Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Latin term or phrase:
Estote bono animo, responsum dignum viro sapienti.
English translation:
“Be of good cheer, worthy advice for any wise man.” (a liberal, not literal interpretation)
Added to glossary by
Marynia
Dec 19, 2008 05:46
15 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Latin term
Estote bono animo, responsum dignum viro sapienti.
Latin to English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
this is written on fabric
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +2 | Take courage, answer worthy of a wise man |
Luis Antonio de Larrauri
|
| 4 | Be in a good mood and give an answer worthy of a wise man. |
Liliana Galiano
|
Change log
Jan 2, 2009 09:09: Luis Antonio de Larrauri Created KOG entry
Jan 3, 2009 17:23: Marynia changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/61017">Luis Antonio de Larrauri's</a> old entry - "Estote bono animo, responsum dignum viro sapienti."" to ""Take courage, answer worthy of a wise man""
Jan 4, 2009 16:21: Marynia changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/636256">Marynia's</a> old entry - "Estote bono animo, responsum dignum viro sapienti."" to ""This still needs a better translation""
Proposed translations
+2
2 hrs
Luis Antonio de Larrauri
Works in field
Legal, business, literature specialized
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, French to Spanish, Latin to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Selected
Take courage, answer worthy of a wise man
Ok, now the meaning is clearer. It could also be translated "be in good spirits", but it depends on the context. Animum bonus habe! is an expression to encourage someone.
Viro sapienti is ablative, required by "dignum".
The first part (before the comma) is referred to at least two people.
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Note added at 3 days7 hrs (2008-12-22 13:38:08 GMT)
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The first translation is completely wrong, "you have a good soul" is not even a litteral translation. Estote is imperative, so it is an order or advice. And then, "good soul" could be a verbatim translation of "bonus animus", but used as an expression, they don't mean that. All the examples that I found relate to courage:
Animum bonum habe!: take courage!
bono animo esse: to have courage (Cicero)
satis animi esse: to have much courage, be very courageous.
The 2nd part, "responsum signum...", must be a mistake, you have to force Latin to try to give some sense, and even in that case the translation is not satisfactory (sign answered by a wise man), as we saw in the other question. In any case, "respond wisely..." and "be wise and say the truth" are just inventions, they don't even use the words of the original and don't make sense.
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Note added at 10 days (2008-12-29 08:38:29 GMT)
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After seeing the fabric, I reaffirm what I said: it is "dignum", not "signum", and the set phrase is "take courage", not "be good souls", which would be "estote boni animi/bonae animae"
Viro sapienti is ablative, required by "dignum".
The first part (before the comma) is referred to at least two people.
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Note added at 3 days7 hrs (2008-12-22 13:38:08 GMT)
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The first translation is completely wrong, "you have a good soul" is not even a litteral translation. Estote is imperative, so it is an order or advice. And then, "good soul" could be a verbatim translation of "bonus animus", but used as an expression, they don't mean that. All the examples that I found relate to courage:
Animum bonum habe!: take courage!
bono animo esse: to have courage (Cicero)
satis animi esse: to have much courage, be very courageous.
The 2nd part, "responsum signum...", must be a mistake, you have to force Latin to try to give some sense, and even in that case the translation is not satisfactory (sign answered by a wise man), as we saw in the other question. In any case, "respond wisely..." and "be wise and say the truth" are just inventions, they don't even use the words of the original and don't make sense.
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Note added at 10 days (2008-12-29 08:38:29 GMT)
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After seeing the fabric, I reaffirm what I said: it is "dignum", not "signum", and the set phrase is "take courage", not "be good souls", which would be "estote boni animi/bonae animae"
Note from asker:
| Someone asked about the fabric: How old = about two years old, covering the back of booth seats in a new Mediterranean restaurant. And it does seem to saying a pearl of wisdom… then I just was given this translation (I don’t know the source) “You have to be a good soul, always tell the truth and you will have a good life”. I don’t believe this is correct but “Estote bono amino” makes more sense when translated to “Be a good soul” or . So the rest “responsum signum viro sapienti” may be “respond wisely with truth” or “be wise and always say the truth”. I’m trying to get a photo which may help. Does any of this make sense? |
| Please view a photo, here is a link: http://hartford.craigslist.org/grp/971702568.html |
| Please view a photo, here is the link: http://hartford.craigslist.org/grp/971702568.html |
| Hello, thank you kindly for everyone’s time and input. The current interpretations may be literally correct but as translated into English they don’t make any sense. I’ll keep looking for an answer to this puzzle. |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
3 days 14 hrs
Liliana Galiano
Argentina
Argentina
Argentina
Education and Economics specialist.
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, German to Spanish, Spanish to English, and 1 more.
Be in a good mood and give an answer worthy of a wise man.
I understand it this way.
anim.o N 2 1 DAT S M
anim.o N 2 1 ABL S M
animus, animi N (2nd) M [XXXAO]
mind; intellect; soul; feelings; heart; spirit, courage, character, pride; air;
anim.o N 2 1 DAT S M
anim.o N 2 1 ABL S M
animus, animi N (2nd) M [XXXAO]
mind; intellect; soul; feelings; heart; spirit, courage, character, pride; air;
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