# Latin translation help **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 18, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-translation-help/219814 "2003-12-18T18:41:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-translation-help/219814/1 "2003-12-18T18:41:10Z")
I need a bit of assistance translating a couple two-word phrases into latin. I speak Italian and some Spanish, so I can make some guesses, but I’d rather have someone who knows the language and its construction give me the correct translation. I’m looking for a phrase to describe a protective dog that would make a good buisness name. Web type buisness, not a physical location. So far I’ve come up with this: Saeve Custos (Custodis? Curatoris?) Saeve Patronus/Vindicis Atrocis (Atrox?) Amiculus Are any of these anywhere close to proper construction? Any better suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Kizarvexius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/da6949/32.png) [@Kizarvexius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kizarvexius)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-translation-help/219814/2 "2003-12-18T19:27:29Z")
Rex. ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-translation-help/219814/3 "2004-01-02T06:52:40Z")
The first line, in so many possible translations: Raging, Fierce, Furious, Violent, Savage, Cruel Guardian, watchman, keeper, attendant; a gaoler, sentinel, guard, spy. Savage Spy? Sounds kind of cool. Raging Keeper. saeve is an adverb, btw. But I’m using the adjective form. Patronus -i m. \*a protector, defender, patron; esp. an advocate in a court of law. \* Sounds like a second declension noun. Since it’s in the nominitive case even though the adjective is describing it you’re good. I can’t find Vindicis in my Latin-English dictionary. Did you mean vindicta? -ae, f. \*a rod used in manumitting slaves \* Transf., _deliverance; vengeance, punishment._ vindicare, \*to claim; to arrogate, assume; appropriate; to claim as free; \* hence \*to liberate, deliver or protect; to avenge, punish. \* Atrox -ocis, _terrible cruel, horrible;_ of human character, \*harsh, fierce, severe. \ ***Adv. atrociter** amiculus -i m. _a dear friend_ So he’s a really horrible guy, but he’s still your old buddy. Sounds like you got some company there, MixieArmidillo. The thing with nouns in titles is that they’re usually in the nominitive case (on a chart that’s usually the top line) unless it’s supposed to translate as from something, to something, out of, from, something again, also something, and something, among, you get the idea. All adjectives have to match the case of the noun they’re describing as well as its gender and number. The number you’re using seems to be singular. Patronus would need your adjective to end in -us, and Custodis might (can’t remember if it’s masculine, feminine, or neutral but it seems masculine). vindicis I think gets an -er ending for its adjective. I think. Amiculus would get the same ending as patronus. I’m not an expert, but I’ve taken some Latin. Hope I helped. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/latin-translation-help/219814/4 "2004-01-02T11:51:28Z")
Bleh … it’s 20 years since I studied Latin seriously. Amiculus is diminutive and by inference derisory. Dog is ‘Canis’, protect is ‘protego’ or ‘custo-’ (qv Quis custodet ipsos custodes?), so a guard dog would be Canis Custos. Take a look [here](http://catholic.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/lookdown.pl?guard+dog). For a business name, you probably want something to do with Cerberus, the guard dog of the underworld. Cerberus Web Solutions?