Playing knucklebones with friends

QuestionAnswer
the knucklebone; gaming piece
talus
The knucklebone lies on the table.
Talus in mensa iacet.
the die; game of chance
alea
the dice cup
fritillus
The die is in the dice cup.
Alea in fritillo est.
the player
lusor
The player moves the dice cup.
Lusor fritillum movet.
now ... now; at one moment ... at another
modo ... modo
the opponent
adversarius
the referee; umpire
arbiter
the contest
certamen
The referee watches the contest.
Arbiter certamen spectat.
the throw; cast
iactus
Not even the referee understands this throw.
Ne arbiter quidem hunc iactum intellegit.
the lot; chance
sors
Now chance favors the player, now it favors the opponent.
Modo sors lusori favet, modo adversario favet.
the stake; pledge
pignus
The player puts down a stake.
Lusor pignus ponit.
The stake is small, but the game is pleasant.
Pignus parvum est, sed ludus iucundus est.
Now the referee holds the stake, now he returns it to the winner.
Modo arbiter pignus tenet, modo victori reddit.
After the contest the friends take back the stake and laugh.
Post certamen amici pignus recipiunt et rident.
even; equal
par
The throw is even.
Iactus par est.
An even throw changes the contest.
Par iactus certamen mutat.
odd; unequal
impar
The throw is odd.
Iactus impar est.
Now the number is even, now it is odd.
Modo numerus par est, modo impar est.
in turn; by turns
vicissim
The friends play in turn.
Amici vicissim ludunt.
once; a single time
semel
The opponent does not win even once.
Adversarius ne semel quidem vincit.
twice
bis
three times
ter
four times
quater
to throw; cast
iacere
The opponent throws the knucklebone.
Adversarius talum iacit.
I throw the knucklebone once and the die three times.
Semel talum et ter aleam iacio.
You throw the die twice.
Bis aleam iacis.
The opponent throws three times.
Ter adversarius iacit.
The referee throws the knucklebones four times.
Arbiter quater talos iacit.
The dice cup holds four knucklebones, and the referee throws four times.
Fritillus quattuor talos tenet, et arbiter quater iacit.
The player throws the die out of the cup twice.
Lusor aleam e fritillo bis iacit.
to draw lots; allot
sortiri
The friends draw lots, and chance chooses the first player.
Amici sortiuntur, et sors primum lusorem eligit.
The players want to draw lots in turn.
Lusores vicissim sortiri volunt.
to challenge
provocare
The opponent challenges me.
Adversarius me provocat.
The odd number pleases the opponent, and he challenges the player.
Numerus impar adversario placet, et ille lusorem provocat.
to boast; glory in
gloriari
The player boasts about the throw.
Lusor de iactu gloriatur.
to joke; jest
iocari
The friends joke during the game.
Amici inter ludum iocantur.
Now the players boast, now they joke.
Modo lusores gloriantur, modo iocantur.
to cheat; defraud
fraudare
No one cheats a friend.
Nemo amicum fraudat.
Not even the opponent cheats a friend.
Ne adversarius quidem amicum fraudat.
the horseman; cavalryman
eques
The horseman leads the horse.
Eques equum ducit.
The girl sees the horseman.
Puella equitem videt.
age; time of life
aetas
Age changes a person.
Aetas hominem mutat.
This age is difficult.
Haec aetas gravis est.
help; resources
ops
A friend gives help.
Amicus opem dat.
The city has many resources.
Urbs multas opes habet.
the circle; world
orbis
The circle is small.
Orbis parvus est.
The Romans understand the world.
Romani orbem intellegunt.
the earth; land
tellus
The earth is beneath our feet.
Tellus sub pedibus nostris est.
The farmer plows the earth.
Agricola tellurem arat.
pleasure; enjoyment
voluptas
Pleasure is brief.
Voluptas brevis est.
The game gives the boy pleasure.
Ludus puero voluptatem dat.
talent; natural ability
ingenium
The boy has great talent.
Puer magnum ingenium habet.
The teacher praises the boy's talent.
Magister ingenium pueri laudat.
the seat; residence
sedes
The king's residence is in the city.
Sedes regis in urbe est.
The old man seeks a seat.
Senex sedem petit.

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