[1269.] For the genitive, with words denoting relationship, connection, friendship, or hostility, see [1203]; with similis, 1204. With dignus and indignus, worthy and unworthy, the ablative is regularly used ([1392]); rarely the genitive: as, nōn ego sum dignus salūtis? Pl. Tri. 1153, don’t I deserve a greeting too? indignus avōrum, V. 12, 649, unworthy of my sires.
[1270.] (3.) In poetry and late prose, the genitive is used very freely with many adjectives of various meanings, often merely to indicate what they apply to: as,
nēmō mīlitāris rē̆ī callidior habēbātur, Ta. H. 2, 32, at soldiering nobody was thought to have a greater knack. vetus operis ac labōris, Ta. 1, 20, an old hand at the toil and moil of army life. aevī mātūrus Acestēs, V. 5, 73, Acestes, ripe in years. sērī studiōrum, H. S. 1, 10, 21, what laggards at your books. integer vītae scelerisque pūrus, H. 1, 22, 1, the man unspotted in his life and clean of sin. fessī rērum, V. 1, 178, in travail spent. satin tū sānu’s mentis aut animī tuī? Pl. Tri. 454, art thou quite right in thy five wits? ([1339]).
[III. THE GENITIVE WITH VERBS.]
[1271.] A few neuter adjectives of quantity are put in the genitive with verbs of valuing to denote the amount of estimation; such genitives are:
| magnī, plūris, plūrimī; parvī, minōris, minimī; tantī, quantī. |
The verbs with which these genitives are used are aestimō, dūcō, faciō, habeō, pendō, putō, and sum; rarely exīstimō: as, magnī opera eius aestimāta est, N. 24, 1, 2, his services were rated high. nōn magnī pendō, Pl. As. 460, I don’t care much. sua parvī pendere, S. C. 12, 2, a setting small store by what they had of their own. Verrēsne tibī̆ tantī fuit? V. 1, 77, was Verres so important in your eyes? est mihī̆ tantī. C. 2, 15, it is well worth my while. quantī is ā cīvibus suīs fieret īgnōrābās? V. 4, 19, did not you know how the man was prized by his own townsmen? Rarely maximī: as, maximī aestimāre, Clu. 159, to think all the world of.
[1272.] In expressions of worthlessness, other genitives are also used thus; such are nihilī, or, usually with a negative, āssis, floccī, naucī, pilī, teruncī: as, nōn āssis facis? Cat. 43, 13, car’st not a doit? So also huius: as, huius nōn faciam, T. Ad. 163, I shall not care a snap.