e.g.
So, I was pondering “e.g.” today. I know, of course, that the translation of this Latin abbreviation is ‘for example’ but I was wondering if ‘e’ is for ‘exempli’ what is the ‘g’ for?
Guess.
Just guess.
Yeah. It’s GRATIA. Seriously.
So then I had to look at ‘gratia’ again. Google translator tells me it means ‘of.’ My mind is beginning to boggle. So here is what Google says the Latin word ‘gratia’ is all about. It’s absolutely ubiquitous! It’s a very all-purpose, wonderful word. It’s a noun with 25 interpretations. It’s a conjunction . It’s 3 prepostions. ( “of” is a preposition. Notice that it’s not on the list).
Exempli, on the other hand, is very specific. One meaning. Just ‘example.’
Now.
Go through the list below of interpretations of ‘gratia’ and put ‘example of’ in front of each one. Suddenly those two little letters become rather profound.
Words are fascinating.
| noun | |
| GRACE | GRATIA, LEPOS, LEPOR, VENUS, VENUSTAS, DECOR |
| FAVOR | |
| PLEASINGNESS | GRATIA, LEPOR, LEPOS, LIBITA |
| PLEASANTNESS | AMOENITAS, JUCUNDITAS, IUCUNDITAS, GRATIA, DULCITUDO, DULCEDO |
| FAVOUR | |
| CHARM | DELICIAE, GRATIA, VENUSTAS, VENUS, IUCUNDITAS, JUCUNDITAS |
| LIKING | GRATIA, APPROBATIO, FAVOR, LIBIDO, LUBIDO |
| GOODWILL | GRATIA, ADFECTIO, AFFECTIO, AFFECTUS, AEQUANIMITAS, ADFECTUS |
| ESTEEM | HONOR, HONOS, CARITAS, DIGNATIO, DIGNITAS, GRATIA |
| GRATITUDE | GRATIA, GRATUS ANIMUS, GRATITUDO, PIETAS |
| LOVE | AMOR, COMPLEXUS, ARDOR, CONPLEXUS, FLAMMA, GRATIA |
| APPROVAL | APPROBATIO, COMPROBATIO, CONPROBATIO, PROBATIO, CONCORDIA, GRATIA |
| SUPPORT | SUBSIDIUM, CONATUM, AUXILIUM, SUPPETIAE, SUBPETIAE, GRATIA |
| POPULARITY | STUDIUM POPULI, FAVOR POPULI, GRATIA |
| THANK | GRATIA |
| SERVICE | OPERA, BENEFICIUM, SERVITIUM, ADMINISTRATIO, MINISTERIUM, GRATIA |
| THANKS | GRATES, GRATIA |
| REGARD | RESPECTUS, CURA, CARITAS, HONOR, HONOS, GRATIA |
| ACKNOWLEDGMENT | AGNITIO, GRATIA, CONFESSIO |
| EARNING GRATITUDE | GRATIA |
| FASCINATION | FASCINATIO, LEPOR, LEPOS, GRATIA, MEDICATUS |
| PARTIALITY | FAVOR, GRATIA, CUPIDITAS, INIQUITAS, STUDIUM |
| AFFECTION | AFFECTUS, CONATUM, AFFECTIO, ADFECTIO, GRATIA, BENEVOLENTIA |
| FRIENDSHIP | AMICITIA, AMICITIES, SODALITAS, NECESSITAS, NECESSITUDO, GRATIA |
| AUTHORITY | AUCTORITAS, POTESTAS, POTENTIA, LICENTIA, IUS, GRATIA |
| preposition | |
| TO | IN, USQUE AD, USQUE, GRATIA, INDU, ERGA |
| IN FAVOR OF | GRATIA, PRO, PROD |
| FOR THE SAKE OF | OB, CAUSA, GRATIA, ERGO, PER |
| conjunction | |
| IN ORDER TO | GRATIA |
Shawn L. Bird 
Gratia gratiam parit November 9, 2010
Tags: Grace Awakening, gratia, latin proverbs
I discovered a fascinating Latin Proverbs blog today:
http://audiolatinproverbs.blogspot.com
The proverb that drew me to the site was Gratia gratiam parit. It is a rather profound proverb, because gratia has so many diverse meanings. Consider that favour, esteem, regard, liking, love, friendship,agreeableness, pleasantness, charm, beauty, grace, loveliness, courtesy, service, blessing, obligation, gratitude return, requital and acknowledgment are all components of gratia.
In this proverb grace is both the subject (gratia) and the object (gratiam). Parit is the verb which means birth. Think of it as creating, making, causing something to be.
I’m no Latin scholar, but the brilliance seems pretty clear. Look at this list of definitions. Now mix and match:
Favour
Esteem
Regard
Liking
Love
friendship
agreeableness
pleasantness
charm
beauty
grace
loveliness
courtesy
service
obligation
blessing
gratitude
giving back
requital
acknowledgment
Esteem
Regard
Liking
Love
friendship
agreeableness
pleasantness
charm
beauty
grace
loveliness
courtesy
service
obligation
blessing
gratitude
giving back
requital
acknowledgment
It’s kind of profound, isn’t it? What you put out, is what you get back, in all sorts of permutations. Think of what it means in the context of the theme of Grace Awakening. Grace herself is awakening to her birthright, Grace is creating Grace (and the 3 Graces create Grace, as well). Fascinating stuff.
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