Breakdown of Post longum negotium mater tandem domum redit.
mater
the mother
longus
long
post
after
domus
the home
Questions & Answers about Post longum negotium mater tandem domum redit.
Why is post used here, and what case does it take?
Post means after when it is used as a preposition. In that meaning, it takes the accusative case.
So in post longum negotium:
- post = after
- longum negotium = accusative singular
That is why you see longum and negotium, not nominative forms.
Why is it longum negotium and not longa negotia or something else?
Because negotium is:
- neuter
- singular
- accusative
The adjective has to match the noun in gender, number, and case.
So:
- negotium = neuter singular accusative
- longum = neuter singular accusative
That is why the phrase is longum negotium.
What exactly does negotium mean?
Negotium has a wider range of meaning than the English word negotiation might suggest. It can mean things like:
- business
- work
- task
- occupation
- matter