Personal Qualities

I started working on the list that Davidson gives for its peer review page. My best advice is to look carefully at the letters we read this term. Some of the qualities valued on the peer review page don’t translate easily or well. They will be almost always better expressed by verbal phrasing than just a list of nouns and adjectives.

Character and Personality
The following ratings will be used to compare this student with other very capable students.  Please make them as realistic as you can in comparison with outstanding students applying to other leading institutions.

Leadership: I think this is getting at the respect accrued to someone because they seem to know what they are doing–not really just someone who pushes to the front to take charge, but someone whom others don’t mind taking charge. 

  • consilium capere posse Latinitium
  • gratia: favor one finds with others (a word that is important and has a lot of senses)

Self-confidence: “a feeling of trust in one’s abilities, qualities, and judgment”; syn:  morale, confidence, self-assurance, assurance, assertiveness, self-reliance, self-possession, composure.

  • to have c., fīdo, confīdo, fīsus sum, 3 intransitive
  • fiducia sui, self-confidence, boldness, courage PHI
  • bonum animum habere (courage)
  • praesenti animo uti –to possess presence of mind. 

Independence: not depending on another; capable of thinking and acting for oneself; 

  • legally: sui iuris esse; liber, libera, liberum 
  • personally:  suo consilio uti;  suo iudicio uti– to go one’s own way, proceed independently
  • suo more vivere (this seems not really a compliment)

Character and Integrity

  • note: integritas, integritatisdoes not mean “integrity” in our sense but rather wholeness “the undiminished or unimpaired condition of a thing.” I think integrity here means “honesty, respectablity” 
  • honestus, a,um : respectable 
  • opinionem virtutis habere – to have the reputation of virtue.
  • mores
  • poetic: integer vitae scelerisque purus (Horace)

Reaction to criticism: this has to be done with a verb phrase

  • how you take something: ferre + adverb

Concern for others

  • bene merens (merens, merentis) or bene meritus/ merita de + ablative of person 
  • benevolens, benevolentis 
  • consulere
  • cura; curare
  • humanitas; humanus, a, um
  • benignus

Respect accorded by classmates: this one is easy (but don’t use “habere”! use fruor, frui, fructum or utor, uti usum or something –both take ablative)

  • honor
  • dignitas
  • optima fides et fama
  • honestus, a,um: regarded with honor 
  • dignus, a, um (+ablative of respect)

Style Words

abicio -icere -ieci -iectum, to throw down or away. Transf., to pronounce carelessly, break off abruptly ; to get rid of, give up; to dash to the ground, weaken, dishearten. Hence partic. abiectus -a -um; of position low, common; of character cowardly, mean; of style, without force, prosaic. Adv. abiecte, without spirit, meanly.

adfecto -are, to strive after, grasp at, aim at, aspire to; polit. to try to win over; in literary style, to affect; partic. adfectatus -a -um, studied.

adipatus -a -um, fatty, greasy; n. pl. as subst., pastry. Transf., of style, bombastic.

adsurgo -surgere -surrexi -surrectum, to rise up, stand up; with dat., to rise in the presence of a person, as a sign of respect; of feelings, to rise, be aroused; of style, to become elevated; of material things, to rise up.

aequabilitas -atis, f. uniformity, equability; hence evenness in style, impartiality in law.

angustus -a -um, narrow, confined; ‘habenae’, tightly-drawn reins; ‘spiritus angustior’, constricted breath; of time, short; of supplies, short, scarce; of circumstances, precarious, critical; of mind or speech, narrow, petty, limited; of style, brief, simple. N. as subst. angustum -i, a narrow space. Adv. anguste, narrowly, sparingly, in a narrow, confined manner; of speech, briefly.

attenuo -are, to make thin, reduce, weaken. Hence partic. attenuatus, made weak; of style, abbreviated, overrefined, or unadorned; adv. attenuate, simply, without ornament.

brevis -e, short, in space or time; of water, shallow; of living things, conditions, etc., short-lived; of style, concise; n. abl. brevi, shortly, soon, briefly; n. pl. as subst. brevia -ium, shallows, shoals. Adv. breviter, shortly, briefly.

brevitas -atis, f. shortness, in space or time; of style, brevity, conciseness.

caesim, with cutting; fig. of style, in short sentences.

calamister -tri, m. and calamistrum -tri, n. a curling-iron for the hair. Transf., excessive ornament or flourish in style.

circumcido -cidere -cidi -cisum, to cut round, to cut, trim. Transf., to make less by cutting, diminish. Hence partic. circumcisus -a -um, of places,abrupt, steep,inaccessible; of style, abridged, brief.

compressio -onis, f. an embrace; compression of style, conciseness.

concinnitas -atis, f. elegance, harmony, esp. of style.

concinnitudo -inis, f. elegance, harmony, esp. of style.

concinno -are, to put together carefully, to arrange: hence to produce, cause.

concinnus -a -um, well put together; hence pleasing, elegant, neat, esp. of style. Adv. concinne, elegantly.

