§342. Genitive with Nouns

A noun used to limit or define another, and not meaning the same person or thing, is put in the Genitive.

This relation is most frequently expressed in English by the preposition of, sometimes by the English genitive (or possessive) case:—

• librī Cicerōnis, the books of Cicero, or Cicero's books.
• inimīcī Caesaris, Cæsar's enemies, or the enemies of Cæsar.
• talentum aurī, a talent of gold.
• vir summae virtūtis, a man of the greatest courage.

But observe the following equivalents:—

• vacātiō labōris, a respite FROM toil.
• petītiō cōnsulātūs, candidacy FOR the consulship.
• rēgnum cīvitātis, royal power OVER the state.