by means of which anything is done, and is usually translated by or with.
Ablative of Instrument.—ăprī dentĭbus sē tūtantŭr boars defend themselves with-their-tusks.
Ablative of Cause.—maerŏrĕ cōnsĕnēscēbăt he-was-growing-old with-grief.
Ablative of Cost.—The Ablative is used of the sum for which anything is bought or. sold : praesentī pecūnĭā vēnīrĕ to-be-sold for ready money.
Ablative of Amount of Difference.—The Difference between two unequal things is expressed by the Ablative : sōl multīs partĭbŭs māiŏr est quam lūnă the-sun is many times larger than the-moon.
Ablative of Way or Manner.—Generally with defining adjective: pollĭcĕŏr hōc vōbīs bŏnā fĭdē I promise this to-you in good faith.
Ablative of Quality or Description.—Always with an Adjective or Pronoun: summā virtūtĕ ădŭlēscēns a youth of the highest virtue.
Ablative Absolute.—It denotes actions, etc., which accompany the main action: Chāŏnĭae fŭgĭunt, ăquĭlā vĕnĭentĕ, cŏlumbae the Chaonian doves flee when the eagle comes, or at the coming of the eagle.
This Ablative is so called because it often appears to be independent (absŏlūtŭs set free) of the rest of the sentence. It is better called the Abl. of Attendant Circumstances.
§ 151. C. Locative Ablative.—The Ablative is used to denote several meanings which originally belonged to the Locative.
Place where.—Except in a few phrases such as terrā et mări on land and sea, only found with an epithet or Preposition: mĕdĭō oppĭdō flŭit it flows through the midst of the town.
Sometimes the Place is also the Means: scūtă ŭmĕrīs gestant they carry their shields on their shoulders.
