[*] 373. The Dative is used with esse and similar words to denote Possession:—
- “est mihi domī pater ” (Ecl. 3.33) , I have a father at home (there is to me).
- “ hominī cum deō similitūdō est ” (Legg. 1.25) , man has a likeness to God.
- quibus opēs nūllae sunt (Sall. Cat. 37), [those] who have no wealth.
[*] Note.--The Genitive or a Possessive with esse emphasizes the possessor; the Dative, the fact of possession: as,—liber est meus, the book is MINE (and no one's else): est mihi liber, I HAVE a book (among other things).
[*] a. With nōmen est , and similar expressions, the name is often put in the Dative by a kind of apposition with the person; but the Nominative is also common:—- (1) “cui Āfricānō fuit cōgnōmen” (Liv. 25.2) , whose (to whom) surname was Africanus.
- puerō ab inopiā Egeriō inditum nōmen (id. 1.34), the name Egerius was given the boy from his poverty.
- (2) puerō nōmen est Mārcus, the boy's name is Marcus (to the boy is, etc.).
- “cui nōmen Arethūsa ” (Verr. 4.118) , [a fount] called Arethusa.
[*] Note.--In early Latin the dative is usual; Cicero prefers the nominative, Livy the dative; Sallust uses the dative only. In later Latin the genitive also occurs (cf. § 343. d): as,—Q. “Metellō Macedonicī nōmen inditum est” (Vell. 1.11) , to Quintus Metellus the name of Macedonicus was given.
[*] b. Dēsum takes the dative; so occasionally absum (which regularly has the ablative):—- “hōc ūnum Caesarī dēfuit ” (B.G. 4.26) , this only was lacking to Cæsar.
- “quid huic abesse poterit ” (De Or. 1.48) , what can be wanting to him?