Glossary entry

Latin term or phrase:

percto

English translation:

completed

Added to glossary by Lota
Jun 13, 2013 20:41
10 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Latin term

percto

Latin to English Art/Literary Education / Pedagogy
from a university diploma in Spain.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +1 completed

Discussion

Lota (asker) Jun 13, 2013:
I am not sure. This is a printed diploma form. It could be peracto but it is printed "percto", no doubt about it. Thanks.
Sandra Mouton Jun 13, 2013:
@Lota Could it be a typo for "peracto"?
Lota (asker) Jun 13, 2013:
Prestituto percto et omnibus praescritis experimentis superatis publicis...
The text before "Prestituto" is "studiorum curriculum (I think it should be "curriculo") ad licentiam. Thanks!
Sandra Mouton Jun 13, 2013:
@Lota In order to help you we need more context!

Proposed translations

+1
2 hrs
Selected

completed

The text should probably read "studiorum curricul[o] ad licentiam pr[a]estituto per[fe]cto et omnibus praescri[p]tis experimentis superatis publicis".

‘Percto’ is almost certainly an error for ‘perfecto’. Likewise, ‘curriculum’ does seem to be an error for ‘curriculo’, especially seeing that in diplomas an ablative absolute very commonly does duty for a causal clause. Thus, if one emends ‘curriculum’ to ‘curriculo’, as Lota suggests—and I think rightly--the normal and usual meaning will be “since he/she has completed the pre-ordained course of studies for his/her license and has passed all the prescribed public examinations”. Such an ablative absolute may also be rendered in English by a nominative absolute, wherein the Latin perfect passive participle becomes equivalent in force to an active English participle. In this instance one might translate “having completed the pre-ordained course of studies for his/her license and having passed all the prescribed public examinations.” The most literal rendering would be “with the pre-ordained course of studies for his/her license completed and all the prescribed public examinations having been passed.”

For an ablative absolute substituting for a subordinate causal clause, cf. Allen & Greenough, New Latin Grammar, § 420.2, Bennett, Latin Grammar, § 227.2.d, Gildersleeve & Lodge, Latin Grammar, § 410 and Rem. 2.
Peer comment(s):

agree Veronika McLaren : excellent explanation
1 hr
Thank you, Veronica. Sandra's 'peracto' for 'percto' is also quite possible, both 'perficere' and 'peragere' frequently occurring in such a context with the same meaning.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you for this excellent explanation, Joseph!"
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