Breakdown of Avus omnium prudentissimus est.
esse
to be
avus
the grandfather
omnis
all
prudentissimus
wisest
Questions & Answers about Avus omnium prudentissimus est.
Why is avus in the nominative case?
Because avus is the subject of the sentence: it is the person being described as most prudent.
- avus = grandfather
- nominative singular = the grandfather as subject
So in Avus omnium prudentissimus est, avus is the one who is something.
What does omnium mean here, and why is it in the genitive?
Omnium is the genitive plural of omnis, meaning of all.
With a superlative like prudentissimus (most prudent), Latin often uses the genitive plural to show the group being compared:
- omnium = of all
- prudentissimus omnium = the most prudent of all
So the genitive answers the question most prudent of whom? → of all.
How is prudentissimus formed?