§494. Participles

The Present and Perfect Participles are sometimes used as attributives, nearly like adjectives:—

• aeger et flagrāns animus (Tac. Ann. 3.54), his sick and passionate mind.
• cum antīquissimam sententiam tum comprobātam (Div. 1.11), a view at once most ancient and well approved.
• sīgna numquam ferē mentientia (id. 1.15), signs hardly ever deceitful.
• auspiciīs ūtuntur coāctīs (id. 1.27), they use forced auspices.

a. Participles often become complete adjectives, and may be compared, or used as nouns:—

• quō mulierī esset rēs cautior (Caec. 11), that the matter might be more secure for the woman.
• in illīs artibus praestantissimus (De Or. 1.217), preëminent in those arts.
• sibi indulgentēs et corporī dēservientēs (Legg. 1.39), the self-indulgent, and slaves to the body (indulging themselves and serving the body).
• rēctē facta paria esse dēbent (Par. 22), right deeds (things rightly done) ought to be like in value (see § 321. b).
• male parta male dīlābuntur (Phil. 2.65), ill got, ill spent (things ill acquired are ill spent).
• cōnsuētūdō valentis (De Or. 2.186), the habit of a man in health.