[THE GENITIVE.]
[1226.] The genitive is principally used with nouns, less frequently with verbs. Sometimes even when it seems to be dependent on a verb, it really depends on a substantive understood, or on a noun virtually contained or implied in the verb. Some verbs require an accusative also, in addition to the genitive.
[I. THE GENITIVE WITH SUBSTANTIVES.]
[1227.] A substantive is often limited by another substantive in the genitive.
The things denoted by the two words are usually distinct: as, metus hostium, the fear of the enemy, i.e. either (a.) which they feel ([1231]), or (b.) which is felt towards them ([1260]); magnī ponderis saxa, stones of great weight ([1239]). Sometimes, however, they are more or less the same: as, mīlitum pars, part of the soldiers ([1242]); magna multitūdō perditōrum hominum, a perfect swarm of desperadoes ([1255]).
[1228.] Two or even three genitives expressing different relations, sometimes limit one substantive: as, superiōrum diērum Sabīnī cunctātiō, 3, 18, 6, Sabinus’s dilatoriness in days preceding. eōrum diērum cōnsuētūdine itineris nostrī exercitūs perspectā, 2, 17, 2, studying up the order of march followed by our army in those days.
[1229.] The limited substantive is often omitted, when it is obvious from the context: as, ventum erat ad Vestae, sc. aedem, H. S. 1, 9, 35, to Vesta’s were we come, i.e. to her temple. aberam bīduī, sc. iter, Att. 5, 17, 1, I was two days distant. Usually so, when it is expressed with another genitive, which generally precedes: as, quis est, quī possit cōnferre vītam Trebōnī cum Dolābellae? Ph. 11, 9, who is there that can compare the life of Trebonius with Dolabella’s?
[1230.] Instead of the genitive depending on a substantive, an equivalent adjective or a prepositional expression is often used. Such substitutions will be mentioned below in their appropriate places.
[1231.] The relations expressed by the limiting genitive vary very much according to the context. These relations may be put in classes, as below ([1232-1260]). But it must be remembered that as the genitive connects substantives in a loose way, the same construction may sometimes be referred to more than one head.