AGREEMENT OF ADJECTIVES
1. Adjectives agree with their nouns in Gender, Number, and Case:--
vir fortis, a brave man.
multus sanguis, much blood.
urbium magnarum, of great cities.
cenam optimam, the best supper.
2. To agree with two or more nouns the adjective becomes plural or follow the nearest :--
Caecilius et Grumio laeti sunt, Caecilius and Grumio are happy.
Servus totam et culinam et atrium lavat, the servant washes the whole kitchen and hall.
natura inimica sunt libera civitas et rex, by nature a free state and a king are hostile.
multae operae ac laboris, of much trouble and toil.
vita moresque mei, my life and character.
3. A collective noun may take an adjective of the gender, number of the individuals implied :--
multitudo convicti sunt, a multitude were convicted.
magna pars raptae, a large part of the women were seized.
4. Abstract nouns may have an Adjective in the neuter plural :--
stultitia et iniustitia ... sunt fugienda, folly and injustice... are [things] to be shunned.
labor (m.) voluptasque (f.) societate naturali sunt iuncta (n.), labor and delight are bound by natural alliance.
5. Adjectives as nouns: masculine = people in general, feminine = women, neuter = things:--
meus propinquus, my neighour.
honestum, an honorable act, or virtue (as a quality).
omnes fortia laudant, all men praise bravery (brave things).
varium et mutabile semper femina, woman is ever a changing and fickle thing.
malum mihi videtur esse mors, death seems to me to be an evil.
6. Adjectives as nouns: with added meaning from constant association:--
Africus [ventus], the southwest wind;
Ianuarius [mensis], January;
vitulina [caro], veal (calf's flesh);
fera [bestia], a wild beast;
patria [terra], the fatherland;
Gallia [terra], Gaul (the land of the Galli);
hiberna [castra], winter quarters;
triremis [navis], a three-banked galley, trireme;
argentarius [faber], a silversmith;
regia [domus], the palace;