Preparing a Roman wedding

QuestionAnswer
marriage; matrimony
matrimonium
the legal right of marriage; intermarriage
conubium
The legal right of marriage permits marriage.
Conubium matrimonium permittit.
The legal right of marriage is necessary for a lawful marriage.
Conubium ad matrimonium iustum necessarium est.
the dowry
dos
The agreement contains the amount of the dowry.
Pactum summam dotis continet.
although; even if
etsi
Although the dowry is small, the agreement pleases the family.
Etsi dos parva est, pactum familiae placet.
the married woman attending the bride
pronuba
The bridal attendant stands near the bride.
Pronuba prope sponsam stat.
the flame-colored bridal veil
flammeum
The bride wears the flame-colored veil.
Sponsa flammeum gerit.
the straight-woven bridal tunic
tunica recta
the bridal basket
cumera
The bridal attendant hands the bridal basket to the boy.
Pronuba cumeram puero tradit.
Although it is raining, the bride wears the veil and a boy carries the bridal basket.
Etsi pluit, sponsa flammeum gerit et puer cumeram portat.
the Hercules knot on a bridal girdle
nodus Herculeus
The Hercules knot ties the bride's belt.
Nodus Herculeus zonam sponsae ligat.
May the bridal tunic, the Hercules knot, and the belt please the bride!
Utinam tunica recta, nodus Herculeus, et zona sponsae placeant!
the ceremonial joining of right hands
dextrarum iunctio
The ceremonial joining of right hands signifies the marriage.
Dextrarum iunctio matrimonium significat.
If only the ceremonial joining of right hands had happened before night!
Utinam dextrarum iunctio ante noctem facta esset!
the bridal procession to the husband's home
deductio
to lead a bride home; marry a woman
domum ducere
to marry; become a wife
nubere
The bride marries the bridegroom tomorrow.
Sponsa cras sponso nubit.
May the bridegroom lead the bride home, and may she marry him!
Utinam sponsus sponsam domum ducat et illa ei nubat!
marriageable; ready for marriage
nubilis
The marriageable girl wears the straight-woven bridal tunic.
Puella nubilis tunicam rectam gerit.
the observer of auspices at a ceremony
auspex
Although the observer of auspices arrives late, the procession begins before night.
Etsi auspex sero venit, deductio ante noctem incipit.
the religious marriage rite with a spelt cake
confarreatio
The observer of auspices approves the day of the religious marriage rite.
Auspex diem confarreationis probat.
Spelt and a sacrifice are used in the religious marriage rite.
In confarreatione far et sacrificium adhibentur.
the civil marriage by symbolic purchase
coemptio
In a civil marriage by symbolic purchase, the husband leads the bride home.
In coemptione maritus sponsam domum ducit.
Marriage by symbolic purchase is a form of marriage.
Coemptio forma matrimonii est.
the bridal chamber
thalamus
The bridal chamber is decorated with flowers.
Thalamus floribus ornatur.
the wedding hymn invoking Hymen
Hymenaeus
The guests sing the wedding hymn invoking Hymen.
Convivae Hymenaeum canunt.
the traditional Roman wedding cry
Talassio
During the bridal procession everyone shouts 'Talassio!'
In deductione omnes 'Talassio!' clamant.
Everyone shouts, 'Talassio!' again.
Omnes 'Talassio!' iterum clamant.
the three-night absence
trinoctium
The bride observes the three-night absence every year.
Sponsa trinoctium omni anno servat.
The three-night absence blocks acquisition by customary use.
Trinoctium usum impedit.
the wedding feast on the following day
repotia
The next-day wedding feast is prepared after the wedding.
Repotia post nuptias parantur.
May the next-day wedding feast be joyful and the marriage happy!
Utinam repotia laeta sint et matrimonium felix sit!
the bridal-chamber song or poem
epithalamium
The poet recites a bridal-chamber poem, and the guests sing the wedding hymn.
Poeta epithalamium recitat, et convivae Hymenaeum canunt.
Although the bridal chamber is small, the bridal-chamber poem is sung there.
Etsi thalamus parvus est, epithalamium ibi cantatur.
the betrothal; engagement agreement
sponsalia
The father promises a dowry in the betrothal agreement.
Pater in sponsalibus dotem promittit.
The marriageable girl makes a betrothal agreement.
Puella nubilis sponsalia facit.
the necessity; need
necessitas
Necessity is harsh.
Necessitas dura est.
The leader yields to necessity.
Dux necessitati cedit.
the agreement; condition
condicio
The condition of peace is clear.
Condicio pacis clara est.
The merchant accepts the agreement.
Mercator condicionem accipit.
the beginning
principium
The beginning of the story is brief.
Principium fabulae breve est.
At the beginning the children are silent.
In principio liberi tacent.
the tomb; grave
sepulcrum
The family carries flowers to the tomb.
Familia flores ad sepulcrum portat.
The tomb stands outside the city.
Sepulcrum extra urbem stat.
the building; house
aedes
The senator's house is large.
Aedes senatoris magnae sunt.
The slaves guard the house at night.
Servi aedes nocte custodiunt.
the knowledge
scientia
Knowledge of languages is useful.
Scientia linguarum utilis est.
The teacher gives knowledge to the students.
Magister scientiam discipulis dat.
the bird
volucris
The bird flies above the forest.
Volucris supra silvam volat.
The boy sees the bird in the tree.
Puer volucrem in arbore videt.
the chance
fors
Chance changes our plan.
Fors consilium nostrum mutat.
No one controls chance.
Nemo fortem regit.

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