Latin to English translation
March 24, 2015 8:46 AM   Subscribe

Please translate into Latin: "surprised or confused."

The results I got from google-- admiratio aut confusa -- don't seem to shake out when I have them translated back into English. I know this is to be expected, but I don't even know enough about Latin to tell whether it's still giving me adjectives. (Parts of speech when translated back to English are switching to verbs and nouns, so it's a quagmire) Thanks
posted by cake vandal to Writing & Language (4 answers total)
 
I assume those are being used as adjectives, so I believe we'll need to know which nouns or other part of speech they're modifying in order to give something accurate.
posted by resurrexit at 10:03 AM on March 24, 2015 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Hmm. It would be as general as possible-- the adjectives listed as "virtues" in a humorous context, on an emblem for a fictitious organization. Is there a standard way of approaching that?
posted by cake vandal at 12:45 PM on March 24, 2015


Response by poster: Put another way-- what would it be if these adjectives were meant to describe "all of mankind" ? That would work.
posted by cake vandal at 12:48 PM on March 24, 2015


Best answer: oprebutus aut confusi

which should translate to "surprised [people] or confused [people]"

These participles are the perfect passive voice, so "having been confused" and for surprised: "having been approached unawares"
posted by LizBoBiz at 9:02 PM on March 24, 2015


« Older I would like to take a beach vacation.   |   What was this story about a scientist contacting... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.