Latina Vulgata: Latin Words no. 3

admiror/admirari/admiratum - I wonder/marvel at.


This is a verb of the 1st conjugation. It is a deponent verb; it is active in meaning, but passive in its inflection. It is a transitive verb, so can take a direct object in the accusative case. It appears more common, though, for it to be used intransitively - simply "they wondered" - or for a preposition to follow it. Using a preposition instead of a direct object is a common tendency in Ecclesiastical Latin.


It is a compound of the preposition ad with the verb miror. Miror also means to wonder, and in its usage seems not to differ from admiror, though it is far less common.


According to Lewis and Short, in classical Latin admirari means "to be in a state of mind in which something pleases us by its extraordinary greatness, its sublimity, or perfection; while mirari signifies to be surprised at, to have the feeling of the new, singular, unusual."


The English word 'admire' etc. is related.


Et facto sabbato coepit in synagoga docere et multi audientes admirabantur in doctrina eius.
And when the Sabbath was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were in admiration at his doctrine.
St Mark 6:2 - imperfect tense, 'they were admiring'. Here it is followed by a preposition in + ablative.


Videntes autem Petri constantiam et Iohannis comperto quod homines essent sine litteris et idiotae admirabantur et cognoscebant eos quoniam cum Iesu fuerant.
Now seeing the constancy of Peter and of John, understanding that they were illiterate and ignorant men, they wondered: and they knew them that they had been with Jesus.
Acts 4:13 - again imperfect tense.


Et erat eiciens daemonium et illud erat mutum et cum eiecisset daemonium locutus est mutus et admiratae sunt turbae.
And he was casting out a devil: and the same was dumb. And when he had cast out the devil, the dumb spoke: and the multitudes, were in admiration at it.
St Luke 11:14 - perfect tense. 'They marvelled.'


Et unum de capitibus suis quasi occisum in mortem et plaga mortis eius curata est et admirata est universa terra post bestiam.
And I saw one of his heads as it were slain to death: and his death's wound was healed. And all the earth was in admiration after the beast.
Apocalypse 13:3 - perfect tense. Here is is followed by the preposition post + accusative.


Moses autem videns admiratus est visum et accedente illo ut consideraret facta est vox Domini.
And Moses seeing it wondered at the sight. And as he drew near to view it, the voice of the Lord came unto him.
Acts 7:31 - perfect tense. Here the verb is used transitively, with visum as its direct object.


Here is an example of the use of miror:


Miror quod sic tam cito transferimini ab eo qui vos vocavit in gratiam Christi in aliud evangelium.
I wonder that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ, unto another gospel.
Galatians 1:6 - present tense. Clearly there is an element of surprise here, rather than wonder or marvel at something great. This agrees with the distinction made by Lewis and Short.