AP Latin Quiz: Define Latin Words And Phrases

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Define Latin Words And Phrases, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for AP Latin.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

Question 1

1. deciding
2. being certain
3. surrounding
4. striving (correct answer)

Explanation: The correct answer is 'striving.' Certans is the present active participle of certo, certare, which means 'to contend, strive, compete.' 'Deciding' (A) would be cernens. 'Being certain' (B) is a common error based on the adjective certus, -a, -um (certain). 'Surrounding' (C) would be cingens.

Question 2

1. Built
2. Corrected
3. Chosen
4. Roused (correct answer)

Explanation: The correct answer is 'Roused.' The phrase animis...erectis is an ablative absolute. While erigo can mean 'to build' or 'raise up' physically, in the context of animis (spirits, minds), it has the figurative meaning of 'to stir up' or 'rouse.' 'Built' (A) is too literal. 'Corrected' (B) would be correctis (from corrigo). 'Chosen' (C) would be electis (from eligo), which is a common confusion.

Question 3

1. to avoid
2. to dig
3. to fear
4. to keep warm (correct answer)

Explanation: The correct answer is 'to keep warm.' Foveo, fovere means 'to keep warm, cherish, support.' In the context of a small fire (igniculum), 'to keep warm' is the most appropriate translation. 'To avoid' (A) would be vitare or fugere. 'To dig' (B) would be fodere. 'To fear' (C) would be timere or metuere.

Question 4

1. a shout
2. a class
3. a disaster (correct answer)
4. a key

Explanation: The correct answer is 'a disaster.' Clades, cladis, f. means 'destruction, disaster, defeat.' The context of pavor (panic) and the adjectives subita et gravis (sudden and serious) supports this meaning. 'A shout' (A) is clamor. 'A class' (B) is classis. 'A key' (C) is clavis. These distractors are based on similar-sounding Latin words.

Question 5

1. he had been made
2. fate had been
3. he had spoken (correct answer)
4. he was tired

Explanation: The correct answer is 'he had spoken.' Fatus erat is the pluperfect indicative of the deponent verb for, fari, fatus sum, which means 'to speak.' Deponent verbs have passive forms but active meanings. 'He had been made' (A) is the pluperfect passive of facio (factus erat) and a common confusion. 'Fate had been' (B) incorrectly connects the verb to the noun fatum. 'He was tired' (D) would be fessus erat.

Question 6

1. mouth (correct answer)
2. bone
3. gold
4. shore

Explanation: This question tests your ability to recognize Latin noun forms and their meanings in context. When you encounter vocabulary questions on the AP Latin exam, always consider both the grammatical form and the semantic context to determine the best translation. The word ore is the ablative singular form of os, oris (n.), meaning "mouth" or "face." In this passage, the phrase "cantat in ore sinus" creates a poetic image where Rome is said to sing "our heart in [her] mouth" - essentially meaning that Rome speaks from the heart about the poet's works. The ablative case here indicates location ("in the mouth"), which is a standard use of the ablative of place where. Looking at the wrong answers: (B) "bone" would be from os, ossis (n.), a completely different noun that happens to have the same nominative singular form but different declension patterns. (C) "gold" (aurum) and (D) "shore" (litus or ripa) have no morphological connection to ore and don't fit the context of the passage, which focuses on speaking, singing, and praising. The key contextual clue is the verb cantat ("sings"), which naturally pairs with mouth-related imagery. The parallelism between the first and second lines also supports this interpretation, as both describe Rome's vocal appreciation of the poet's work. Remember that Latin often has homonyms with different declensions (os/oris vs. os/ossis). Always check the context and consider which meaning creates coherent sense with the surrounding words and grammatical structures.

