# What's a good translation for Magnis Mensas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 13, 2017, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-translation-for-magnis-mensas/798752 "2017-10-13T19:32:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-translation-for-magnis-mensas/798752/1 "2017-10-13T19:32:46Z")
F. G. Rayer wrote a story called “Dues Ex Machina” in which a computer brain essentially runs England. The computer, which has extensions everywhere, is called Magnis Mensas. Not just once but throughout the story. When I stick that into a Latin to English translator it gives me “large tables.” Obviously something closer to “great mind” or “big brain” or the plural thereof is needed. What’s going on here? ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-translation-for-magnis-mensas/798752/2 "2017-10-13T20:36:36Z")
Sounds like an instance of the old Canis Latinitas. Something like Magna Mente would make more sense. mens = mind mensa = table Write it out 100 times. If it’s not done by sunrise, I’ll cut your balls off ! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-translation-for-magnis-mensas/798752/3 "2017-10-13T20:51:49Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > mens = mind > mensa = table Rather fortunate that he did not think the plural of _mens_ was _menses._🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-translation-for-magnis-mensas/798752/4 "2017-10-13T20:51:52Z")
> [@DPRK](#): > > Something like Magna Mente or simply Magna Mens ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-translation-for-magnis-mensas/798752/5 "2017-10-13T20:54:12Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > F. G. Rayer wrote a story called “Dues Ex Machina” in which a computer brain essentially runs England. The computer, which has extensions everywhere, is called Magnis Mensas. Not just once but throughout the story. He needed to pay his dues with his Wheelock before he shot himself in the foot. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-translation-for-magnis-mensas/798752/6 "2017-10-13T21:07:17Z")
Also, “magnis” is dative or ablative, while “mensas”, whatever it is supposed to mean, cannot be either of those cases. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2017, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-translation-for-magnis-mensas/798752/7 "2017-10-13T22:52:25Z")
An English writer in an English magazine not using proper Latin? Off with his head! ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-translation-for-magnis-mensas/798752/8 "2017-10-14T00:41:46Z")
Qui comprimit labia sua, intelligens reputabitur ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-translation-for-magnis-mensas/798752/9 "2017-10-14T00:49:05Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Rather fortunate that he did not think the plural of _mens_ was _menses._🙂 LOL! And I really mean it. > [@DPRK](#): > > Qui comprimit labia sua, intelligens reputabitur –Marcus Tullius, right? ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2017, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-a-good-translation-for-magnis-mensas/798752/10 "2017-10-14T01:08:50Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Marcus Tullius, right? I just know I’m being quite ironically whooshed here, but it’s Salomon Rex. The original (יחשב אטם שפתיו נבון) just leaves one transfixed, with no minced words. It probably translates better into a language like Classical Chinese.