LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
verbthird conjugation, suppletive

ferō

ferō (present infinitive ferre, perfect active tulī or tetulī, supine lātum)
Classical[ˈfɛ.roː]Ecclesiastical[ˈfɛː.ro]
№ 45 of the 1,000 commonest wordsMille Verba core vocabulary

Meaning

  1. suppletiveto bear; to carry
    partum ferreto be with child, to be pregnant
    Terra autem erat inānis et vacua, et tenebrae erant super faciem abyssī: et spīritus Deī ferēbātur super aquās.And the earth was void and empty, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the spirit of God moved over the waters.c. 347 CE – 420 CE, Hieronymus, Vulgate Genesis.1.2
  2. suppletiveto support, hold up
  3. suppletiveto suffer, tolerate, endure, bear
    Nōn tū tuom malum aequō animō ferās?!Why aren’t you bearing your own troubles with a calm mind?!, or, Shouldn’t you endure your own difficulties with equanimity?! (In context, “non” with the subjunctive “feras” implies a rhetorical question or statement expressing disbelief, indignation, or admonition.)166 BCE, Publius Terentius Afer, Andria 921
  4. suppletiveto consider
  5. suppletiveto cast (a vote); to pass or ratify (a law)
  6. suppletiveto propose
  7. suppletiveto win
  8. suppletiveto create
  9. suppletiveto bring forth, put in motion, move forward, move ahead
    Tālia iactābam et furiātā mente ferēbar […].I was uttering such [words], and with impassioned purpose I was moving ahead […] .29 BCE – 19 BCE, Vergilius, Aeneis 2.588
  10. suppletiveto incite, to impel, to move
    In nova fert animus mūtātās dīcere fōrmās corpora; […]My mind moves me to tell of forms changed into new bodies; […]8 CE, Ovidius, Metamorphoses 1.1
  11. intransitivesuppletiveto lead
  12. suppletiveto report, narrate, recount, relate, relay, quote, cite, speak of, say, tell, spread abroad
    Faustulo fuisse nomen feruntIt is narrated that his name was Faustulus27 BCE – 25 BCE, Titus Livius, Ab urbe condita I.4
    Tālibus ōrābat, tālisque miserrima flētus fertque refertque soror. [...].With such [words Dido] was pleading, and her most unhappy sister [Anna] relays such tearful [appeals] again and again [to Aeneas].29 BCE – 19 BCE, Vergilius, Aeneis 4.437–438

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

portō; quī fert, rem ā locō ad locum movet.
ferō ferre tulī — in Mille Verba, Thermae

Choosing the right word Döderlein's Latin Synonyms

Coxa · Latus · Femur

Coxa and coxendix (κοχώνη) mean the hip; latus, the part between the hip and shoulder; femur and femen, the part under the hip, the thigh. (vi. 84.)

Ferre · Portare · Bajulare · Gerere

1. Ferre means, like φέρειν, to carry any thing portable from one place to another; portare and bajulare, like βαστάζειν, to carry a load; portare (from πορίζειν), for one’s self, or for others; bajulare, as a porter. In Cæs. B. G. i. 16. Ædui frumentum . . . . conferri, comportari, adesse dicere; conferre refers to the delivery and the contribution from several subjects to the authorities of the place; comportare, the delivery of these contributions by the authorities of the place to Cæsar. 2. Ferre, portare, and bajulare, express only an exterior relation, that of the carrier to his load, whereas gerere (ἀγείρειν) gestare, like φόρειν, an interior relation, that of the possessor to his property. As, then, bellum ferre means only either inferre bellum or tolerare, so bellum gerere has a synonymous meaning with habere, and is applicable only to the whole people, or to their sovereign, who resolved upon the war, and is in a state of war; but not to the army fighting, nor to the commander who is commissioned to conduct the war. Bellum geret populus Romanus, administrat consul, capessit miles. (i. 150.)

Ferre · Tolerare · Perferre · Perpeti · Sustinere · Sinere · Sustentare.

Ferre; Tolerare; Perferre; Perpeti; Sustinere; Sinere; Sustentare. 1. Ferre (φέρειν) represents the bearing, only with reference to the burden which is borne, altogether objectively, like φέρειν; whereas tolerare, perferre, and pati, perpeti, with subjective reference to the state of mind of the person bearing; the tolerans and perferens bear their burden without sinking under it, with strength and self-control, synonymously with sustinens, sustaining, like τολμῶν; the patiens and perpetiens (παθεῖν) without striving to get rid of it, with willingness or resignation, enduring it, synonymously with sinens. Ferre and tolerare have only a noun for their object, but pati also an infinitive. 2. Perferre is of higher import than tolerare, as perpeti is of higher import than pati, to endure heroically and patiently. Poet. ap. Cic. Tusc. iv. 29. Nec est malum, quod non natura humana patiendo ferat: compare with Tac. Ann. i. 74. Sen. Thyest. 307. Leve est miserias ferre; perferre est grave. Plin. H. N. xxvi. 21. Qui perpeti medicinam non toleraverant. Tac. Ann. iii. 3. Magnitudinem mali perferre visu non toleravit. 3. Tolerare (from τλῆναι) means to keep up under a burden, and not sink down; but sustinere means to keep up the burden, and not let it sink. 4. Pati denotes an intellectual permission, no opposition being made, like to let happen; whereas sinere (ἀνεῖναι) denotes a material permission, not to hold any thing fast nor otherwise hinder, to leave free. Pati has, in construction, the action itself for its object, and governs an infinitive; sinere, the person acting, and is in construction with ut. (iv. 259.) 5. Sustinere means to hold up, in a general sense, whereas sustentare, to hold up with trouble and difficulty. Curt. viii. 4, 15. Forte Macedo gregarius miles seque et arma sustentans tandem in castra venit; compare with v. 1, 11. Tandem Laconum acies languescere, lubrica arma sudore vix sustinens. Also, Liv. xxiii. 45. Senec. Prov. 4. a. f. (iii. 293.)

