Propinquus meus nobis hospitium parat, quia nox frigidissima est.

Here propinquus is being used as a noun, not just as an adjective. It means relative, kinsman, or sometimes close family connection.

As an adjective, propinquus can mean near or nearby, but in this sentence it clearly means a relative because it has meus with it: propinquus meus = my relative.

Both are possible in Latin.

Latin word order is much more flexible than English word order. So:

• propinquus meus
• meus propinquus

can both mean my relative.

Putting meus after the noun is very common in Latin, especially in simple prose. The meaning does not change here; it is mostly a matter of style and emphasis.

Propinquus meus is in the nominative singular masculine.

We know this because it is the subject of the main verb parat:

• propinquus meus = the person doing the action
• parat = prepares

So the sentence begins with the subject: My relative.

Nobis is the dative plural of nos (we/us).

Here it is an indirect object, meaning for us or to us. So:

• hospitium parat = prepares lodging
• nobis hospitium parat = prepares lodging for us

A native English speaker often expects a preposition like for, but Latin very often uses the dative case instead.

Because nos would usually be the direct object form, meaning us in the sense of receiving the action directly.

But in this sentence, we are not the thing being prepared. The thing being prepared is hospitium. We are the people for whom it is prepared. That calls for the dative:

• nos = us
• nobis = to us / for us

So nobis is the correct form.

Hospitium can have a few related meanings, such as:

• hospitality
• lodging
• guest-room
• shelter/accommodation

In this sentence, it most naturally means something like lodging or a place to stay. The exact English wording can vary depending on context, but the basic idea is that the relative is preparing accommodation for us.

Because hospitium is the direct object of parat.

Ask: What is my relative preparing?
Answer: hospitium

That makes it the direct object, so it appears in the accusative singular. For a second-declension neuter noun like hospitium, the nominative and accusative singular are the same in form, but its function here is accusative because it is the object of the verb.

Parat is:

• present tense
• active voice
• indicative mood
• third person singular

It comes from paro, parare, meaning prepare, provide, or get ready.

So parat means:

• he prepares
• she prepares
• it prepares

Here the subject is propinquus meus, so the meaning is my relative prepares or is preparing.

Yes.

The Latin present tense often covers both simple present and progressive present in English:

• prepares
• is preparing

So propinquus meus nobis hospitium parat could be understood as either My relative prepares lodging for us or My relative is preparing lodging for us, depending on context.

Quia means because. It introduces a clause giving the reason:

• quia nox frigidissima est
• because the night is very cold

So the sentence has:

• a main clause: Propinquus meus nobis hospitium parat
• a reason clause introduced by quia: quia nox frigidissima est

Because nox is the subject of est in the quia clause.

In nox frigidissima est:

• nox = the night
• est = is
• frigidissima = very cold / coldest

Since nox is the thing being described, it must be in the nominative.

Frigidissima is the superlative form of frigidus, meaning cold.

The basic pattern is:

• frigidus = cold
• frigidior = colder
• frigidissimus / frigidissima / frigidissimum = coldest, very cold

Here it is frigidissima because it agrees with nox, which is:

• feminine
• singular
• nominative

So frigidissima is nominative singular feminine.

It can mean either, depending on context.

Latin superlatives often work in two ways:

• absolute superlative: very cold
• true superlative: coldest

In this sentence, very cold is usually the most natural translation:
because the night is very cold.

Latin often uses the superlative where English would prefer very + adjective.

Latin often puts the verb at or near the end of the clause, especially the verb to be.

So nox frigidissima est is a very natural Latin order:

• subject: nox
• predicate adjective: frigidissima
• verb: est

English is less flexible, but Latin commonly saves the verb for the end.

Yes, to a large extent.

Because Latin uses case endings, the roles of the words are shown by form, not mainly by position. So many orders are possible, for example:

• Propinquus meus nobis hospitium parat
• Meus propinquus hospitium nobis parat
• Hospitium nobis propinquus meus parat

All still mean basically My relative prepares lodging for us.

However, different word orders can change emphasis or style. The given order is straightforward and natural.

There are two main agreements:

1. propinquus meus

   • propinquus = masculine singular nominative
   • meus = masculine singular nominative
     They agree because meus describes propinquus.

2. nox frigidissima

   • nox = feminine singular nominative
   • frigidissima = feminine singular nominative
     They agree because frigidissima describes nox.

This kind of agreement is very important in Latin: adjectives and possessives match the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case.

Yes:

• Propinquus = relative / kinsman
• meus = my
• nobis = for us / to us
• hospitium = lodging / hospitality / accommodation
• parat = prepares / is preparing
• quia = because
• nox = night
• frigidissima = very cold / coldest
• est = is

So the structure is:

• Propinquus meus = my relative
• nobis hospitium parat = prepares lodging for us
• quia nox frigidissima est = because the night is very cold