decoquo -coquere -coxi -coctum, to boil thoroughly; to boil down, boil away; of metals, to melt away; of property, to waste; commerc., to ruin oneself, become bankrupt. Hence partic. decoctus -a -um, boiled down; of style, insipid; f. as subst. a cold drink.

decoquo -coquere -coxi -coctum, to boil thoroughly; to boil down, boil away; of metals, to melt away; of property, to waste; commerc., to ruin oneself, become bankrupt. Hence partic. decoctus -a -um, boiled down; of style, insipid; f. as subst. a cold drink.

densus -a -um, thick, close, dense; in time, frequent; in degree, intense, vehement; in style, of work or author, condensed. Adv. dense, densely; of time, frequently.

dissolvo -solvere -solvi -solutum, to loosen, break up, undo, destroy; ‘glaciem’, to melt; ‘animam’, to die; ‘criminationem’, to refute; of debts, to pay, discharge; to release a person from difficulties, to unravel, explain a difficulty. Hence partic. dissolutus -a -um, loose; ‘navigium’, leaky; of  style, disconnected; of character, wanting in energy, lax; pro fligate, dissolute. Adv. dissolute, disconnectedly, loosely; care lessly, negligently, without energy.

exilis -e, thin, slender, meager; in possessions, poor; with genit., without; of style, dry, dreary. Adv. exiliter, thinly, poorly, meagerly.

exsicco -are, to dry thoroughly; to drain dry, to empty by drinking. Hence partic. exsiccatus -a -um, of style, dry, jejune.

frugalitas -atis, f. frugality, economy, honesty; of style, restraint.

gracilis -e, slender, thin, slim; of style, etc. simple, without ornament.

grandis -e, full-grown, big, great, large; in stature, tall; in years, old. Transf., great, important; of style, lofty, grand, sublime.

granditas -atis, f. of style, loftiness, sublimity.

gravis -e. (1) heavy; of sound, low, deep; fig. weighty, important; of character, dignified, serious; of style, elevated, dignified. (2) burdened, laden, weighed down; esp. pregnant. (3) burdensome, oppressive; grievous, painful, unpleasant. Adv. graviter, heavily, weightily, reluctantly,; grievously, painfully.

habitus (2) -us, m. condition, habit, bearing; of dress, style; of places, lie of the land; abstr., nature, character, disposition, attitude.

ieiunus -a -um, fasting, hungry, thirsty; of objects, poor, scanty; of spirit, poor, mean; of style, meager, weak. Adv. ieniune, of style, meagerly.

inflo -are, to blow into; to play on wind instruments; to give a blast; to blow out, puff out. Transf., to inspire; to puff up, elate. Hence partic. inflatus -a -um, inflated, swollen; puffed up, pompous; of style, turgid. Compar. adv. inflatius, too pompously, on a gran der scale.

integer -gra -grum. (1) complete, whole, entire, intact; fresh, sound, unexhausted; ‘in integrum restituere’, to restore to its former condition. (2) in quality, unspoilt, pure, fresh; morally, innocent, uncorrupted, pure; in thought or feeling, balanced, unbiased, impartial; of matters for discussion or action, unprejudiced, undecided; ‘integrum est mihi’, I am at liberty. (3) renewed, begun afresh. Hence adv. integre, wholly; honestly, uprightly, impartially; of style, purely, correctly

integritas -atis, f. unimpaired condition, soundness, health; uprightness, integrity; of style, purity, correctness.

laetus -a -um, fat, rich, fertile; glad, joyful, happy; of style, rich, copious, fluent. Adv. laete.

Latinitas -atis, f. pure Latin style; Latin rights.

latus (1) -a -um, broad, wide, extensive; of style, diffuse, full, rich. Hence adv. late, broadly, widely, extensively; ‘longe lateque’, far and wide.

lenocinium -i, n. the trade of a procurer; enticement, allurement; of dress, finery; of style, ‘purple patch’.

mitis -e, mild, soft, ripe; gentle; of style, mellow; compar. adv. mitius; superl. mitissime.

molestia -ae, f. annoyance, troublesomeness; of style, affectation, stiffness.

molestus -a -um, burdensome, troublesome, irksome; of style, affected, labored. Adv. moleste, with annoyance; ‘moleste fero’, I take it badly, am annoyed; of style, affectedly.

oratio -onis, f. speaking, speech; language, style; esp. a set speech; eloquence; prose; an imperial message.

orbis -is, m. a circle, ring, disk; orbit, coil; ‘orbis signifer’, the Zodiac; ‘orbis lacteus’, the Milky Way; ‘orbis terrae, terrarum’, the world. Transf. rotation, round; of style, roundness.

pedester -tris -tre, on foot, pedestrian; ‘copiae’, infantry; sometimes, on land. Transf., simple, ordinary, prosaic; of style, written in prose.

pigmentum -i, n. paint, pigment; of style, ornament, decoration.

plenus -a -um, full, full of (with genit. or abl.); complete; plump, thick; pregnant; filled, satisfied; well-stocked, rich; of age, mature; of the voice, strong, loud; of style, full, copious. Adv. plene, fully, completely.