Conjugation conjugation 3

active indicative
formpresentimperfectfutureperfectpluperfectfut. perfect
1st sg.ferōferēbamferamtulī
tetulī
tuleram
tetuleram
tulerō
tetulerō
2nd sg.fersferēbāsferēstulistī
tetulistī
tulerās
tetulerās
tuleris
tetuleris
3rd sg.fertferēbatferettulit
tetulit
tulerat
tetulerat
tulerit
tetulerit
1st pl.ferimusferēbāmusferēmustulimus
tetulimus
tulerāmus
tetulerāmus
tulerimus
tetulerimus
2nd pl.fertisferēbātisferētistulistis
tetulistis
tulerātis
tetulerātis
tuleritis
tetuleritis
3rd pl.feruntferēbantferenttulērunt
tulēre, tetulērunt, tetulēre
tulerant
tetulerant
tulerint
tetulerint
active subjunctive
active subjunctive
formpresentimperfectperfectpluperfect
1st sg.feramferremtulerim
tetulerim
tulissem
tetulissem
2nd sg.ferāsferrēstulerīs
tetulerīs
tulissēs
tetulissēs
3rd sg.feratferrettulerit
tetulerit
tulisset
tetulisset
1st pl.ferāmusferrēmustulerīmus
tetulerīmus
tulissēmus
tetulissēmus
2nd pl.ferātisferrētistulerītis
tetulerītis
tulissētis
tetulissētis
3rd pl.ferantferrenttulerint
tetulerint
tulissent
tetulissent
passive indicative
passive indicative
formpresentimperfectfuture
1st sg.ferorferēbarferar
2nd sg.ferris
ferre
ferēbāris
ferēbāre
ferēris
ferēre
3rd sg.ferturferēbāturferētur
1st pl.ferimurferēbāmurferēmur
2nd pl.feriminīferēbāminīferēminī
3rd pl.ferunturferēbanturferentur
passive subjunctive
passive subjunctive
formpresentimperfect
1st sg.ferarferrer
2nd sg.ferāris
ferāre
ferrēris
ferrēre
3rd sg.ferāturferrētur
1st pl.ferāmurferrēmur
2nd pl.ferāminīferrēminī
3rd pl.feranturferrentur
imperative
imperative
formactivepassive
pres. 2nd sg.ferferre
pres. 2nd pl.ferteferiminī
fut. 2nd sg.fertōfertor
fut. 3rd sg.fertōfertor
fut. 2nd pl.fertōte—
fut. 3rd pl.feruntōferuntor
infinitives & participles
infinitives & participles
formactivepassive
present infinitiveferreferrī
perfect infinitivetulisse
tetulisse
lātum esse
future infinitivelātūrum esselātum īrī
present participleferēns—
perfect participle—lātus
future participlelātūrus
lātūra, lātūrā, lātūrae, lātūram, lātūrārum, lātūrās, lātūre, lātūrī, lātūrīs, lātūrō, lātūrōrum, lātūrōs, lātūrum
ferendus
ferundus
gerundferendī, ferendō, ferendumsupinelātum, lātū

Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book

damnum ferre
to know how to endure calamity.
res (ita) fert
circumstances make this necessary; the exigencies of the case are these.
libidine ferri
to be carried away by one's passions.
ut mea fert opinio
according to my opinion.
caeco impetu ferri
to have no principles.
ita fert consuetudo
so custom, fashion prescribes.
per omnium ora ferri
to be in every one's mouth.
ignominiam non ferre
to chafe under an indignity, repudiate it.
43 more phrases
signa ferre, tollere
to begin the march, break up the camp.
iniuriam ferre, pati
to suffer wrong.
flumen citatum fertur
the rivers flows with a rapid current.
palmam ferre, auferre
to win the prize.
speciem prae se ferre
to give the impression of...; have the outward aspect of...
via fert, ducit aliquo
a road leads somewhere.
in oculis aliquem ferre
to cherish as the apple of one's eye.
tradunt, dicunt, ferunt
they say; it is commonly said.
trahi, ferri ad litteras
to feel an attraction for study.
victoriam ferre, referre
to gain a victory, win a battle.
liber qui fertur alicuius
a book which is attributed to some one.
ferre atque agere praedam
to carry off booty.
meae rationes ita tulerunt
my interests demanded it.
in latus hostium incurrere
to fall upon the enemy's flank.
studio ad rem publicam ferri
to throw oneself heart and soul into politics.
tempus (ita) fert (not secum)
circumstances demand.
alicui expensum ferre aliquid
to put a thing down to a man's account.
impune fecisse, tulisse aliquid
to go unpunished.
strictis gladiis in hostem ferri
to throw oneself on the enemy with drawn sword.
responsum ab aliquo ferre, auferre
to extract an answer from some one.
qui arma ferre possunt or iuventus
men of military age.
centuriam, tribum ferre (Planc. 49)
to gain the vote of a century or tribe.

