On the Latin Language

imposed remain, for many words have been interpolated by the changing of letters. Nor does the entire origin of our language come from native words; and many words now show one thing, [but] signified another before. As hostis enemy; for then they used that word to mean a foreigner who used his own laws; now they call him perduellionem a public enemy/adversary. In which category of words it will be clearer from the direct case whence the origin may be seen, I shall repeat from there. It appears that it should be done thus; because it is more obscure what we say in the direct case nominative, [as it is] to be from power, since we say "impotent," and it becomes more obscure if you say "after he is in-posed," for it seems to signify "to place" rather than "to be powerful." Antiquity does not deprave a few [words]; it carries away many. You saw a handsome boy; you see him deformed in old age; the third century does not see that man whom the first saw. Wherefore, that which oblivion has already taken from our ancestors, fleeing diligence, muted and brutish, cannot drag back.

If I shall not be able to track it down, I will not be the slower for that; rather, I will be the swifter if I seek. For the darkness is not mediocre in the forest where these things must be captured; nor are the paths by which we wish to arrive beaten; nor are there not some things thrown in the way in the narrow paths that could restrain one going. Whoever notices in how many ways the change of letters has been made—which is the entire discordance of new and old words in common usage—will more easily allow [himself] to investigate the origins of words. For he will find that they have been changed, as I showed in the previous books, especially because of these four causes: because of the taking away or addition of letters, and because of the treatment or changing of them. Likewise, the lengthening of syllables; which, in what manner they were [used] in the previous books, I sufficiently demonstrated with examples. Here I thought I ought to give a warning. Now I shall set forth the origins of individual words, of which there are four degrees of explanation. The lowest, into which even the common people enter; for who does not see whence areto-fodine silver-mining and uiocurus alive-caring (healthy/vigorous) [come]? The second, to which ancient grammar descends, which shows how each poet fashioned a word, what he fashioned, what he declined; here... text breaks off