quĭd? in what respect? (Ace. of Extent) is often added, quĭd opŭs est glădĭō? in what is there need of a sword? quĭd ŏpŭs est factō? in what respect is there need of doing? i.e., what ought to be done?'
ŭsŭs est has the same sense and generally the same construction as ŭpĕs est, but is rare in Classical Prose.
§ 333. Construction of Interjections. (1) In addressing persons, ō! prō! are found with the Voc. (§ 130) as prō sanctĕ Iuppĭter! O divine Jupiter!
(2) In exclamations the Nom. is used: ō magnă, vīs vēritātis! O the great power of truth! prō pŭdŏr! shame!
(3) But the Object of a Strong Feeling is put in the Acc.: prō deum fĭdem! 'out on the honour of the gods! Comp. § 131*
(4) vae! takes a Dat. of Person affected: vae victīs! woe to the conquered! So ei! in ei mihi ah me!
Adjectives, etc., as Nouns.
§ 334. Masculine Adjectives, Participles, and Pronouns denote Persons in general.
| Omnĭă tī̆mĭdum terrent | Everything frightens a coward. |
| Audentēs fortūnă 'iŭvăt | Fortune aids the bold. |
| Doctī ălĭă (§ 335) cēnsent | The learned think otherwise. |
The Nom. Sing, of Adjectives is rarely so used.
§ 335. Neuter Adjectives and Pronouns can be used of everything that may be regarded as a thing. Thus the Singular may express a quantity, an abstract quality, etc., the Plural, parts, circumstances, etc.
| Multum frūraentī, plūs vīnī | Much corn, more wine. |
| Qŭid pulchrō pulchtĭŭs? | 'What is more beautiful than beauty? |
| Adversă omnēs mănent | Adversities wait for all. |
| Montĭum altă, vastă terrārum | The heights of the mountains, the waste places of the earth. |
The Neut. Adj. cannot be used if it would be ambiguous. Thus we cannot say laetŭs ĭn trīstĭbŭs ĕrăt he was joyful in mournful circumstances; for ĭn trīstĭbus might mean among sorrowful men. We must say ĭn trīstĭbŭs rēbŭs.