fĕro, tŭli, lātum, ferre (ante-class. redupl. form in the
I. tempp. perff.: tetuli, Plaut. Am. 2, 2, 84; 168; id. Men. 4, 2, 25; 66; id. Rud. prol. 68: tetulisti, Att. and Caecil. ap. Non. 178, 17 sq.: tetulit, Plaut. Most. 2, 2, 40; id. Men. 2, 3, 30; Ter. And. 5, 1, 13: tetulerunt, Lucr. 6, § 672: tetulissem, Ter. And. 4, 5, 13: tetulisse, Plaut. Rud. 4, 1, 2: tetulero, id. Cist. 3, 19: tetulerit, id. Poen. 3, 1, 58; id. Rud. 4, 3, 101), v. a. and n. a wide-spread root; Sanscr. bhar-, carry, bharas, burden; Gr. φέρω; Goth. bar, bairo, bear, produce, whence barn, child; Anglo-Saxon beran, whence Engl. bear, birth; cf. Georg Curtius Gr. Etym. p. 300; Fick, Vergl. Wört. p. 135. The perf. forms, tuli, etc., from the root tul-, tol-; Sanscr. tol-jami, lift, weigh; Gr. τλῆναι, endure, cf. τάλας, τάλαντον; Lat. tollo, tolerare, (t)latus, etc. Cf. Goth. thulan, Germ. dulden, Geduld; Anglo-Sax. tholian, suffer. Supine lātum, i. e. tlatum; cf. supra; v. Georg Curtius Gr. Etym. p. 220; Corss. Ausspr. 2, 73, to bear, carry, bring. (For syn. cf.: gero, porto, bajulo, veho; effero, infero; tolero, patior, sino, permitto, etc.)
I. Lit.
A. In gen.: ferri proprie dicimus, quae quis suo corpore bajulat, portari ea, quae quis in jumento secum ducit, agi ea, quae animalia sunt, Dig. 50, 16, 235: oneris quidvis feret, Ter. Ph. 3, 3, 29: quin te in fundo conspicer fodere aut arare aut aliquid ferre, id. Heaut. 1, 1, 17: numerus eorum, qui arma ferre possent, Caes. B. G. 1, 29, 1: arma et vallum, Hor. Epod. 9, 13: sacra Junonis, id. S. 1, 3, 11: cadaver nudis humeris (heres), id. ib. 2, 5, 86: argentum ad aliquem, Plaut. As. 3, 3, 142; cf.: symbolum filio, id. Bacch. 2, 3, 30: olera et pisciculos minutos ferre obolo in cenam seni, Ter. And. 2, 2, 32; cf.: vina et unguenta et flores, Hor. C. 2, 3, 14: discerpta ferentes Memora gruis, id. S. 2, 8, 86; cf.: talos, nucesque sinu laxo, id. ib. 2, 3, 172: in Capitolium faces, Cic. Lael. 11, 37: iste opertā lecticā latus per oppidum est ut mortuus, id. Phil. 2, 41, 106: lecticā in Capitolium latus est, Suet. Claud. 2: circa judices latus (puer), Quint. 6, 1, 47: prae se ferens (in essedo) Darium puerum, Suet. Calig. 19.—Poet. with inf.: natum ad Stygios iterum fero mergere fontes, Stat. Ach. 1, 134.—Prov.: ferre aliquem in oculis, or simply oculis, i. e. to hold dear, love exceedingly, Cic. Phil. 6, 4, 11; id. Q. Fr. 3, 1, 3, § 9; Q. Cic. Fam. 16, 27, 2.—
B. In partic.
1. With the idea of motion predominating, to set in motion, esp. to move onward quickly or rapidly, to bear, lead, conduct, or drive away; with se or mid. (so esp. freq.), to move or go swiftly, to haste, speed, betake one's self; and of things, to flow, mount, run down.
(a). Act.: ubi in rapidas amnis dispeximus undas: Stantis equi corpus transvorsum ferre videtur Vis, et in advorsum flumen contrudere raptim: Et, quocumque oculos trajecimus, omnia ferri Et fluere assimili nobis ratione videntur, Lucr. 4, 422 sq.: ubi cernimus alta Exhalare vapore altaria, ferreque fumum, to send up, id. 3, 432; cf.: vis ut vomat ignes, Ad caelumque ferat flammaï fulgura rursum, id. 1, 725; and: caelo supinas si tuleris manus, raisest, Hor. C. 3, 23, 1: te rursus in bellum resorbens Unda fretis tulit aestuosis, id. ib. 2, 7, 16; cf.: ire, pedes quocumque ferent, id. Epod. 16, 21; and: me per Aegaeos tumultus Aura feret, id. C. 3, 29, 64: signa ferre, to put the standards in motion, to break up, Caes. B. G. 1, 39 fin.; 1, 40, 12; Liv. 10, 5, 1 al.: pol, si id scissem, numquam huc tetulissem pedem, have stirred foot, have come, Ter. And. 4, 5, 13: pedem, Verg. A. 2, 756; Val. Fl. 7, 112: gressum, to walk, Lucr. 4, 681; cf.: agiles gressus, Sil. 3, 180: vagos gradus, Ov. M. 7, 185: vestigia, Sil. 9, 101: vagos cursus, id. 9, 243.—Absol.: quo ventus ferebat, bore, drove, Caes. B. G. 3, 15, 3: interim, si feret flatus, danda sunt vela, Quint. 10, 3, 7: itinera duo, quae extra murum ad portum ferebant, led, Caes. B. C. 1, 27, 4: pergit ad speluncam, si forte eo vestigia ferrent, Liv. 1, 7, 6.—Prov.: in silvam ligna ferre, to carry coals to Newcastle, Hor. S. 1, 10, 34.—
