Attn: Speakers of Latin

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2003-06-19 06:25am

The quote in my sig is from the end of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, when Wonka is reading from the contract signed by Charlie Bucket.

I was wondering if any of you know what the hell the latin parts mean. Well, I know what "et cetera" means, so you don't have to explain that part. Here's the latin parts:

"Fax mentis incendium gloria cultum"

and

"Memo bis punitor delicatum"

Just thought it might be good to know what it is I'm putting in my sig, plus, anything that provides me more insight into the delicious world of Wonka is awesome.

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2003-06-19 07:26am

Uhhh... Must... think back to... first two semesters of junior college... Uhhh...

Ok, let me try with the vocab.

fax=torch
incendium=fire or heat
gloria=glory or boasting
cultum=cultivated

bis=twice
punitor=?
delicatum=charming

Ah crap, this hurts my brain. Sorry dude.

Darth Gojira · Post by **Darth Gojira** » 2003-06-19 07:31am

Superman wrote:Uhhh... Must... think back to... first two semesters of junior college... Uhhh...

Ok, let me try with the vocab.

fax=torch
incendium=fire or heat
gloria=glory or boasting
cultum=cultivated

bis=twice
punitor=?
delicatum=charming

Ah crap, this hurts my brain. Sorry dude.

Don't be sorry. Latin is designed to confuse Germanic speaking barbarians. You know, a sort of secret weapon.

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2003-06-19 07:32am

Hehe...

If I got my notes out, I could probably translate it. I just don't know where they are.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-06-19 11:24am

Lesse now.

"Fax mentis incendium gloria cultum"

Well, 'incendium cultum' is the direct object of the sentence, ergo, 'fax' must be the subject, and 'mentis' the verb. I *think* mentis is neuter, probably 3rd declension, but as I seem to have lost the Handy Dandy Declension Chart(damn!) I can't be sure, and I'm not sure what the word means.

Zoink · Post by **Zoink** » 2003-06-19 12:42pm

If this is of any help:

fax, facis N F
torch, firebrand, fire; flame of love; torment;

mens, mentis N F
mind; reason, intellect, judgement; plan, intention, frame of mind; courage;

incendium, incendi(i) N N
fire, conflagration; heat; fiery heat, passion;

gloria, gloriae N F
glory, fame; ambition; renown; vainglory, boasting;

cult.um SUPINE 3 1 ACC S N
colo, colere, colui, cultus V
live in (place), inhabit; till, cultivate, promote growth; foster, maintain;
honor, cherish, worship; tend, take care of; adorn, dress, decorate, embellish

cultum, culti N N
cultivated/tilled/farmed lands (pl.); gardens; plantations; standing crops;

cultus, cultus N M
habitation; cultivation (land); civilization, refinement; polish, elegance;
care, worship, devotion/observance; form of worship, cult; training/education;
personal care/maintenance/grooming; style; finery, splendor; neatness/order;

cult.um ADJ 1 1 ACC S N POS
cultus, culta -um, cultior -or -us, cultissimus -a -um ADJ
cultivated/tilled/farmed (well); ornamented, neat/well groomed; polished/elega

Straha · Post by **Straha** » 2003-06-19 12:47pm

The first one's something like cultivate the glorius flame of the mind...

(fax mentis is an Idiom I do believe)

Don't know about the other one.

Zoink · Post by **Zoink** » 2003-06-19 02:05pm

Also:

memo ======== UNKNOWN

bis NUM 1 2 X X X ADVERB
duo -ae o, secundus -a -um, bini -ae -a, bis NUM
2 times, on 2 occasions - (ADVERB answers 'how often')

pun.itor V 4 1 FUT PASSIVE IMP 2 S
pun.itor V 4 1 FUT PASSIVE IMP 3 S
punio, punire, punivi, punitus V TRANS
punior, puniri, punitus sum V DEP
punish (person/offence), inflict punishment; avenge, extract retribution;
punitor N 3 1 NOM S M
punitor N 3 1 VOC S M
punitor, punitoris N M
punisher, one who punishes; one who extracts retribution; avenger;

delicat.um VPAR 1 1 NOM S N PERF PASSIVE PPL
delicat.um VPAR 1 1 ACC S M PERF PASSIVE PPL
delicat.um VPAR 1 1 ACC S N PERF PASSIVE PPL
delicat.um SUPINE 1 1 ACC S N
delico, delicare, delicavi, delicatus V TRANS uncommon
reveal, disclose; make clear, clarify, explain;
delicat.um N 2 1 ACC S M
delicatus, delicati N M uncommon
paramour, favorite; voluptury (L+S); one addicted to pleasure;
delicat.um ADJ 1 1 NOM S N POS
delicat.um ADJ 1 1 ACC S M POS
delicat.um ADJ 1 1 ACC S N POS
delicatus, delicata -um, delicatior -or -us, delicatissimus -a -um ADJ
luxurious/sumptuous, addicted to pleasure; self-indulgent/confortable; pampere
foppish, effeminate; polite, elegant; charming; tender; voluptuous; wanton;
skittish/frisky/frivolous; fastidious/squeamish; delicate/dainty/pretty/fine;

Zoink · Post by **Zoink** » 2003-06-19 02:13pm

Straha wrote:The first one's something like cultivate the glorius flame of the mind...

(fax mentis is an Idiom I do believe)

Don't know about the other one.

It wouldn't be something like:

cultivating ambition ignites the mind's flame

? (EDIT: or maybe its the other way around)

I'm just guessing, I don't know latin conjugations. I'm assuming "fax mentis" is mind's flame (like you said) and gloria cultum is "cultivate glory/ambition/whatever" with incendium (fire/heat/burn) joining them?

Robert Treder · Post by **Robert Treder** » 2003-06-19 06:10pm

"cultivating ambition ignites the mind's flame"

That certainly sounds like something Wonka would say. Why he put it in his contract, I don't know, but there it is.

Thanks, guys.

Warspite · Post by **Warspite** » 2003-06-19 06:18pm

Well, since the contract pertains to the selection process he created to choose his sucessor...

Is the mind's flame a godd thing, or a bad thing?