[Editors] Latin question

[Tom Pixton]

The Latin word "pectus" means "breast" but also can mean "soul" or  
"mind." Pectus is the nominative singluar, pectoris the genitive  
singular. "Pectus pectoris" means "heart of a heart" so you probably  
wouldn't want that. Latin nouns are often given in grammar books in  
the first and second forms of their declensions, ie, "res, rei," or  
"thing (nominative case)", "thing (genitive case)". Your brother  
probably didn't intend for you to write "pectus pectoris." More  
likely: Mens, Manus et Pectus.

But this sounds very odd, mostly because "pectus" sounds like  
"pectoral muscles" (which of course is it's English cognate). I'd  
suggest using "cor, cordis" which means "heart" as in, seat of  
emotion. It also can mean "mind" and judgement". So you'd say, "mens  
manus et cor." Sounds nicer than the pecky thing.

You could also say "cor, cor et atque cor" as in "mind, judgement,  
and [yet again] heart"

Non sapis atque sapis [Virgil],

Tom

On Apr 25, 2007, at 11:44 AM, William T G Litant wrote:
>
> Does anyone out there have an expertise in Latin? (Mine is limited  
> to the Pig dialect.) Qestion:
>
> As you (better) know, the MIT motto is "Mens et Manus." For an  
> article I'm wiritng, I want to add "and heart." Is it correct to  
> say "Mens et Manus et Pectus"? My brother, the scholar, thinks it  
> may be "Mens et Manus et Pectus Pectoris," but advises me to seek  
> professional help (which the whole family has been urging me to do  
> for years).
>
> Can anyone assist?
>
> Thanks.
>
> Best,
> Bill
> -- 
> William T.G. Litant
> Communications Director
> Aeronautics and Astronautics Department
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