7aut]n.规划, 设计, (书刊等)编排, 版面, 配线, 企划, 设计图案, (工厂等的)布局图（lay+out）

 

Numeration

Utilized were only 7 alphabetical symbols to form all numbers, placed before or after a symbol to subtract or sum among them.

 

A small bar above the letter adds 1,000 of the expressed value.

Zero has no symbol.

I = 1
V = 5
X = 10
L = 50
C = 100
D = 500
M = 1.000

When two letters (numbers) are adjacent; if the lesser number is to the right it is added to that of the left, while if the lesser is to the left, it is subtracted from that on the right. Therefore, VI = 6 and IV = 4. Exception are rare.

Some rules have been added as follows: 3 identical symbols are never attached (and never repeat V or L), a lesser number must proceed a larger one that is a maximum of ten times the difference of the previous number (so today we are in MCMXCIX and not MIM).

Vocal correspondence of the cardinal numbers

cardinal number n.基数

The declination of numbers

	Masculine(阳性)	Feminine（阴性）	Neutral（中性）
Name（名称）	unus	una	unum
Genitive（属格）	unius	unius	unius
Dative（与格）	uni	uni	uni
Accusative（宾格）	unum	unam	unum
Ablative（离格）	uno	una	uno

 

	Masculine	Feminine	Neutral
Name	duo	duae	duo
Genitive	duorum	duarum	duorum
Dative	duobus	duabus	duobus
Accusative	duos	duas	duo
Ablative	duobus	duabus	duobus

 

	Masculine	Feminine	Neutral
Name	tres	tria
Genitive	trium	trium
Dative	tribus	tribus
Accusative	tres	tria
Ablative	tribus	tribus

• 2000 = duo milia
• 3000 = tria milia
• 4000 = quattuor milia

Hours of the day

The primitive Romans didn't have the possibility to exactly measure the time and based the hour principally on the rising, the position, and the setting of the sun.

Only three moments were defined: the dawn ("solis ortus(日升)"), noon ("meridies（正午）"), and dusk ("solis occasus（日落）").

 

The day was divided into two parts: morning ("ante Meridiem") and evening ("post meridiem"), still used today in the English language as AM/PM.

ante meridiem[5Antime5ridiem]adv.午前

post meridiem n.下午, 午后[缩写为p.m.]

In 263 B.C. the sundial ("solarium") was introduced in Sicily and installed in the Forum area.

sundial[5sQndaiEl]n.(通过太阳知道时间的) 日规, 日晷(sun+di+al)

solarium[sEu5lZEriEm]n.日光浴室, 日晷(solar+i+um)

solar[5sEulE]adj.太阳的, 日光的(sol+ar)

sol源自拉丁语源自 sōl [太阳]

-ar形容词后缀

lunar[5lju:nE]adj.月的, 月亮的（lun+ar）

源自 古法语 lunaire，源自拉丁语lūa [月球]。

 

This allowed the day to be divided into 12 numbered hours ("horae"), followed by a.m. or p.m., with each hour divided into 60 minutes.

【拉丁语】hora, horae n. f. hour; time; season; [Horae => Seasons];

-a表“阴性、单数”，-ae表“阴性、复数”

Horae[5hC:ri:]n.[希神][罗神]霍莉(司四季,时表,正义和秩序的女神),时序女神（hor+ae）

 

The hourglass ("clepsydra") followed this, also called the "horologium".

hourglass[5aJE^lB:s]n.沙漏(hour+glass)

clepsydra[5klepsidrE]n.漏壶, 水时计(昔时的计时器)

cleps- [偷]，ydra=hydra-表“水”

hydra[5haidrE]n.[希神]九头怪蛇, 难以根除之祸害, [动]水螅

这里的h实际上代表希腊语的“强送气符”。

hyper-[5haIpE(r)]表示“超级, 超过, 超越,在...之上,高于,过度”之义

hypo-[5haIpEJ]表示“在...之下,亚,次,次于,不足,从属于”之义

 

This was used by the military to divide the guard's ("vigilae") shifts.

vigil[5vidVil]n.守夜; 熬夜; 警戒[常用复]【宗】斋戒的前夜; (节日前夜的)守夜; 节日前夕所作的祈祷仪式

vigor[5vi^E]n.精力, 活力（vig+or）