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🏛️elementary latin review

Clarus

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Clarus is a Latin adjective meaning 'clear' or 'bright.' It is often used to describe things that are easily understood or visible, both literally and metaphorically. This term can also serve as a foundation for forming adverbs, showcasing how adjectives in Latin can transform to modify verbs and express manner, degree, or intensity.

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5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Clarus is the masculine nominative singular form of the adjective; it can change based on gender and number in Latin grammar.
  2. To form an adverb from clarus, the suffix '-e' is added to create 'clare,' which translates to 'clearly.'
  3. The word clarus can also be used in various contexts beyond physical brightness, such as clarity of thought or expression.
  4. In poetry and rhetoric, clarus is often utilized to enhance imagery and articulate ideas with vividness and precision.
  5. Understanding the transformation from clarus to its adverbial form helps in mastering the patterns of adjective and adverb formation in Latin.

Review Questions

  • How does the word clarus illustrate the connection between adjectives and adverbs in Latin?
    • The word clarus shows how Latin adjectives can evolve into adverbs by adding specific suffixes. For example, by adding '-e' to clarus, we get 'clare,' which means 'clearly.' This transformation highlights the ability of adjectives to modify verbs and provide additional information about actions in Latin sentences.
  • Discuss how clarus can be used in various contexts beyond its literal meaning of 'clear' or 'bright.'
    • Clarus can be applied metaphorically to describe not only physical brightness but also clarity in thought or speech. For instance, one might say a person's ideas are clarus when they are articulated well and easily understood. This broader application helps showcase the richness of Latin vocabulary and its capability to convey nuanced meanings.
  • Evaluate the importance of understanding the formation of adverbs like clare from adjectives such as clarus in mastering Latin grammar.
    • Understanding how to form adverbs from adjectives like clarus is crucial for mastering Latin grammar because it provides insight into the language's structure. Knowing that '-e' converts clarus into clare allows learners to apply this rule across various adjectives, enhancing their ability to construct meaningful sentences. This skill not only aids in comprehension but also improves fluency in writing and speaking Latin.