Question 7

1. you imitate (correct answer)
2. you are loved
3. you are eager
4. you are imitated

Explanation: This question tests your ability to recognize Latin deponent verbs and their active meanings despite their passive forms. The key to understanding aemularis lies in recognizing that aemulor, aemulari is a deponent verb. Deponent verbs have passive forms but active meanings. Here, aemularis is the second person singular present indicative of aemulor, meaning "to imitate" or "to emulate." The context supports this: the speaker mentions having an uncle of remarkable industry "whom you truly imitate" - a logical statement praising someone for following a good example. Looking at the incorrect options: B) "you are loved" would come from a verb like amor or diligior, not aemulor. C) "you are eager" might come from studeo or similar verbs expressing desire, but aemulor specifically means to copy or rival someone's behavior. D) "you are imitated" treats aemularis as a true passive form, but deponent verbs don't work this way - they maintain active meaning even in passive form. The correct answer is A) "you imitate" because aemularis is the active-meaning deponent form expressing the action of imitating the worthy uncle. When you encounter unfamiliar verb forms on the AP Latin exam, always consider whether you're dealing with a deponent verb. These verbs are common in Latin literature and frequently tested. Remember: deponent = passive form, active meaning. Learning the most common deponents (sequor, loquor, morior, nascor, aemulor) will serve you well.

Question 8

1. lives
2. vines
3. faults (correct answer)
4. men

Explanation: The correct answer is 'faults.' Vitium, -i, n. means 'fault, vice, crime.' The verb sanare (to heal) confirms that vitia refers to negative qualities that need correcting. 'Lives' (A) is vitae, which appears earlier in the sentence, making this a potent distractor based on similarity. 'Vines' (B) is vites. 'Men' (D) is viros.

Question 9

1. with what work
2. how greatly (correct answer)
3. how many works
4. because of the work

Explanation: The correct answer is 'how greatly.' The phrase quanto opere (often written as one word, quantopere) is an idiom meaning 'how greatly' or 'how much.' It introduces an indirect question here. 'With what work' (A) is a literal translation that misses the idiomatic sense. 'How many works' (C) would use quot opera. 'Because of the work' (D) would be propter opus.

Question 10

1. prepare for
2. forgive
3. be sparing of (correct answer)
4. appear to

Explanation: The correct answer is 'be sparing of.' Parce is the imperative of parco, parcere, which takes a dative object. While it can mean 'to forgive,' its primary meaning is 'to spare, be sparing of, use sparingly.' In the context of the futuro (the future), it advises not to squander or rely on it, making 'be sparing of' the most accurate translation. 'Forgive' (B) is a possible meaning but less likely in this philosophical context. 'Prepare for' (A) is para. 'Appear to' (D) is pare.

Question 11

1. to read
2. to soothe (correct answer)
3. to leave
4. to be slow

Explanation: The correct answer is 'to soothe.' Lenire is the present active infinitive of lenio, -ire, which means 'to soften, soothe, calm.' Aeneas wants to soothe the grieving person (dolentem). 'To read' (A) is legere. 'To leave' (C) is linquere or relinquere. 'To be slow' (D) would be lentum esse, related to the adjective lentus, not lenis (gentle).

Question 12

1. is under
2. perishes
3. approaches (correct answer)
4. is thrown

Explanation: The correct answer is 'approaches.' The verb subeo, subire is a compound of sub (under) and eo (go). While its literal meaning is 'to go under,' it idiomatically means 'to come up, approach, undergo, or occur to someone.' Here, it means that a rumor (fama) approaches or arises. 'Is under' (A) reflects a misunderstanding of how the prefix functions in the compound verb. 'Perishes' (B) would be perit. 'Is thrown' (D) would be iacitur.

Question 13

1. choices
2. sorrows
3. tricks
4. darling (correct answer)

Explanation: The correct answer is 'darling.' Deliciae, -arum, f. pl. means 'delight, pleasure, darling, pet.' Here, it refers to the sparrow, the girl's beloved pet. 'Choices' (A) would be dilectus or a similar word. 'Sorrows' (B) would be dolores. 'Tricks' (C) would be doli.

Question 14

1. whether (correct answer)
2. each
3. that
4. which of two

Explanation: This question tests your knowledge of indirect questions in Latin, specifically the conjunction utrum that introduces alternative indirect questions. When you see utrum followed by an (whether...or), you're looking at a classic Latin construction for expressing doubt or uncertainty about alternatives. In this sentence, the citizens affected by fear didn't know whether they should stay or flee. The verb nesciebant (they didn't know) signals an indirect question, and utrum...an presents the two possibilities they were uncertain about. Answer A (whether) is correct because utrum introduces the first part of an indirect double question, creating the meaning "whether...or." This fits perfectly with the context of citizens uncertain about their course of action. Answer B (each) confuses utrum with uterque, which means "each of two" or "both." While both words relate to pairs, utrum is a conjunction, not a pronoun meaning "each." Answer C (that) mistakes utrum for ut or quod, which introduce other types of subordinate clauses. The word that doesn't capture the alternative nature of what the citizens were considering. Answer D (which of two) confuses utrum with uter, the interrogative pronoun meaning "which of two." Though related etymologically, utrum functions as a conjunction in indirect questions, not as a pronoun. Remember: utrum + an = "whether...or" in indirect questions. This construction appears frequently in Latin prose, so recognizing it will serve you well throughout the exam.

