translation, please

Nicholas Adams

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Sep 2, 2008, 4:04:24 AM9/2/08

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Hi reader,

would you be so kind and translate/correct the following

I do my best - meum optimum tradere
I give my best - meum optimum dedi
I am doing my best - ????

thank you

Nicholas

Evertjan.

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Sep 2, 2008, 5:49:21 AM9/2/08

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Nicholas Adams wrote on 02 sep 2008 in alt.language.latin:

> Hi reader,
>
> would you be so kind and translate/correct the following
>
> I do my best - meum optimum tradere
> I give my best - meum optimum dedi

"give" in the past?

> I am doing my best - ????

Why would you think that the English idiom "my best"
would be something you van do or give
without specifying what you do or give in another language?

In Latin you probably have to specify a substanse,
like: "my best paintings", or an action, like running.

'optimum dare' would be "optime dare" "I give 'bestly' "
as a verb needs an adverbium,
and "best" as a substantivum is not something to "give".

That being said, it could be that, accidentally,
Latin has the same idiom, but it would be a coincidence.

Better translade from a non idiomatic sentense, like:

"I will [future!] work for/help you using my best efforts"

--
Evertjan.
The Netherlands.
(Please change the x'es to dots in my emailaddress)

Johannes Patruus

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Sep 2, 2008, 6:37:03 AM9/2/08

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For "I am doing my best" as a complete sentence, I would suggest:
"Pro viribus ago", or,
"Rem pro viribus gero",
in either of which "pro viribus" might be substituted by "pro virili parte"
or by "quam optime".

For "I am doing my best to (do something)", I suggest:
"Operam do ut . . ."
e.g.:
Operam do ut dilucide dicam.
I am doing my best to speak clearly.

Patruus

B. T. Raven

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Sep 2, 2008, 8:25:46 AM9/2/08

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None of which can be improved upon, as I see it. For "I give my best" maybe

Quod possum de meis praebeo, reddo.
Quod poteram de meis praebui, reddidi.
Quod potero de meis praebebo, reddam.

Eduardus

Caligula

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Sep 3, 2008, 6:21:25 PM9/3/08

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Johannes Patruus a écrit :

> For "I am doing my best" as a complete sentence, I would suggest:
> "Pro viribus ago", or,
> "Rem pro viribus gero",
> in either of which "pro viribus" might be substituted by "pro virili
> parte" or by "quam optime".
>
> For "I am doing my best to (do something)", I suggest:
> "Operam do ut . . ."
> e.g.:
> Operam do ut dilucide dicam.
> I am doing my best to speak clearly.
> Patruus

Did you learn Latin language with Avitus and Scholastica at Academia Thules?

--
Caligula
Pontifex Maximus, Imperator, Pater Patriae.

Johannes Patruus

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Sep 4, 2008, 4:07:10 AM9/4/08

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Caligula wrote:
> Johannes Patruus a écrit :
>
>> For "I am doing my best" as a complete sentence, I would suggest:
>> "Pro viribus ago", or,
>> "Rem pro viribus gero",
>> in either of which "pro viribus" might be substituted by "pro virili
>> parte" or by "quam optime".
>>
>> For "I am doing my best to (do something)", I suggest:
>> "Operam do ut . . ."
>> e.g.:
>> Operam do ut dilucide dicam.
>> I am doing my best to speak clearly.
>> Patruus
>
> Did you learn Latin language with Avitus and Scholastica at Academia
> Thules?

I have been struggling with Latin on and off since my schooldays. Avitus'
course helped, though not as much as I had hoped.

Patruus

Nicholas Adams

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Sep 5, 2008, 4:25:51 AM9/5/08

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Hi

thank you all for your input.
Unfortunatly, each and everyone came up with a different thing
so right now, I'm non the wiser.

MfG
Nick

Ed Cryer

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Sep 5, 2008, 5:36:39 AM9/5/08

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"Nicholas Adams" <in...@intergrafis.de> wrote in message
news:84r1c4dunr5eeocvi...@4ax.com...

Let me arbitrate as a non-contributor.
I go for Patruus' "Rem pro virili parte ago".

Ed