There are multiform variations on the inter sē construction, which I feel it best to expand on here. The basic structure is something like this:
- Inter sē cōncertant: they compete amongst themselves.
The basic sense in which this is a ‘reflexive’ construction seems clear here. However, we can (i.e. the Romans did) expand this idea into a variety of related senses dense and enigmatic:
- CIcerōnis puerī amant inter sē: the children of Cicero love one another
- furtim inter sē aspiciēbant: they stole glances at one another (think Jason and Medea upon first meeting)
- collēs duōs inter sē propinquinōs occūbat: they occupied two hills near to one another
- quod nos inter sē sit: which we’ll keep between us
- rēs inter sē similēs: matters sharing qualities
- fāta quae inter sē continentur: fates which hang together
An alternative to this reflexive idea is the alter alterīus/ alterī construction, similar to the ἀλλοs ἀλλοθεν idea of the Greek idiom, but I’ll cover that more in a forthcoming post!
- alter alterīus ōva frangit: they break each other’s eggs
The Essential AG: 145c, 301f