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albus an ater sit. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
albus an ater sit, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
albus an ater sit in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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Latin
Etymology
From albus (“white”) + an (“whether”) + āter (“black”) + sit (“he may be”) the present subjunctive third person singular of sum (“I am”). Literally meaning "he may be white or black". Compare homō nūllīus colōris (“a man of no color”).
Originally from the longer:
- Albus an ater sit, nescio.
- I don't know whether he is white or black.
or
- Albus an ater sit, non curo.
- I care not whether he is white or black.
Pronunciation
Proverb
albus an āter sit
- at all, anything
- Vide, quam te amārit is, qui albus aterne fueris ignorans, fratris filium praeteriit. —Cicero, Philippics, 2.16
- See how much he loved you, who, not knowing a thing about you (lit. whether you were black or white), passed over his brother's son (and made you his heir).
- Nil nimium studeo, Caesar, tibi velle placere
- nec scire utrum sis albus an ater homo
- —Catullus (contemporary with Caesar), Carmina, 93
- I don't much care to please you, Caesar
- Nor to know whether you be white or be black (i.e., anything at all about you)