(b). With se or mid., to move or go swiftly, to hasten, rush: cum ipsa paene insula mihi sese obviam ferre vellet, to meet, Cic. Planc. 40, 96; cf.: non dubitaverim me gravissimis tempestatibus obvium ferre, id. Rep. 1, 4: hinc ferro accingor rursus ... meque extra tecta ferebam, Verg. A. 2, 672; 11, 779: grassatorum plurimi palam se ferebant, Suet. Aug. 32.—Of things as subjects: ubi forte ita se tetulerunt semina aquarum, i. e. have collected themselves, Lucr. 6, 672.—Mid.: ad eum omni celeritate et studio incitatus ferebatur, proceeded, Caes. B. C. 3, 78, 2: alii aliam in partem perterriti ferebantur, betook themselves, fled, id. B. G. 2, 24, 3: (fera) supra venabula fertur, rushes, springs, Verg. A. 9, 553: huc juvenis nota fertur regione viarum, proceeds, id. ib. 11, 530: densos fertur moribundus in hostes, rushes, id. ib. 2, 511: quocumque feremur, danda vela sunt, Cic. Or. 23, 75; cf.: non alto semper feremur, Quint. 12, 10, 37: ego, utrum Nave ferar magna an parva, ferar unus et idem, Hor. Ep. 2, 2, 200: non tenui ferar Penna biformis per liquidum aethera Vates, fly, id. C. 2, 20, 1.—Of inanimate subjects: (corpuscula rerum) ubi tam volucri levitate ferantur, move, Lucr. 4, 195; cf.: quae cum mobiliter summa levitate feruntur, id. 4, 745; cf.: tellus neque movetur et infima est, et in eam feruntur omnia nutu suo pondera, Cic. Rep. 6, 17 fin.: Rhenus longo spatio per fines Nantuatium, etc. ... citatus fertur, flows, Caes. B. G. 4, 10, 3; cf. Hirt. B. G. 8, 40, 3: ut (flamma) ad caelum usque ferretur, ascended, arose, Suet. Aug. 94.— Rarely ferre = se ferre: quem procul conspiciens ad se ferentem pertimescit, Nep. Dat. 4 fin.—
2. To carry off, take away by force, as a robber, etc.: to plunder, spoil, ravage: alii rapiunt incensa feruntque Pergama, Verg. A. 2, 374: postquam te (i. e. exstinctum Daphnin) fata tulerunt, snatched away, id. E. 5, 34. So esp. in the phrase ferre et agere, of taking booty, plundering, where ferre applies to portable things, and agere to men and cattle; v. ago.—
3. To bear, produce, yield: plurima tum tellus etiam majora ferebat, etc., Lucr. 5, 942 sq.; cf.: quae autem terra fruges ferre, et, ut mater, cibos suppeditare possit, Cic. Leg. 2, 27, 67: quem (florem) ferunt terrae solutae, Hor. C. 1, 4, 10: quibus jugera fruges et Cererem ferunt, id. ib. 3, 24, 13: angulus iste feret piper et thus, id. Ep. 1, 14, 23: (olea) fructum ramis pluribus feret, Quint. 8, 3, 10.—Absol.: ferundo arbor peribit, Cato, R. R. 6, 2.—
4. Of a woman or sheanimal, to bear offspring, be pregnant: ignorans nurum ventrem ferre, Liv. 1, 34, 3; of animals: equa ventrem fert duodecim menses, vacca decem, ovis et capra quinque, sus quatuor, Varr. R. R. 2, 1, 19; cf.: cervi octonis mensibus ferunt partus, Plin. 8, 32, 50, § 112: nec te conceptam saeva leaena tulit, Tib. 3, 4, 90.—Poet.: quem tulerat mater claro Phoenissa Laconi, i. e. had borne, Sil. 7, 666.—
5. To offer as an oblation: liba et Mopsopio dulcia melle feram, Tib. 1, 7, 54; so, liba, id. 1, 10, 23: lancesque et liba Baccho, Verg. G. 2, 394: tura superis, altaribus, Ov. M. 11, 577.—
6. To get, receive, acquire, obtain, as gain, a reward, a possession, etc.: quod posces, feres, Plaut. Merc. 2, 3, 106; cf.: quodvis donum et praemium a me optato; id optatum feres, Ter. Eun. 5, 8, 27: fructus ex sese (i. e. re publica) magna acerbitate permixtos tulissem, Cic. Planc. 38, 92: partem praedae, id. Rosc. Am. 37, 107: ille crucem pretium sceleris tulit, hic diadema, Juv. 13, 105: coram rege sua de paupertate tacentes Plus poscente ferent, Hor. Ep. 1, 17, 44.
II. Trop.
