Diamond Enthusiast

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This is some deep proverbial saying or motto, no doubt, worthy of deep analysis. I'm taking 'wet' = 'sodden, damp' (' madidus') not 'irresolute'('dubius') and 'at night' = 'by night'('noctu')and 'not' as = 'never' ( 'nunquam')So,but very prosaically, "Aves madidae noctu nunquam volant" (literally 'wet birds are never flying by night' ). BUT there's a much more pleasing version,which even sounds like a genuine motto or proverb(!?) : "AVES MADIDAE HAUD NOCTUABUNDAE'. 'Haud' means 'not' but often emphatically or in the sense 'not at all, never' as in the legal maxim 'ignorantia iuris haud excusat' for 'ignorance of the law is no excuse ' i.e. not ever. 'Noctuabundae', amazingly, actually exists and means 'travelling by night'( the writer Cicero used it of night-mail) which of birds = flying by night.[ Now , there's a Latin motto, worthy of a regimental badge, perhaps or some ancient family!(LOL)]It has something of the air of a c17 family motto, for WET BIRDS DO NOT FLY AT NIGHT ( wet birds are NOT night-travelling).
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| Posts: 8678 | Location: Newmarket, UK/ Antibes, S.France | Registered: 07-14-02 |    |
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