Breakdown of Stillicidium sub imbrice cadit.
cadere
to fall
sub
below
stillicidium
the dripping rainwater; eaves
imbrex
the curved roof tile
Questions & Answers about Stillicidium sub imbrice cadit.
What case is stillicidium, and how do I know it is the subject?
Stillicidium is nominative singular here, and it is the subject of cadit.
A learner might hesitate because stillicidium is a neuter noun, and in many neuter nouns the nominative and accusative singular look the same. But in this sentence, the verb cadit means falls and needs a subject, not a direct object. So stillicidium is understood as the thing that falls.
What does cadit mean, exactly?
Cadit means falls or is falling.
It is:
- 3rd person singular
- present tense
- active voice
- indicative mood
It comes from cadere, meaning to fall.
Because the subject stillicidium is singular, the verb is also singular: cadit = it falls.
Why is it sub imbrice and not sub imbricem?