[minstrel: Vivat the Dream]

[yarrowp at mscd.edu]

<<Vuong Manh wrote:
On Wed, 7 Jul 1999 yarrowp at mscd.edu wrote:

> Efenwealt wrote:
> <<Speaking of which, I've heard/seen the word spelled "Vivat" and
> "Vivant". Which one is correct? Are these 2 different words that people
> confuse? >>
> 
> Actually, vivat is the singular, he (or she) lives.  Vivant is the plural,
 
> they live.
> 
I believe in this usage they have the force of the imperative: "(May)
he/she/they live!"  Same as our "Long live ---!"  For that matter, IIRC
"Banzai!" is about the same: "(May you live) ten thousand years!">>

Thank you for this note.  Does anyone know why we don't actually use the 
imperative?  "Vive" for singular, "Vivete" for plural?

Vivien


-------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe from this list, send email to majordomo at pbm.com containing
the words "unsubscribe minstrel". If you are subscribed to the digest version,
say "unsubscribe minstrel-digest". To contact a human about problems, send
mail to owner-minstrel at pbm.com