Question 15

1. to this place
2. in addition
3. therefore
4. to such a degree (correct answer)

Explanation: The correct answer is 'to such a degree.' The adverb adeo means 'so, so much, to such a degree.' It often introduces a result clause, as it does here (ut non...possit). 'To this place' (A) is a common error, confusing the adverb with the verb adire (to go to). 'In addition' (B) would be praeterea or ad hoc. 'Therefore' (C) would be itaque or ideo.

Question 16

1. with a request
2. on foot
3. by an attack (correct answer)
4. without piety

Explanation: The correct answer is 'by an attack.' Impetu is the ablative singular of impetus, -us, m., meaning 'attack, charge, force.' The phrase impetu facto is an ablative absolute meaning 'with an attack having been made.' 'With a request' (A) is a confusion with the verb impetro (to obtain by request). 'On foot' (B) would be pede. 'Without piety' (D) would be sine pietate.

Question 17

1. crops (correct answer)
2. boundaries
3. rivers
4. enjoyments

Explanation: When encountering vocabulary questions on the AP Latin exam, context clues from surrounding words often help you determine meaning, even when you might not immediately recognize the term in question. Looking at this passage, fruges appears in the phrase "fruges lustrabat, quas terra ferebat non coacta" — he was purifying/surveying fruges which the earth bore without being forced. The key context clue is "quas terra ferebat" (which the earth bore/produced). This strongly suggests something that grows from or is produced by the earth. Additionally, fruges is the direct object of lustrabat (was purifying), indicating something that would logically be purified in an agricultural or religious context. Choice (A) crops fits perfectly with this context. Fruges (from the same root as English "fruit") refers to agricultural produce, grains, or crops — exactly what the earth would naturally bear or produce. Choice (B) boundaries doesn't make sense with "terra ferebat" since the earth doesn't "bear" or "produce" boundaries in this context. Choice (C) rivers is similarly illogical — while rivers flow through earth, the verb fero here suggests producing or yielding, not containing. Choice (D) enjoyments has no connection to what the earth would bear or produce, and doesn't fit the agricultural imagery. For AP Latin vocabulary questions, always look for context clues in surrounding words, especially verbs and descriptive phrases. The relationship between words in a sentence often reveals meaning more clearly than memorized definitions alone.

Question 18

1. as an example
2. from the temple
3. immediately (correct answer)
4. for a long time

Explanation: The correct answer is 'immediately.' Extemplo is a common epic adverb meaning 'immediately, at once, forthwith.' 'As an example' (A) would be exemplo. 'From the temple' (B) is a false etymological translation based on ex + templo; while this is the origin of the word, it does not represent its meaning. 'For a long time' (D) is the opposite, and would be diu.

Question 19

1. worshipped
2. overgrown
3. hidden
4. refined (correct answer)

Explanation: The correct answer is 'refined.' The adjective cultus, -a, -um (from colo, colere) has a range of meanings. When applied to land, it means 'cultivated,' but when applied to a person or, as here, a literary style (ingenii), it means 'polished, refined, elegant.' Pliny is saying the talent is too refined. 'Worshipped' (A) is another meaning of colo, but it does not fit the context. 'Overgrown' (B) is an incorrect interpretation of 'cultivated'. 'Hidden' (C) would be occulti.

Question 20

1. arrival
2. pardon (correct answer)
3. poison
4. a hunt

Explanation: The correct answer is 'pardon.' Veniam is the accusative singular of venia, -ae, f., which means 'pardon, favor, forgiveness.' The envoy was sent to seek a pardon for a friend. 'Arrival' (A) would be adventum or ventum (from venio). 'Poison' (C) is venenum. 'A hunt' (D) is venatio. The distractors are based on similar-looking Latin words.