Hi all, “nonentitas” is said to be Medieval Latin, but is there an earlier word, or phrase, that the Romans may have used for “a nobody” or “unimportant person”?
Many thanks, Nick
Many thanks, Nick
Classical alternative?
- Thread starter Nicolavs Iacobvs
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I looked up this expression in an Italian-Latin dictionary. They define it as "figlio di nessuno, uomo di bassa condizione, di origine incerta" (nobody's son, a man of low extraction, of uncertain origin). They refer to this passage by Persius Flaccus (Sat. VI):
"'progenies terrae?' quaere ex me quis mihi quartus sit pater: haut prompte, dicam tamen; adde etiam unum, unum etiam: terrae est iam filius et mihi ritu Manius hic generis prope maior auunculus exit."
"'progenies terrae?' quaere ex me quis mihi quartus sit pater: haut prompte, dicam tamen; adde etiam unum, unum etiam: terrae est iam filius et mihi ritu Manius hic generis prope maior auunculus exit."
"Homo nihili", "homo non nauci" maybe also "homo flocci" can be close to what you're looking for depending on what you mean by "a nobody".
I'm pretty sure there's a more nifty way to express this in Latin but it eludes or I'm mistaken.
I'm pretty sure there's a more nifty way to express this in Latin but it eludes or I'm mistaken.
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"Minus habens"
"nugax"
"nugax"
ignobilis = unknown
Note that the opposite is aliquis / aliquid:
nequissimus = a worthless person
Note that the opposite is aliquis / aliquid:
(L&S : something considerable, important, or great = aliquid magnum ... —Hence, esp., 1. Esse aliquem or aliquid, to be somebody or something, i. e to be of some worth, value, or note, to be esteemed
nequissimus = a worthless person
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It’s more anonymity, insignificance, or being generally unremarkable; rather than a lack of intelligence or ability.
I'll think more about a term in the next few days, however, it isn't easy to find one.
humilis?
Of course, thank you - I should’ve thought of this - so that’d be “homo humilis”, or “hominem humilem” ?