Breakdown of Ubi consensus de argumento deest, dissensio statim apparet.
de
about
statim
at once
deesse
to be lacking
ubi
when
Questions & Answers about Ubi consensus de argumento deest, dissensio statim apparet.
What does ubi mean here—where or when?
Ubi literally means where, but in a sentence like this it can also be understood more generally as wherever or when(ever).
So here it introduces the circumstance in which the main statement is true:
- Ubi consensus de argumento deest = Where / whenever agreement about the issue is lacking
Because the sentence expresses a general truth, English may translate it in more than one natural way.
How is the sentence structured grammatically?
It has two parts:
- Ubi consensus de argumento deest = a subordinate clause introduced by ubi
- dissensio statim apparet = the main clause
So the overall pattern is:
- When/where X is lacking, Y appears.
Latin often puts the subordinate clause first to set the scene before giving the main point.
What exactly is consensus, and what form is it?
Consensus is a noun meaning agreement, harmony, or unanimity.
In this sentence it is:
- nominative singular
- the subject of deest
So consensus ... deest means agreement is lacking.