albus an ater sit
Latin edit
Etymology edit
From albus (“white”) + an (“whether”) + āter (“black”) + sit (“he may be”) the present subjunctive third person singular of sum (“I am”). Literally meaning "he may be white or black". Compare homō nūllīus colōris (“a man of no color”).
Originally from the longer:
- Albus an ater sit, nescio.
- I don't know whether he is white or black.
or
- Albus an ater sit, non curo.
- I care not whether he is white or black.
Pronunciation edit
- (Classical) IPA(key): /ˈal.bus an ˈaː.ter sit/, [ˈäɫ̪bʊs̠ än ˈäːt̪ɛr s̠ɪt̪]
- (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /ˈal.bus an ˈa.ter sit/, [ˈälbus än ˈäːt̪er sit̪]
Proverb edit
- he is entirely indifferent to me
- Vide, quam te amārit is, qui albus aterve fueris ignorans, fratris filium praeteriit.
- (please add an English translation of this usage example)
- Unde illa scivit, ater an albus nascerer.
- (please add an English translation of this usage example)