Syntax.
144 Ablative
of Comparison.
217. I. The Ablative is often used with Comparatives in the sense of than as,J•
melle dulcior, sweeter than honey; patria mihi vita carfor est, my country is dearer to me than life. 2. This construction, as a rule, occurs only as a substitute for quam (than) with the Nominative or Accusative. In other cases quam must be used; as,-
tui studiosior sum quam illius, I am fonder of you than of him. Studiosior i110would have meant, .I am fonder of you tha« he is. 3. PHis, minus, amplius, longius are often employed as the equivalents of plus quam, minus quam, etc. Thus:ampUus viginti urbas incenduntur, more than twmty dties are fired; minus quinque mflta processit, he advanced less than five miles. 4- Note the use of oplntone with Comparatives; as,opinione celerius venit, he comes more quickly than expected (lit. than opinion.).
INSTRUMENTAL
USES
Ablative
OF THE
ABLATIVE.
of Means.
218. The Ablative is used to denote means or instruas,-
ment/
Alexander sagitU. vulnerAtus arrow.
est, Alexander
was wounded by an
There are the following special varieties of this Ablative: I. tYtor, fruor, fungor, potior, vescor, and their compounds take the Ablative j as",-
--
iltitur, he uses his wealth (lit. he benefits htlnself by his wealth) ; vita fruitur, he ttl/oys life (lit. he enjoys himself by life); manere fungor, Iperform my duty (lit. I busy myseifwith duty); carne vescuntur, they eat flesh (lit. feed themselves by means of) ; urbe potitus est, he got possession of the dty (lit. made himself powerful by the city). divitiIs
4.
Potior sometimes governs the Genitive. See § IUa, a.