Lupo ovem commisisti

English translation: you have entrusted the sheep to the wolf

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Latin term or phrase:Lupo ovem commisisti
English translation:you have entrusted the sheep to the wolf
Entered by: Charles Davis

06:43 Nov 16, 2013
Latin to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Poetry
Latin term or phrase: Lupo ovem commisisti
About a lawyer who was also a poet.
Thanks in advance!
Gad Kohenov
Israel
Local time: 05:37
you have entrusted the sheep to the wolf
Explanation:
lupo: wolf (dative)
ovem: sheep (accusative)
commisisti: 2 p sing perfect of committo, which can mean various things, including commit to the care of:

"II. To place a thing somewhere for preservation, protection, care, etc.; to give, intrust, commit to, to give up or resign to, to trust (syn.: commendo, trado, credo; very freq. and class.); constr. with aliquid (aliquem) alicui, in aliquid, or absol." (Lewis & Short)
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=committo&fromdo...

It's actually a quotation from Terence's play The Eunuch, Act V (line 832). In the Loeb edition's it's translated as I've given it:

https://archive.org/stream/TerenceWithAnEnglishTranslationBy...

http://quizlet.com/12493511/sententiae-final-3-flash-cards/



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2013-11-16 11:52:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

My pleasure!
As a maxim, you might imagine this meaning something like "you have been unwise or reckless", or more specifically "you have made things easy for an unscrupulous person". In the play it refers to the fact that a young woman was placed in the care of a man thought to be a eunuch, but who turned out not to be.
In the following page it's quoted in relation to a shocking case of brutality against a young woman by prison guards in Canada:
http://eurocoalition.com/ideasforpolicing/

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 hrs (2013-11-16 20:42:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

(Just for the record, the original Latin title of Terence's play is simply Eunuchus.)
Selected response from:

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 03:37
Grading comment
Thanks a lot!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +5you have entrusted the sheep to the wolf
Charles Davis


  

Answers


22 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +5
you have entrusted the sheep to the wolf


Explanation:
lupo: wolf (dative)
ovem: sheep (accusative)
commisisti: 2 p sing perfect of committo, which can mean various things, including commit to the care of:

"II. To place a thing somewhere for preservation, protection, care, etc.; to give, intrust, commit to, to give up or resign to, to trust (syn.: commendo, trado, credo; very freq. and class.); constr. with aliquid (aliquem) alicui, in aliquid, or absol." (Lewis & Short)
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=committo&fromdo...

It's actually a quotation from Terence's play The Eunuch, Act V (line 832). In the Loeb edition's it's translated as I've given it:

https://archive.org/stream/TerenceWithAnEnglishTranslationBy...

http://quizlet.com/12493511/sententiae-final-3-flash-cards/



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2013-11-16 11:52:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

My pleasure!
As a maxim, you might imagine this meaning something like "you have been unwise or reckless", or more specifically "you have made things easy for an unscrupulous person". In the play it refers to the fact that a young woman was placed in the care of a man thought to be a eunuch, but who turned out not to be.
In the following page it's quoted in relation to a shocking case of brutality against a young woman by prison guards in Canada:
http://eurocoalition.com/ideasforpolicing/

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 hrs (2013-11-16 20:42:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

(Just for the record, the original Latin title of Terence's play is simply Eunuchus.)

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 03:37
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Thanks a lot!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Pierre POUSSIN: Va bene!
3 mins
  -> Gratias tibi ago! :)

agree  Jennifer White
2 hrs
  -> Thanks again, Jennifer

agree  Veronika McLaren
5 hrs
  -> Thanks again!

agree  Stephen C. Farrand
7 hrs
  -> Thanks again, Stephen!

agree  Judit Babcsányi
1 day 13 hrs
  -> Thanks again, Judit!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search