A Little Latin Lesson: "Lustrum"

[Coal Creek Griff]

Many of us have enjoyed using the archaic word "lustrum" on this forum.  As most of you know, a lustrum is a period of five years and it dates back to the 5-year census in ancient Rome.  It may have gained popularity here from its use in the John Wayne movie Rooster Cogburn.

I don't know much Latin, but "lustrum" is a singular neuter word.  When a word with the "um" ending is made plural, it should end with an "a", so more than one lustrum is "lustra", not "lustrums" (although through popular misuse it has become somewhat acceptable).  I try not be too pedantic, but I find myself wanting to correct it when I see "lustrums".  I want to say... OK, I often say out loud, "lustra"!  On the other hand, some years ago when the agency where I worked chose the Ford Taurus as a part of their fleet of vehicles, I kept referring to them collectively as "tauri", so I recognize that I'm a little strange. 

Griff

[Froogal]

And I only figured out a few days ago just what "Luddite" referred to and now I have to become familiar with "lustrum"?

[Abilene]

Griff, I totally agree.  Whenever I see someone say "several lustrum ago" (especially Coffinmaker    ) I think to myself, it's Lustra!  But I see that Merriam-Webster has caved and now both lustrums and lustra are acceptable. 

[Reverend P. Babcock Chase]

Howdy Coal Creek,

I don't no nothin about no latin and far be it from me to question your erudition. However, "lustra" sounds like a furniture wax from the 50's

Rev. Chase

[Coal Creek Griff]

Howdy Coal Creek,

I don't no nothin about no latin and far be it from me to question your erudition. However, "lustra" sounds like a furniture wax from the 50's

Rev. Chase

Ha! You're right!

[Hair Trigger Jim]

Now I need to find an occasion to say "Tauri"!

[Coal Creek Griff]

Another one that bugs me (when it shouldn't) is "alumni", which is plural. You can be a member of an alumni association, but you can't be an alumni of a school -- you're either an "alumnus" (if you're a man) or an "alumna" (if you're a woman). If it's a group of all women, the word is "alumnae".  "Alumni" refers to a group of all men or a mixture of men and women.  I'm all the time hearing things like, "I'm an alumni of this university" and I can sometimes be heard mumbling under my breath, "Maybe you should go back and take another class."

Griff

[Professor Marvel]

Carthaginem esse delendam
Vini vidi vici
Alea iacta est
Auribus teneo lupum
Acta non verba
Deus ex machina

CAESAR NON SUPRA GRAMMATICOS

Vulnerant omnes, ultima necat

Audaces fortuna juvat

Dum spiro, spero

Fortis fortuna adiuvat

Ave, Imperator, morituri te salutant

Panem et circenses

Carpe diem
Carpe noctem
Amor vincit omnia
Cogito ergo sum
In vino veritas

Caeruleum calamum est in mensa

And finally
Non carborundum illigitimi

[Coal Creek Griff]

"C'mon. Boys. We don't want any trouble in here. Not in any language."  Fred White

[River City John]

Cogito ergo sum

[Coal Creek Griff]

Cogito ergo sum

So if I don't think, do I cease to exist?

[Hair Trigger Jim]

To be, or not to be: that is the question.

[Professor Marvel]

To be, or not to be: that is the question.

To do is to be

[River City John]

"Dooby-dooby-do!" - F. Sinatra

[Abilene]

Forty Two
XLII
101010

[Froogal]

Do you guys stay up all night thinking of such things?

[Major 2]

always my favorite.... Semper Fidelis

[Johnny McCrae]

My mother had a saying "Keep to the right and you will never get left behind"

[Cap'n Redneck]

Latin: it's all greek to me...

+ I like to quote Rowan Atkinson's character "Blackadder": "No speako dego!" 

(Ah hain't jest pertendin' ter be a redneck, y'all.) 

[Coffinmaker]

Ha!! and Ha!!

I admit to being a user of "Lustrum" in describing certain periods of elapsed time.  I also admit to being almost totally ignorant of Latin (the DEAD language).

I can, of course, thoroughly appreciate C C Griff's marvelous lesson of latin, but must admit I DON'T CARE (So take that Abilene).  I like describing a longer period as "Several Lustrum" as opposed to "Lustra" which sounds like adding a sheen to a table top, or some such.  Besides, my spell checker doesn't recognize Lustra as a correct spelling, although my biggest bugga boo "irregardless" is also now included in Funk & Wagnalls as being a wurd.

I do however, take great exception to The Good Perffesser Marvelous including a whole bunch of latin stuff, of which I have no clue and thus, unable to respond.  Oh Sure, when as a child singing in the choir, I use to sing in latin, but had no clue what the music actually meant.  At this point, I don't really care as I am still in recovery.

Fortunately, I don't qualify as an Alumnus.  Unless being an Old Retired Fart (Ex Mil.) qualifies, but then perhaps I would be labeled as Alumni??  But, does it really matter at all??  In the long view, I still do appreciate learning Lustra is more appropriate although I will resist the temptation to be "correct" and remain obstinate in my imperfect use of LUSTRUM!!  So There!!  Take That!!