Latin Motto to English (3 words off an old coat -of-arms)

[Clare]

"Ace quod agis"

[kokoyaya]

Hello?
Please?
Thanks?

[Guest]

Ace = be sour
quod = which/because
agis = (he) drives/does

don't know how these fit together...

[Sisyphe]

Ace = be sour
quod = which/because
agis = (he) drives/does

don't know how these fit together...

There's a few mistakes here. But I'm waiting for some politness expressions on behalf of our requesting guest, before I give more explanations. That's the rules.

[Clare]

Hello?
Please?
Thanks?

Thank you for trying, but I do not find this very helpful.

[Clare]

Ace = be sour
quod = which/because
agis = (he) drives/does

don't know how these fit together...

Thank you for your definitions of the three separate words of the motto. They roughly agree with some that I have already gleaned from a Latin dictionary.

[kokoyaya]

Thank you for trying, but I do not find this very helpful.

No but that's pretty rough not to use those words

[Clare]

Ace = be sour
quod = which/because
agis = (he) drives/does

don't know how these fit together...

There's a few mistakes here. But I'm waiting for some politness expressions on behalf of our requesting guest, before I give more explanations. That's the rules.

Clare to Sisyphe: I do not understand what you meant (above). I would be most grateful if you would translate "Ace quod agis" for me. Although I studied Latin in my youth this motto defeats me! I think it might mean something like: "Be brave (or Be keen) he that drives (or doeth)"

[Sisyphe]

Clare to Sisyphe: I do not understand what you meant (above). I would be most grateful if you would translate "Ace quod agis" for me. Although I studied Latin in my youth this motto defeats me! I think it might mean something like: "Be brave (or Be keen) he that drives (or doeth)"

Kokoyaya and I were just exspecting for some "hello" or "please" in your own request. That is what we still exquire from our guests and members (use conditions of the Lokanova forums are here).

But you did it in your last message. So there is no more problem.
( and "sorry" for "sorry", you should apologize my pityful english).

*

First "agis" is not "he drives" but "you drive" (or more explicitly : thou drive).
Then, your sentence must be eroneous. The verb "aceo" does exist, yes, but it rarely occurs. It means "be sour" (but speaking about someting concrete : wine, apple, etc.), or figuratively (and very seldom) "be disagreeable". So "be diseagreable, since thou do/thou drive" is grammaticaly OK, but it is a non-sense.

Actually, I think (I am quite sure even) that it is not ACE QUOD AGIS but AGE QUOD AGIS (G/C are very similar, aren't they ?). "Age quod agis" is a quite idiomatic expression, and means "do what you do", which almost signifies "do what you have to do". You find it in many coats. In french heraldry you find "fais ce que dois" or "fait ce que doit" too.

( I enjoy heraldry).

[chabing]

First "agis" is not "he drives" but "you drive" (or more explicitly : thou drive).

I thought it was "thou drivest"?

[Sisyphe]

First "agis" is not "he drives" but "you drive" (or more explicitly : thou drive).

I thought it was "thou drivest"?

Possibly, Chabing. I speak hardly modern english, therefore don't me ask for avoiding mistakes in middle-english ! (Old english is quite easier : it looks like german ! I can read them, but under no circumstances speak them).

[chabing]

I am 99% sure that it is "thou drivest" ...

EPIMETHEUS.
O my brother!
Thou drivest me to madness with thy taunts.

[Clare]

Clare to Sisyphe: I do not understand what you meant (above). I would be most grateful if you would translate "Ace quod agis" for me. Although I studied Latin in my youth this motto defeats me! I think it might mean something like: "Be brave (or Be keen) he that drives (or doeth)"

Kokoyaya and I were just exspecting for some "hello" or "please" in your own request. That is what we still exquire from our guests and members (use conditions of the Lokanova forums are here).

But you did it in your last message. So there is no more problem.
( and "sorry" for "sorry", you should apologize my pityful english).

*

First "agis" is not "he drives" but "you drive" (or more explicitly : thou drive).
Then, your sentence must be eroneous. The verb "aceo" does exist, yes, but it rarely occurs. It means "be sour" (but speaking about someting concrete : wine, apple, etc.), or figuratively (and very seldom) "be disagreeable". So "be diseagreable, since thou do/thou drive" is grammaticaly OK, but it is a non-sense.

Actually, I think (I am quite sure even) that it is not ACE QUOD AGIS but AGE QUOD AGIS (G/C are very similar, aren't they ?). "Age quod agis" is a quite idiomatic expression, and means "do what you do", which almost signifies "do what you have to do". You find it in many coats. In french heraldry you find "fais ce que dois" or "fait ce que doit" too.

( I enjoy heraldry).

Clare to Sisyphe: Thanks a lot. I am sure that you are right. The motto is engraved on an old silver goblet with a heraldic horse-like creature above it. I just inspected it closely with a magnifying glass and what appears to be a C in the first word could well be a G with the short horizontal line worn away! You are brilliant, and thank you so much for your help.

My thanks also to everyone else who "had a go" at making sense of the motto.