Meaning of ferrum | Babel Free

Definitions

1. iron
   declension-2, neuter
2. any tool made of iron
   declension-2, metonymically, neuter
3. sword
   declension-2, neuter
4. fight, clash
   declension-2, neuter

Equivalents

Examples

“Urbi ferrō flammāque minitatus est.”

He threatened the city with fire and sword.

“Ferro incumbere.”

To fall on his sword.

“Hōs ego videō cōnsul et dē rē pūblicā sententiam rogō, et quōs ferrō trucīdārī oportēbat, eōs nōndum vōce volnerō!”

I, as consul, see these [men], and I ask their opinion about the republic, and those whom it was proper to slaughter with the sword, I don’t yet wound them even with a word! (Ablative of means; exemplifies synecdoche: a part, “iron,” refers to a whole, “sword.”)

“Non est miscix. ferrum optimum daturus est, sine fuga, carnarium in medio, ut amphitheater videat.”

He is no flibbertigibbet, he will give the best fight, without flight, a carnage in the middle, so that the whole amphitheater will see it.

“c. 161, Dig. XXVIII.I.8.4 Gaius libro septimo decimo ad edictum provinciale Hi vero, qui ad ferrum aut ad bestias aut in metallum damnantur, libertatem perdunt bonaque eorum publicantur: unde apparet amittere eos testamenti factionem.”

But those sentenced to fight in the arena or with the beasts or to work in the mines lose freedom and their assets are forfeited: hence one sees that the efficacy of their last will must be denied.

CEFR level