Ablative of Quality.
[224]. The Ablative, modified by an adjective, is used to denote quality; as,—
puella eximiā fōrmā, a girl of exceptional beauty;
vir singulārī industriā, a man of singular industry.
1. The Ablative of Quality may also be used predicatively; as,—
est magnā prūdentiā, he is (a man) of great wisdom;
bonō animā sunt, they are of good courage.
2. In place of the Adjective we sometimes find a limiting Genitive; as,—
sunt speciē et colōre taurī, they are of the appearance and color of a bull,
3. In poetry the Ablative of Quality sometimes denotes material; as,—
scopulīs pendentībus antrum, a cave of arching rocks.