Latin definitions

Question 1

Aedile

Answer 1

a Roman magistrate whose duties included maintaining the city of Rome and arrangement of public festivals and games

Question 2

ager publicus

Answer 2

public land in Italy which had been confiscated from a conquering enemy

Question 3

Ager Romanus

Answer 3

land comprising the Roman state

Question 4

agnomen

Answer 4

an additional surname added to the praenomen, nomen, and cognomen to indicate a great victory, an adoption or special attribute

Question 5

amici

Answer 5

friends

Question 6

amicitia

Answer 6

friendship

Question 7

aquila

Answer 7

an eagle- generally referring to the standard carried by a Roman legion onto battle, which featured and eagle

Question 8

auctoritas

Answer 8

great authority, influence and prestige

Question 9

auspicium

Answer 9

the right of taking auspices

Question 10

censi

Answer 10

assessments made according to property for division of people into military classes

Question 11

century

Answer 11

a division of the Roman army lead by a centurion

Question 12

cliens

Answer 12

a client or dependent- a free man who entrusted himself to another and received protection in return

Question 13

cognomen

Answer 13

the family name

Question 14

collegia

Answer 14

official title for the four great priestly colleges (guilds)

Question 15

comitia

Answer 15

assembly of the Roman people summoned in groups by the magistrate

Question 16

comitia centuriata

Answer 16

assembly of the Roman people sitting and voting in their military centuries

Question 17

comitia curiata

Answer 17

assembly of the Roman people sitting and voting in their parishes

Question 18

comitia tributa

Answer 18

assembly of the Roman people sitting and voting in their tribes

Question 19

concilium

Answer 19

general name for any assembly or gathering

Question 20

concilium plebis

Answer 20

assembly of plebs only

Question 21

concordia ordinum

Answer 21

harmony of the orders

Question 22

consulars

Answer 22

those who had held the consulship

Question 23

cursus honorum

Answer 23

the ladder of office that an aspiring politician was expected to climb

Question 24

fasces

Answer 24

a bundle of rods enclosing an axe and carried by lictors- symbol of imperium

Question 25

imperium

Answer 25

supreme authority, including the right to flog or execute, held by tonsils, praetors and dictators

Question 26

intercessio

Answer 26

the right of a magistrate to veto a motion carried by another magistrate

Question 27

iugera

Answer 27

a measure of land

Question 28

lex

Answer 28

laws

Question 29

lictor

Answer 29

ow of the attendants of magistrates with imperium

Question 30

maids imperium

Answer 30

imperium greater than all others

Question 31

magister equitum

Answer 31

master of the horse- assistant to the dictator

Question 32

muli Mariani

Answer 32

Marius' mules- soldiers from the time of Marius' military reforms who carried all their needs

Question 33

municipia

Answer 33

communities that had received partial Roman citizenship

Question 34

nomen

Answer 34

clan name

Question 35

novus homo

Answer 35

a new man- the first in a family to reach the consulship

Question 36

optimates

Answer 36

'best men'- a term coming into use after the time of the Gracchi and referring to the majority of the members of the senatorial oligarchy, who wished to maintain the status quo whereby the body controlled the Roman state

Question 37

optimo iure

Answer 37

full Roman citizenship, with private and public rights

Question 38

pater patriae

Answer 38

father of the country

Question 39

patria potestas

Answer 39

paternal authority

Question 40

plebs

Answer 40

the common people, lower class

Question 41

pomerium

Answer 41

sacred boundary around Rome which no Roman in arms was permitted to cross except for the purpose of a triumph

Question 42

pontifex maximus

Answer 42

chief priest

Question 43

populares

Answer 43

a minority in the senate who sought to gain the support of the people's assembly on their desire for reform of self-advancement

Question 44

praenomen

Answer 44

personal name

Question 45

praetor

Answer 45

a Roman magistrate whose chief duties were judicial

Question 46

publicani

Answer 46

tax collectors

Question 47

quaestor

Answer 47

a Roman magistrate whose duties were chiefly financial

Question 48

senatus consulta

Answer 48

decrees of the state- advice of the senate to the magistrates

Question 49

senatus consultum ultimum

Answer 49

an emergency decree of the senate, usually interpreted as authorising the consul to use every means to save the state

Question 50

silvae callesque

Answer 50

a type of forestry commission

Question 51

tribuni plebis

Answer 51

tribunes of the plebs