“to” in Latin

Of place, denoting direction or motion toward a point, ad (or in)... versus; also (but regularly only with the names of towns) simply... versus (to denote proximate direction, ἐπί, κατά, εἰς, “toward”): in with an accusative (to denote straight direction or the attainment of a limit, πρός, up to): ad (to specify immediate proximity, παρά or ὑπό, immediately before, or at): e.g., to go to Brundusium, Brundusium versus ire: to come to Rome, ad Romam venire (i. e., to the immediate neighborhood of Rome). The names of towns and villages, as well as the substantive domus, to the question “whither,” are put in the accusative without ad or in; but also with the names of small islands (very rarely of large ones, as Sardinia, Crete, Sicily, Britain) these prepositions may be omitted; e.g., to come to Rome, Romam venire (to the city itself). But the preposition is expressed (1) when there is any antithesis [usque a Dianio ad Sinopen navigarunt: not always, however; e.g., ab Ardea Romam venerunt, Liv., 4, 7]: (2) if an appellative, as oppidum, urbs, locus, stands in apposition [ad Cirtam oppidum, Sall., Jug., 81]: (3) when only the neighborhood of a town, or a part of it, is meant: omnes Galli ad Alesiam proficiscuntur (Caes., B.G., 7, 76; Krüger, 387). With domus the preposition is used when it means not “home,” “hottse,” as residence, but as “building” or = “family;” and with rus = “particular estate.” To return home, domum redire: to march to Cyprus, Cyprum tendere.

To denote the limit at which motion ceases or ought to cease, ad, usque ad (of approximation to a certain point: ☞ ad usque is not classical): in, usque in (of the general direction, as far as the neighborhood of, etc.): tenus (after its substantive; denoting the definite limit or point of termination). This is expressed also by fine (likewise after its substantive; as, to the breast, pectoris fine; Vid: Herzog, Caes., B.G., 7, 47). The preposition is very frequently omitted in Latin, as having been already expressed in the verb; e.g., to go up to anyone, aliquem aggredi. With the names of towns, “as far as to” is expressed by usque without a preposition, unless only the neighborhood of the town or proximity to it is to be denoted; e.g., usque Romam proficisci (whereas usque ad Romam would be, as far as to the neighborhood of Rome). To the skin, ad cutem: to the half, to the third, in dimidiam partem, ad tertias (sc. partes; e.g., aquam decoquere): the water in one place came up to the middle, at another, scarcely to the knees, alibi umbilico tenus aqua erat, alibi genua vix superavit: to the other side of the Alps, trans Alpes usque: to that point, eo usque: to that place, usque isthinc: to this point, hucusque (as far as to this place; post-Augustan): hactenus (so far, up to a definite point, and no further, especially in a speech; e.g., Nep., Att., 19, 1).

In comparison of, ad (in relation to): prae (in comparison of, etc.). To us he is fortunate, prae nobis beatus est: to esteem others as nothing to one’s self, prae se alios pro nihilo ducere: Decimus is nothing to Persius, Decimus nihil ad Persium: the earth is to the whole heaven but a point, terra ad uuiversi caeli complexum quasi puncti instar obtinet. Sometimes the by circumlocution si comparaveris cum, etc., may be used; e.g., to him I am a child, si me cum illo comparaveris, infans sum.

As a sign of the infinitive, “to” is usually expressed by the form of the Latin verb or construction of the sentence; e.g., canere, dicere desiit, or canendi, dicendi finem fecit, he ceased to, etc.; me rogavit ne hoc facerem, he begged me not to do this.

To denote design or intention; e.g., huc veni te salutatum, te salutaturus, ut te salutarem, ad te salutandum, tui salutandi causa: dedit mihi libros legendos: non vivimus ut edamus, sed edimus ut vivamus (Sen.).

To denote possibility; e.g., hic est quod spectetur. hac ex re nullus percipi potest fructus: eo loco semper eum invenire, videre, potes.

To denote necessity or right; e.g., quid in hac re faciendum est? binae tibi scribendae sunt litterae: multa tibi debeo: ☞ “To,” as a sign of the infinitive after substantives, is often rendered in Latin by the gerund in di; e.g., mala et impia consuetudo est contra deos disputandi (Cic., N.D. 2, 67, 108, an evil and impious custom to dispute): nemo potest non maxime laudare consilium tuum, quod cum spe vincendi simul abjecisti certandi etiam cupiditatem (desire to contend, Cic.): legendi semper occasio est, audiendi non semper (Plin., Ep., 2, 3, 9, opportunity to read; to hear). ☞ Tempus est is followed either by the gerund or by the infinitive. ☞ After adjectives and adverbs, when the object is defined by a verb, especially after such as denote “possibility, facility, difficulty, necessity, duty, inclination,” or the like, we find in Latin the gerund or supine; e.g., nihil est dictu facilius: facile est intellectu or ad intelligendum: facile est ad credendum: studiosus audiendi, discendi: cupidus bellandi.

Denoting a purpose or destination, ad, or a dative; e.g., aquam ad bibendum, ad lavandum petere: sex dies ad eam rem conficiendam spatii postulant: miseriis ferundis natum esse: ad metalla condemnare aliquem.

Denoting a final cause or end, often by a dative, or by in, per; e.g., est mihi aliquid gloriae: honori, utilitati, emolumento esse: hoc mihi est detrimento. Also by e, ex: e re mea: e republica. To that end, ad eum finem (Tac.); eo consilio, hac mente (Cic.).

Denoting change of property or quality, usually by in; e.g., in pulverem, in lapidem, in aquam mutari, verti. To come to nought, ad irritum cadere, revolvi: to turn to money, vendere aliquid.

In addressing a letter, fasciculus qui est Des M’Curio inscriptus (Cic., Att., 8, 5; to M. Curius).

Aft er words denoting likeness or unlikeness, a simple dative (after similis, also a genitive); e.g., alicui similem esse.