Naming Fractions This section is normally dealt under the topics of numeral adjectives because fractions are expressed using numeral adjectives. Please note that because of font availability the horizontal line representing the fraction symbol is replaced with a slash, thus /.
There are three main expressions to consider: - The case when the denominator of a fraction (the number below the line) is greater than the numerator (the number above the fraction line) by a single unit.
In such cases you express or translate the fraction using the cardinal numeral adjective for the numerator followed by the word partes (nom. plural f. of pars, part in English). The denominator is not expressed.
Examples: - 2/3 is expressed as duae partes
- 3/4 as tres partes
- 4/5 as quattuor partes
- 5/6 as quinque partes
- 6/7 as sex partes, etc.
- The case when the denominator is greater than the numerator by more than one unit is translated using the cardinal number for the numerator and the ordinal number ( nom.f. pl.) for the denominator, followed by the word partes; but expressing the word partes is not compulsory and can be omitted as it is understood that partes is implied.
Examples: - 3/8 is expressed as tres octavae (the same as in English: three eighth) with partes omitted because it is understood that we mean tres octavae partes.
- 4/7 is expressed as quattuor septimae (four seventh)
- 13/20 is expressed as tredecim vicesimae (thirteen twentieth)
- The case when the numerator is one and the denominator any number, for example, 1/3, 1/5, 1/7 etc., except 1/2 which is dealt with in the next section, is expressed by ignoring the numerator (which is one) and translating the denominator using the ordinal number followed by the word pars.
Examples: - 1/3 is expressed as tertia pars
- 1/5 is expressed as quinta pars
- 1/7 is expressed as septima pars, etc.
N.B.: The topics on Roman numbers is dealt with under the section: Cornucopiae > Roman Numerals. | Special Cases The fraction 1/2, a half, is not expressed by una pars, but by the expression dimidia pars or dimidium.
Examples: - 1/2 is expressed as dimidia pars or dimidium
- Half a day = dimidia pars diei
- Fraction 1/2 added to a whole number
If the fraction 1/2 is added to a whole number, then the expression (or translation) uses a different form: it uses the adjective semis in all its declensions if semis is placed at the end of the expression, which is where you would normally place it, else you use semis as an indeclinable adjective.
Examples: If you want to say: the wall is seven and a half feet high, you would say: murus altus septem pedes et semissem (semissem being the accu. of the nom. semis). But if you place it between the whole number and the units of the expression, then you can use semis as an indeclinable adjective, thus: murus altus septem semis pedes. - The city wall are 20 and 1/2 feet high. Moenia sunt viginti semis pedes alta; or Moenia sunt viginti pedes et semissem alta.
- Semis denarius = half a denarius
- Tria semis talenta = three and a half talents.
- There are three special cases for referrring to 1+1/2 of something, like one and a half, one and a half finger, one and a half foot.
Examples: - one and half = sesquialter
- one and a half finger = sesquidigitus
- a foot and a half = sesquipedalis
- Other Expressions Using Multiplicative Numbers
These are numerals that express a factor of multiplication. They are adjectives of the 2nd Cl.
Examples: - Simplex (gen. -icis) single part
- Duplex (gen. - icis) twofold
- Triplex threefold
- Quadruplex fourfold
- Quinquiplex fivefold
- etc.
- Expressions using Proportional Numbers
These are number that express multiples.
Examples: - duplus, -a, -um double
- triplus, -a, -um treble
- quadruplus, -a, -um quadruple
- Expressions using Collective Numbers
These are expressions referring to an approximate number such as: about ten, about twenty, etc.
Latin uses a periphrasis, or to use another more apt term, a circumlocution, i.e. a rounabout expression.
The expression is formed by using the cardinal number followed by the adverb fere or ferme which mean about, or the alternative form: ad ... numero.
Examples: - fere decim - about ten or ad decem munero
- fere viginti - about twenty or ad viginti numero
- fere triginta - about thirty or ad triginta numero
- fere quadraginta - about forty or ad quadraginta numero.
- fere triginta milites capti sunt or ad triginta milites capti sunt = about thirty soldiers were taken prisoners
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