J. CUM CLAUSES
The temporal, causal, and concessive uses of cum have already been given separately. Cum was originally a temporal conjunction. From the temporal idea were developed its other meanings. So the English when frequently contains the ideas of time and cause, or time and concession combined, and while also is frequently at once temporal and concessive. So cum also may represent these ideas in combination as well as separately. In many cases, indeed, it is difficult, if not impossible, to decide which meaning is more prominent: cf.
Cum (when and since) lupa saepius ad parvulōs . . reverterētur, [I, 16]; Hīs artibus cum (when and although) Hannibalem Fabius . . clausisset, ille . . sē expedīvit, [XIX, 31].
K. THE ABLATIVE ABSOLUTE
1. Form.—
The ablative absolute consists usually of a noun and a participle. The participle is generally passive, but often active: Eō rēgnante, [IV, 3]; relābente flūmine, [I, 9].
2. Often, however, the ablative absolute consists of a noun and adjective, or of two nouns, or a noun and pronoun. In such cases there is an ellipsis of the lost present participle of sum:
māgnā glōriā bellī, [IV, 75]; parī ferē ōrnātū, [X, 6]; Appiō iūdice, [XII, 15]; Valeriō et Cossō cōnsulibus, [XIV, 1].
[3.] Meaning.—The ablative absolute may denote
Time; compare Temporal Clauses, G 1, 2, and 5.