A. In gen., to bear, carry, bring: satis haec tellus morbi caelumque mali fert, bears, contains, Lucr. 6, 663; veterrima quaeque, ut ea vina, quae vetustatem ferunt, esse debent suavissima, which carry age, are old, Cic. Lael. 19, 67: scripta vetustatem si modo nostra ferent, will have, will attain to, Ov. Tr. 5, 9, 8: nomen alicujus, to bear, have, Cic. Off. 3, 18, 74; cf.: insani sapiens nomen ferat, aequus iniqui, Hor. Ep. 1, 6, 15: nomen, Suet. Aug. 101; id. Calig. 47: cognomen, id. Aug. 43; id. Galb. 3; cf.: ille finis Appio alienae personae ferendae fuit, of bearing an assumed character, Liv. 3, 36, 1: Archimimus personam ejus ferens, personating, Suet. Vesp. 19; cf. also: (Garyophyllon) fert et in spinis piperis similitudinem, Plin. 12, 7, 15, § 30: fer mi auxilium, bring assistance, aid, help, Enn. ap. Cic. Ac. 2, 28, 29 (Trag. v. 50 ed. Vahl.); cf.: alicui opem auxiliumque ferre, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 3, § 9: auxilium alicui, Plaut. Stich. 2, 2, 5; Ter. And. 1, 1, 115; Cic. Cat. 2, 9, 19; Caes. B. G. 1, 13, 5; 4, 12, 5; Hor. Epod. 1, 21 et saep.: opem, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 31, 66 (Trag. v. 86 ed. Vahl.): opem alicui, Plaut. Bacch. 4, 3, 23; Ter. And. 3, 1, 15; id. Ad. 3, 4, 41; Cic. Rab. Perd. 1, 3 (with succurrere saluti); id. Fin. 2, 35, 118 (with salutem); id. Fam. 5, 4, 2: subsidium alicui, Caes. B. G. 2, 26, 2: condicionem, to proffer, id. ib. 4, 11, 3; cf. Cic. Rosc. Am. 11, 30: Coriolanus ab sede sua cum ferret matri obviae complexum, offered, Liv. 2, 40, 5: si qua fidem tanto est operi latura vetustas, will bring, procure, Verg. A. 10, 792: ea vox audita laborum Prima tulit finem, id. ib. 7, 118: suspicionem falsam, to entertain suspicion, Enn. ap. Non. 511, 5 (Trag. v. 348 ed. Vahl.).—
B. In partic.
1. (Acc. to I. B. 1.) To move, to bring, lead, conduct, drive, raise: quem tulit ad scenam ventoso gloria curru, Hor. Ep. 2, 1, 177; so, animi quaedam ingenita natura ... recta nos ad ea, quae conveniunt causae, ferant, Quint. 5, 10, 123; cf. absol.: nisi illud, quod eo, quo intendas, ferat deducatque, cognoris, Cic. de Or. 1, 30, 135: exstincti ad caelum gloria fertur, Lucr. 6, 8; cf.: laudibus aliquem in caelum ferre, to extol, praise, Cic. Fam. 10, 26, 2; cf. id. Rep. 1, 43; Quint. 10, 1, 99; Suet. Otho, 12; id. Vesp. 6: eam pugnam miris laudibus, Liv. 7, 10, 14; cf.: saepe rem dicendo subiciet oculis: saepe supra feret quam fieri possit, wilt exalt, magnify, Cic. Or. 40, 139: ferte sermonibus et multiplicate fama bella, Liv. 4, 5, 6: ferre in majus vero incertas res fama solet, id. 21, 32, 7: crudelitate et scelere ferri, to be impelled, carried away, Cic. Clu. 70, 199: praeceps amentia ferebare, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 46, § 121; cf.: ferri avaritiā, id. Quint. 11, 38: orator suo jam impetu fertur, Quint. 12 praef. § 3: eloquentia, quae cursu magno sonituque ferretur, Cic. Or. 28, 97; cf.: (eloquentia) feratur non semitis sed campis, Quint. 5, 14, 31: oratio, quae ferri debet ac fluere, id. 9, 4, 112; cf.: quae (historia) currere debet ac ferri, id. 9, 4, 18; so often: animus fert (aliquem aliquo), the mind moves one to any thing: quo cujusque animus fert, eo discedunt, Sall. J. 54, 4; cf.: milites procurrentes consistentesque, quo loco ipsorum tulisset animus, Liv. 25, 21, 5; and: qua quemque animus fert, effugite superbiam regiam, id. 40, 4, 14: si maxime animus ferat, Sall. C. 58, 6; cf. Ov. M. 1, 775.—With an object-clause, the mind moves one to do any thing, Ov. M. 1, 1; Luc. 1, 67; Suet. Otho, 6; cf. also: mens tulit nos ferro exscindere Thebas, Stat. Th. 4, 753.—
2. (Acc. to I. B. 2.) To carry off, take away: omnia fert aetas, animum quoque, Verg. E. 9, 51: postquam te fata tulerunt, id. ib. 5, 34: invida Domitium fata tulere sibi, Anthol. Lat. 4, 123, 8; like efferre, to carry forth to burial, Ov. Tr. 1, 3, 89.—
3. (Acc. to I. B. 3.) To bear, bring forth, produce: haec aetas prima Athenis oratorem prope perfectum tulit, Cic. Brut. 12, 45: aetas parentum, pejor avis, tulit Nos nequiores, Hor. C. 3, 6, 46: Curium tulit et Camillum Saeva paupertas, id. ib. 1, 12, 42.—
4. (Acc. to I. B. 6.) To bear away, to get, obtain, receive: Cotta et Sulpicius omnium judicio facile primas tulerunt, Cic. Brut. 49, 183: palmam, to carry off, win, id. Att. 4, 15, 6: victoriam ex inermi, to gain, Liv. 39, 51, 10; 2, 50, 2; 8, 8, 18: gratiam et gloriam annonae levatae, id. 4, 12, 8: maximam laudem inter suos, Caes. B. G. 6, 21, 4: centuriam, tribus, i. e. to get their votes, Cic. Planc. 20, 49; 22, 53; id. Phil. 2, 2, 4: suffragia, Suet. Caes. 13 (diff. from 8. a.): responsum ab aliquo, to receive, Cic. Cat. 1, 8, 19; Caes. B. G. 6, 4 fin.: repulsam a populo, Cic. Tusc. 5, 19, 54: repulsam, id. de Or. 2, 69 fin.; id. Phil. 11, 8, 19; id. Att. 5, 19 al.: calumniam, i. e. to be convicted of a false accusation, Cael. ap. Cic. Fam. 8, 8, 1: ita ut filius partem dimidiam hereditatis ferat, Gai. Inst. 3, 8: singulas portiones, id. ib. 3, 16; 61.—
