1. Essentials at a Glance

The Ablative of Respect (often called the Ablative of Specification) specifies in what regard or aspect a statement is true. In Latin grammar, it answers “in respect to what?”—for example, virtūte praestant (“they excel in valor”). This construction is vital because it adds precision and brevity, letting Latin express ideas such as “lame in one foot” or “worthy of honor” in just a few words.

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2. Definition & Importance

The Ablative of Respect in Latin grammar designates the particular aspect or quality to which a verb, adjective, or clause applies. It appears without a preposition and is often translated into English with “in” or “with respect to” (e.g., clārus genere = “renowned in family line”). Mastering this usage is critical for reading comprehension and stylistic accuracy in Latin. Avoiding “common errors in Latin Ablative of Respect” (like mistaking it for ablative of cause) ensures more precise translations.

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3. Forms & Morphology

• Regular Ablative Endings
  • 1st decl.: -ā (sing.), -īs (pl.)
  • 2nd decl.: -ō, -īs
  • 3rd decl.: -e/-ī, -ibus
  • 4th decl.: -ū, -ibus
  • 5th decl.: -ē, (rarely -ēbus in plural)
• Supine in –ū: A special verbal noun in the ablative expressing respect with adjectives (e.g., mīrābile dictū = “wonderful to say”).
• No extra preposition is typically used: the bare ablative conveys “in respect to.”

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4. Usage & Examples

1. Helvētiī omnibus Gallīs virtūte praestābant

   • “The Helvetii surpassed all the Gauls in courage.”
   • virtūte is ablative of respect, specifying the domain of superiority.

2. claudus alterō pede (Nepos)

   • “Lame in one foot.”
   • The ablative alterō pede pinpoints where the lameness applies.

3. Sunt hominēs nōn rē sed nōmine (Cicero)

   • “They are men not in fact, but in name.”
   • Two ablatives of respect (rē, nōmine) draw a sharp contrast.

4. mīrābile dictū (Virgil)

   • “Wonderful to say.”
   • dictū is a supine in the ablative, expressing respect (“in the act of saying”).

5. alterō oculō captus

   • “Blinded in one eye.”
   • Another physical-limitation example.

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5. Common Pitfalls

• Confusing with Ablative of Cause or Means: “He excelled in valor” (respect) vs. “He acted from fear” (cause).
• Overusing Prepositions: Avoid inserting in if the ablative alone suffices.
• Mixing with Ablative of Manner: magnā vōce = “loudly” (manner), not strictly “in respect to voice.”
• Genitive vs. Ablative for Qualities: vir summae virtūtis (genitive of quality) vs. fortis virtūte (ablative of respect).

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6. Additional Notes & Nuances

Short idioms like nōmine (“in name”), re (“in fact”), and māior nātū (“older by birth”) are common ablatives of respect.
Classical authors also use this construction with dignus and indignus to express “worthy of” or “unworthy of” something (e.g. dignus honōre).
In poetry, you may see the “Greek accusative” (e.g., os umerōsque deo similis in Virgil) instead of the ablative—this is a stylistic imitation of Greek.

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7. Key Takeaways

• Always translate the ablative of respect with “in respect to,” “in,” or “as to.”
• Expect it with adjectives (e.g., māior nātū), verbs of excelling, and dignus/indignus.
• The supine in -ū (e.g., mīrābile dictū) is a classic variation of this usage.
• Distinguish carefully from ablatives of cause, means, or manner.
• Familiarize yourself with idiomatic set phrases (nomine, re, maior natu).