praefringo -fringere -fregi -fractum, to break off in front; partic. praefractus -a -um, of style, abrupt, disconnected; of character, stern, harsh; adv. praefracte.

premo premere pressi pressum, to press; to step on, lie on; to hug, keep close to; to press hard, squeeze; to pursue closely, press upon; to press down, strike down; to disparage, slander; to press together, close; to check, curb. Hence partic. pressus -a -um, subdued, measured; of style, com pressed, concise. Adv. presse, accurately, precisely, distinctly; of style, briefly, concisely.

profluo -fluere -fluxi -fluctum, to flow forth; to proceed. Hence partic. profluens -entis, flowing; f. as subst. (sc. aqua), running water; of style, flowing, fluent. Adv. profluenter.

purus -a -um, clean, pure, cleared. Transf. without addition, simple, plain; morally, upright, pure; of style, pure, faultless; legally, without conditions, absolute. N. as subst. the clear sky. Adv. pure and poet. puriter, purely, cleanly; of style, faultlessly.

putidus -a -um, rotten, stinking, foul; of style, affected, in bad taste; adv. putide, affectedly.

resulto -are, to spring back, rebound; to echo, resound; of style, to go jerkily.

rotundus -a -um, round, circular; sometimes spherical; rounded, complete, self-contained. Adv. rotunde, of style, elegantly, smoothly.

salebra -ae, f. jolting; a rough patch of road; of style, ruggedness.

sanitas -atis, f. health, soundness; good sense, sanity; of style, correctness, purity.

sanus -a -um, sound, healthy, uninjured; of sound mind, rational, sane; of style, correct. Hence adv. sane, rationally, sensibly. Transf., really, indeed, to be sure; with imperatives, then, if you will; ‘sane quam’, exceedingly, extremely.

sapor -oris, m. taste, flavor, flavoring; sense of taste; taste in style or conduct.

sermo -onis, m. talk, conversation; discussion; common talk, report, rumor; a subject of conversation; a conversational style, or prose; any manner of speaking, style, expression, diction, language, dialect.

siccitas -atis, f. dryness, drought; sound health; of style, plainness, simplicity.

siccus -a -um, dry; thirsting, thirsty; of health, sound; sober, temperate; of style, plain, simple; adv. sicce.

solvo solvere solvi solutum, to loosen; to untie, release, free; to dissolve, break up; to exempt; to break up, weaken, bring to an end; to pay off, discharge a debt; ‘solvendo non esse’, to be insolvent; to meet engagements, perform duties; to break down a restraining influence; to solve a problem, explain a difficulty. Hence partic. solutus -a -um, loosened, unbound, free, unencumbered, independent; in bad sense, unrestrained, unbridled; lax, lazy, neg ligent; of style, fluent or in prose. Adv. solute, loosely, free ly, carelessly.

sonus -i, m. noise, sound; tone, character, style.

spinosus -a -um, of thorns, thorny, prickly; of style, crabbed, obscure; of feeling, anxious.

squalidus -a -um, rough, stiff, scaly; squalid, dirty; in mourning; of style, rough; adv. squalide.

squalor -oris, m. roughness, stiffness; dirt caused by neglect; mourning; of style, roughness.

stilus -i, m. a stake, pale; the pointed instrument with which the Romans wrote on wax tablets; hence writing, composition; mode of writing, style.

strigosus -a -um, lean, thin: of style, meager.

stringo stringere strinxi strictum. (1) to draw tight together, to bind, tie. (2) to strip off, pluck, prune; esp. to draw a weapon from its sheath. (3) to graze, touch lightly; to affect, injure; in speech, to touch upon. Hence partic. strictus -a -um, close, tight; strict; of style, brief, concise.

structura -ae, f. the act of building; concr. a building; of style, arrangement, putting together.

subtilis -e, finely woven, slender, fine; of senses, etc. plain, simple, unadorned. Hence partic. subtiliter, by fine links or passages; of judgment, with discrimination; of style, plainly, simply.

subtilitas -atis, f. fineness, minuteness; of judgment, discrimination; of style, plainness, simplicity.

texo texere texui textum, to weave; to twine together, plait; to put together, construct, build; of speech and writing, to compose. N. of partic. as subst. textum -i, woven cloth, a web; fabric; of composition, style.

tumeo -ere, to swell, be swollen, be puffed up; to swell with pride, anger or excitement; of style, to be pompous, tumid.

tumidus -a -um, adj. swollen, puffed up; swollen with pride, anger or excitement; of style, pompous, tumid, bombastic.

tumor -oris, m. swelling, protuberance; excitement of the mind, esp. in pride or anger; in gen. ferment, commotion; of style, turgidity, bombast.

turgeo turgere tursi, to swell up, be swollen; of style, to be pompous, turgid.

turgesco -ere, to begin to swell, swell up; to swell with passion; of style, to be pompous.

vesica -ae, f. the bladder; a purse, a lantern; of style, bombast.

penicillus -i, m. a painter’s brush or pencil; style.

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