§402. Uses of the Ablative Proper

Verbs compounded with ā, ab, dē, ex, (1) take the simple Ablative when used figuratively; but (2) when used literally to denote actual separation or motion, they usually require a preposition (§ 426. 1):—

• (1) cōnātū dēsistere (B. G. 1.8), to desist from the attempt.
• dēsine commūnibus locīs (Acad. 2.80), quit commonplaces.
• abīre magistrātū, to leave one's office.
• abstinēre iniūriā, to refrain from wrong.
• (2) ā prōpositō aberrāre (Fin. 5.83), to wander from the point.
• dē prōvinciā dēcēdere (Verr. 2.48), to withdraw from one's province.
• ab iūre abīre (id. 2.114), to go outside of the law.
• ex cīvitāte excessēre (B. G. 6.8), they departed from the state. [But cf. fīnibus suīs excesserant (id. 4.18), they had left their own territory.]
• ā māgnō dēmissum nōmen Iūlō; (Aen. 1.288), a name descended (sent down) from great Iulus.

For the Dative used instead of the Ablative of Separation, see § 381. For the Ablative of the actual place whence in idiomatic expressions, see §§ 427. 1, 428. f.

a. Adjectives denoting freedom and want are followed by the ablative:—

• urbs nūda praesidiō (Att. 7.13), the city naked of defence.
• immūnis mīlitiā (Liv. 1.43), free of military service.
• plēbs orba tribūnīs (Leg. 3.9), the people deprived of tribunes.

• ā culpā vacuus (Sall. Cat. 14), free from blame.
• līberī ā dēliciīs (Leg. Agr. 1.27), free from luxuries.
• Messāna ab hīs rēbus vacua atque nūda est (Verr. 4.3), Messana is empty and bare of these things.

For the Genitive with adjectives of want, see § 349. a.

Ablative of Source and Material