Ablative of Source and Material

The Ablative of Source

The ablative of source, usually with a preposition, describes the source of any given thing

• poetry will often omit the preposition (asyndeton)
• verbs denoting birth or origin use the ablative of source without a preposition

Examples

• The Rhine rises in from the country of the Lepontii: Rhēnus oritur ex Lepontiīs.
• Here is the sweetness of odors which flow from the flowers: hīc suāvitās odōrum quī afflārentur ē flōribus.
• He was born of kings: ēditus est rēgibus.
• She lost Caius Fleginas of Placentia : dēsiderāvit C. Flegīnātem Placentiā.
• The charm of the house consisted in its wood : dōmūs amoenitās silvā cōnstābat.

The Ablative of Material

The ablative of material, usually with a preposition, describes the material of which something consists

• poetry will often omit the preposition (asyndeton)
• the verbs cōnsistō and contineor use the ablative of material without a preposition
• the ablative of material, without a preposition, is used with faciō and ficior to mean “to do with” or “become of”
• the ablative of material may replace a partitive genitive

Examples

• He was made all of fraud and falsehood: erat tōtus ex fraude et mendāciō factus.
• I will build a temple of marble: templum dē marmore pōnam.
• The charm of the house consisted in its wood : dōmūs amoenitās silvā cōnstābat.
• What will you do with this man: quid hōc homine faciātis?
• What will become of my dear Tullia: quid Tulliolā meā fīet?
• He was one of four: erat ūnus ēx quattuor.
  

The Essential AG: 403

Famous Phrase: ē plūribus ūnum: from many, one

[motto of the United States]

Speaking of ūnus, coinage and Latin–cēterum censeō pennem dēlendam esse.

Death to Pennies.