Breakdown of Magistra non patitur discipulos sine ordine ex bibliotheca egredi.
discipulus
the student
non
not
magistra
the female teacher
sine
without
Questions & Answers about Magistra non patitur discipulos sine ordine ex bibliotheca egredi.
Why is patitur translated actively even though it looks like a passive verb?
Because patitur comes from patior, which is a deponent verb.
A deponent verb has:
- passive forms
- but active meaning
So patitur is formally passive-looking, but it means she allows, she permits, or sometimes she endures, not she is allowed.
In this sentence, magistra non patitur means the teacher does not allow.
Why is magistra in the nominative?
Magistra is the subject of the sentence, so it is in the nominative case.
It is the person doing the action of non patitur:
- magistra = the teacher
- non patitur = does not allow
So magistra has to be nominative.
Why is discipulos accusative instead of nominative?
Discipulos is in the accusative because it is the object of patitur.
Latin often uses this pattern with verbs like allow, order, force, and similar ideas:
- someone in the accusative