De elegantiis terminorum

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Ad to/at signifies "near," as in adest petrus Peter is present/at hand. Secondly, "against," as in ad illum pugno I fight against him. Thirdly, "reason," as in ad quid venisti for what purpose did you come. Fourthly, "approximately," as in ad sex milia about six thousand. Fifthly, "greatly," as in admirandum est it is to be marveled at.
Adeo so/to such a degree with an adjective signifies "greatly," as in vir adeo bonus a man so good. It also signifies "to such an extent," especially when ut follows, as in petrus adeo stultet ut omnes socios excellat Peter is so foolish that he excels all his companions.
Adulari to fawn/flatter is to serve or to try to capture someone's favor by voice or gesture.
Assentari to agree insincerely/flatter is to praise someone insidiously and falsely. Blandiri to caress/coax properly pertains to touch, and by translation to other senses, and sometimes it is referred to the mind. Likewise, blandiri and adulari also apply to mute animals, as is evident in a dog; assentari, however, does not.
Afficio and afficior to affect/to be affected vary their meaning according to the ablative joined to them, as in afficio te voluptate I bring you pleasure. Afficio te laudibus I praise you. Afficio te promotione vel honore I promote or honor you. Thus, afficio inimicos dolore, tristicia, etc. I affect my enemies with pain, sadness, etc. Likewise, afficior dolore I am in pain, afficior gaudio I rejoice, afficior tristicia I am sad.
Alias otherwise is an adversative conjunction, meaning "otherwise," as in doctus vir alias malus a learned man [who is] otherwise bad. Alias is also an adverb of time, meaning "at another time." It is also used for separating, meaning "differently."
Alter the other is of two. But alius another is said of many [more than] two. In Scripture: Alter alterius onera portate Bear one another's burdens. Alter is placed for alio in the Greek manner. If, however, there are many things but not divided into two parts, one should speak by alter and not by alios, as in "men are twofold: some are good, others are evil." And alteri alteros persequuntur some persecute others; it will not be said alii alios.
Altilia fatted animals/fowl is said not only from ala wing but also from alendo feeding; it also signifies pigs.
Allucinare to wander in mind/hallucinate is from light, meaning not to dream vain things, but to wander in error and darkness.
Amare to love is more than diligere to esteem/value. Adamare to fall in love with is to love with passion.
Ambitio, ambitus, ambitiosus are in the excessive desire of the mind for honor and praise, but not for riches. For he who desires honors and praise beyond measure is ambitiosus.
An whether/or, we use it with a question and without it, as in dubito an vivat I doubt whether he lives, or aut mortuus sit or is dead. As a conjunction, it gives doubt to the indicative; it is wrong not to use it doubtfully. Scio an vivat I know whether he lives, an sive vel mortuus sit whether or he is dead. But it is well used by aut, as in scio aut mortuus est aut egrotat I know either he is dead or he is sick. To the indicative, it gives a verb of knowledge or opinion.
Anniculus one-year-old is a thing of one year. Bimus two-years-old is a thing of two years. Trimus three-years-old of three, Quadrimus four-years-old of four years, as wine is anniculum. And corn bimum, trimum. Concerning children, however, we speak more through the diminutive, as in "this boy is bimulus two years old, trimulus, quadrimulus." But annulus ring is a diminutive from annus year.