5. To bear, support any thing unpleasant; or pregn., to suffer, tolerate, endure.
a. To bear in any manner.
(a). With acc.: servi injurias nimias aegre ferunt, Cato ap. Gell. 10, 3, 17: (onus senectutis) modice ac sapienter sicut omnia ferre, Cic. de Sen. 1, 2: aegre ferre repulsam consulatus, id. Tusc. 4, 17, 40: hoc moderatiore animo ferre, id. Fam. 6, 1, 6: aliquid toleranter, id. ib. 4, 6, 2: clementer, id. Att. 6, 1, 3: quod eo magis ferre animo aequo videmur, quia, etc., Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 48, § 126: ut tu fortunam, sic nos te, Celse, feremus, Hor. Ep. 1, 8, 17.—
(b). With an object-clause: ut si quis aegre ferat, se pauperem esse, take it ill, Cic. Tusc. 4, 27, 59: hoc ereptum esse, graviter et acerbe ferre, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 58, § 152: quomodo ferant veterani, exercitum Brutum habere, id. Phil. 10, 7, 15.—
(g). With de: de Lentulo scilicet sic fero, ut debeo, Cic. Att. 4, 6, 1: quomodo Caesar ferret de auctoritate perscripta, id. ib. 5, 2, 3: numquid moleste fers de illo, qui? etc., id. ib. 6, 8, 3.—
(d). Absol.: sin aliter acciderit, humaniter feremus, Cic. Att. 1, 2, 1: si mihi imposuisset aliquid, animo iniquo tulissem, id. ib. 15, 26, 4.—
b. Pregn., to bear or put up with, to suffer, tolerate, endure, sustain, resist.
(a). With acc.: quis hanc contumeliam, quis hoc imperium, quis hanc servitutem ferre potest? Cato ap. Gell. 10, 3, 17: qui potentissimorum hominum contumaciam numquam tulerim, ferrem hujus asseclae? Cic. Att. 6, 3, 6: cujus desiderium civitas ferre diutius non potest, id. Phil. 10, 10, 21: cogitandi non ferebat laborem, id. Brut. 77, 268: unum impetum nostrorum, Caes. B. G. 3, 19, 3: vultum atque aciem oculorum, id. ib. 1, 39, 1: cohortatio gravior quam aures Sulpicii ferre didicissent, to hear unmoved, Cic. Phil. 9, 4, 9: vultum, Hor. S. 1, 6, 121: multa tulit fecitque puer, sudavit et alsit, id. A. P. 413: spectatoris fastidia, id. Ep. 2, 1, 215: fuisse (Epaminondam) patientem suorumque injurias ferentem civium, Nep. Epam. 7.—Of personal objects: quem ferret, si parentem non ferret suum? brook, Ter. Heaut. 1, 2, 28: optimates quis ferat, qui, etc., Cic. Rep. 1, 33: vereor, ut jam nos ferat quisquam, Quint. 8, 3, 25: an laturi sint Romani talem regem, id. 7, 1, 24: quis enim ferat puerum aut adolescentulum, si, etc., id. 8, 5, 8.—
(b). With an object-clause: ferunt aures hominum, illa ... laudari, Cic. de Or. 2, 84, 344: non feret assiduas potiori te dare noctes, Hor. Epod. 15, 13; Ov. M. 2, 628: illa quidem in hoc opere praecipi quis ferat? Quint. 11, 3, 27; 11, 1, 69: servo nubere nympha tuli, Ov. H. 5, 12; cf.: alios vinci potuisse ferendum est, id. M. 12, 555. —
(g). With quod: quod rapta, feremus, dummodo reddat eam, Ov. M. 5, 520: illud non ferendum, quod, etc., Quint. 11, 3, 131. —
6. With the access, notion of publicity, to make public, to disclose, show, exhibit: eum ipsum dolorem hic tulit paulo apertius, Cic. Planc. 14, 34; cf.: laetitiam apertissime tulimus omnes, id. Att. 14, 13, 2: neque id obscure ferebat nec dissimulare ullo modo poterat, id. Clu. 19, 54: haud clam tulit iram adversus praetorem, Liv. 31, 47, 4; cf.: tacite ejus verecundiam non tulit senatus, quin, etc., id. 5, 28, 1.—
b. Prae se ferre, to show, manifest, to let be seen, to declare: cujus rei tantae facultatem consecutum esse me, non profiteor: secutum me esse, prae me fero, Cic. N. D. 1, 5, 12: noli, quaeso, prae te ferre, vos plane expertes esse doctrinae, id. ib. 2, 18, 47: non mediocres terrores ... prae se fert et ostentat, id. Att. 2, 23, 3: hanc virtutem prae se ferunt, Quint. 2, 13, 11: liberalium disciplinarum prae se scientiam tulit, id. 12, 11, 21: magnum animum (verba), id. 11, 1, 37.—Of inanim. and abstr. subjects: (comae) turbatae prae se ferre aliquid affectus videntur, Quint. 11, 3, 148: oratio prae se fert felicissimam facilitatem, id. 10, 1, 11.—
7. Of speech, to report, relate, make known, assert, celebrate: haec omnibus ferebat sermonibus, Caes. B. C. 2, 17, 2: alii alia sermonibus ferebant Romanos facturos, Liv. 33, 32, 3: ferte sermonibus et multiplicate fama bella, id. 4, 5, 6: patres ita fama ferebant, quod, etc., id. 23, 31, 13; cf. with acc.: hascine propter res maledicas famas ferunt, Plaut. Trin. 1, 2, 149: famam, id. Pers. 3, 1, 23: fama eadem tulit, Tac. A. 1, 5; cf. id. ib. 15, 60: nec aliud per illos dies populus credulitate, prudentes diversa fama, tulere, talk about, id. ib. 16, 2: inimici famam non ita, ut nata est, ferunt, Plaut. Pers. 3, 1, 23: quod fers, cedo, tell, say, Ter. Ph. 5, 6, 17: nostra (laus) semper feretur et praedicabitur, etc., Cic. Arch. 9, 21.—With an object-clause: cum ipse ... acturum se id per populum aperte ferret, Liv. 28, 40, 2; id. ib. § 1: saepe homines morbos magis esse timendos ferunt quam Tartara leti, Lucr. 3, 42: Prognen ita velle ferebat, Ov. M. 6, 470; 14, 527: ipsi territos se ferebant, Tac. H. 4, 78; id. A. 4, 58; 6, 26 (32); cf.: mihi fama tulit fessum te caede procubuisse, etc., Verg. A. 6, 503: commentarii ad senatum missi ferebant, Macronem praesedisse, etc., Tac. A. 6, 47 (53).—
b. Ferunt, fertur, feruntur, etc., they relate, tell, say; it is said, it appears, etc.—With inf.: quin etiam Xenocratem ferunt, cum quaereretur ex eo, etc... respondisse, etc., Cic. Rep. 1, 2: fuisse quendam ferunt Demaratum, etc., id. ib. 2, 19: quem ex Hyperboreis Delphos ferunt advenisse, id. N. D. 3, 23, 57; Hor. C. 3, 17, 2: homo omnium in dicendo, ut ferebant, accrrimus et copiosissimus, Cic. de Or. 1, 11, 45: Ceres fertur fruges ... mortalibus instituisse, Lucr. 5, 14: in Syria quoque fertur item locus esse, etc., id. 6, 755: is Amulium regem interemisse fertur, Cic. Rep. 2, 3: qui in contione dixisse fertur, id. ib. 2, 10 fin.: quam (urbem) Juno fertur terris omnibus unam coluisse, Verg. A. 1, 15: non sat idoneus Pugnae ferebaris, you were accounted, held, Hor. C. 2, 19, 27: si ornate locutus est, sicut fertur et mihi videtur, Cic. de Or. 1, 11, 49; cf.: cum quaestor ex Macedonia venissem Athenas florente Academia, ut temporibus illis ferebatur, id. ib. § 45.—
c. To give out, to pass off a person or thing by any name or for any thing; and, in the pass., to pass for any thing, to pass current: hunc (Mercurium) omnium inventorem artium ferunt, Caes. B. G. 6, 17, 1: ut Servium conditorem posteri famā ferrent, Liv. 1, 42, 4: qui se Philippum regiaeque stirpis ferebat, cum esset ultimae, set himself up for, boast, Vell. 1, 11, 1: avum M. Antonium, avunculum Augustum ferens, boasting of, Tac. A. 2, 43; cf.: qui ingenuum se et Lachetem mutato nomine coeperat ferre, Suet. Vesp. 23: ante Periclem, cujus scripta quaedam feruntur, Cic. Brut. 7, 27 (quoted paraphrastically, Quint. 3, 1, 12): sub nomine meo libri ferebantur artis rhetoricae, Quint. prooem. 7; cf.: cetera, quae sub nomine meo feruntur, id. 7, 2, 24; Suet. Caes. 55; id. Aug. 31; id. Caes. 20: multa ejus (Catonis) vel provisa prudenter vel acta constanter vel responsa acute ferebantur, Cic. Lael. 2, 6: qua ex re in pueritia nobilis inter aequales ferebatur, Nep. Att. 1, 3.—
8. Polit. and jurid. t. t.
a. Suffragium or sententiam, to give in one's vote, to vote, Varr. R. R. 3, 2, 1; cf.: ferunt suffragia, Cic. Rep. 1, 31; id. Fam. 11, 27, 7: de quo foedere populus Romanus sententiam non tulit, id. Balb. 15, 34; cf.: de quo vos (judices) sententiam per tabellam feretis, Cic. Verr. 2, 4, 47, § 104; so of the voting of judges, id. Clu. 26, 72; of senators: parcite, ut sit qui in senatu de bello et pace sententiam ferat, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 31, § 76; cf. id. Fam. 11, 21, 2.—
b. Legem (privilegium, rogationem) ad populum, or absol., to bring forward or move a proposition, to propose a law, etc.: perniciose Philippus in tribunatu, cum legem agrariam ferret, etc., Cic. Off. 2, 21, 73; cf. id. Sull. 23, 65: quae lex paucis his annis lata esset, id. Corn. 1, 3 (vol. xi. p. 10 B. and K.): familiarissimus tuus de te privilegium tulit, ut, etc., id. Par. 4, 32: Sullam illam rogationem de se nolle ferri (shortly before: Lex ferri coepta), id. Sull. 23, 65: rogationem de aliquo, contra or in aliquem, ad populum, ad plebem, id. Balb. 14, 33; id. Clu. 51, 140; id. Brut. 23, 89; Caes. B. C. 3, 1, 4; Liv. 33, 25, 7: nescis, te ipsum ad populum tulisse, ut, etc., proposed a bill, Cic. Phil. 2, 43, 100: ut P. Scaevola tribunus plebis ferret ad plebem, vellentne, etc., id. Fin. 2, 16, 54; cf. Liv. 33, 25, 6: quod Sulla ipse ita tulit de civitate, ut, etc., Cic. Caecin. 35, 102: nihil de judicio ferebat, id. Sull. 22, 63: cum, ut absentis ratio haberetur, ferebamus, id. Att. 7, 6, 2.—Impers.: lato ut solet ad populum, ut equum escendere liceret, Liv. 23, 14, 2. —
c. Judicem, said of the plaintiff, to offer or propose to the defendant as judge: quem ego si ferrem judicem, refugere non deberet, Cic. Rosc. Com. 15, 45; id. de Or. 2, 70, 285.—Hence, judicem alicui, in gen., to propose a judge to, i. e. to bring a suit against, to sue a person: se iterum ac saepius judicem illi ferre, Liv. 3, 57, 5; 3, 24, 5; 8, 33, 8.—
9. Mercant. t. t., to enter, to set or note down a sum in a book: quod minus Dolabella Verri acceptum rettulit, quam Verres illi expensum tulerit, etc., i. e. has set down as paid, has paid, Cic. Verr. 2, 1, 39, § 100 sq., v. expendo.—
10. Absol., of abstr. subjects, to require, demand, render necessary; to allow, permit, suffer: ita sui periculi rationes ferre ac postulare, Cic. Verr. 2, 5, 40, § 105; cf.: gravioribus verbis uti, quam natura fert, id. Quint. 18, 57: quid ferat Fors, Enn. ap. Cic. Off. 1, 12, 38 (Ann. 203 ed. Vahl.): quamdiu voluntas Apronii tulit, Cic. Verr. 2, 3, 23, § 57: ut aetas illa fert, as is usual at that time of life, id. Clu. 60, 168: ad me, ut tempora nostra, non ut amor tuus fert, vere perscribe, id. Q. Fr. 1, 4, 5: quod ita existimabam tempora rei publicae ferre, id. Pis. 2, 5: si ita commodum vestrum fert, id. Agr. 2, 28, 77: proüt Thermitani hominis facultates ferebant, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 34, § 83: si vestra voluntas feret, if such be your pleasure, id. de Imp. Pomp. 24, 70: ut opinio et spes et conjectura nostra fert, according to our opinion, hope, and belief, id. Att. 2, 25, 2: ut mea fert opinio, according to my opinion, id. Clu. 16, 46: si occasio tulerit, if occasion require, Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 21, 6: dum tempus ad eam rem tulit, sivi, animum ut expleret suum, Ter. And. 1, 2, 17: in hac ratione quid res, quid causa, quid tempus ferat, tu perspicies, Cic. Fam. 1, 7, 6: natura fert, ut extrema ex altera parte graviter, ex altera autem acute sonent, id. Rep. 6, 18.—Impers.: sociam se cujuscumque fortunae, et, si ita ferret, comitem exitii promittebat (sc. res or fortuna), Tac. A. 3, 15; so, si ita ferret, id. H. 2, 44.

Origins

A suppletive paradigm consisting of two different roots. The present stem is from Proto-Italic *ferō, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti (“to bear, carry”), from the root *bʰer-. Cognates include Sanskrit भरति (bhárati), Persian بار (bâr), Old Armenian բերեմ (berem), Ancient Greek φέρω (phérō), Old English beran (English bear). The perfect stem, originally of tollō, is from Proto-Italic *tetolai, from Proto-Indo-European *tetólh₂e (“to be holding up”), from the root *telh₂-. The stem of lātus has the same root, reduced from Proto-Italic *tlātos, from Proto-Indo-European *tl̥h₂tós. It is cognate with English thole (“to endure”), German dulden (“to endure”). False cognate of Old English ferian (whence English ferry).

Descendants
  • Sardinianferrere
  • Franco-Provençalfierre
  • Old Ligurianferir

Quick answers

What does ferō mean in Latin?
ferō, a verb, means “to bear; to carry; to support, hold up”.
What are the principal parts of ferō?
ferō, ferre, tulī, lātum (third conjugation, suppletive).
How do you pronounce ferō?
In classical Latin, [ˈfɛ.roː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [ˈfɛː.ro].