Adiuvtum

Adiuvtum is a term that appears in discussions of Latin grammar as the neuter singular supine form of the verb adiuvāre, meaning “to help” or “to aid.” In classical Latin, the supine of a verb in the first conjugation typically takes the form with -ātum or -itum, and for adiuvāre the theoretical supine is often cited as adiūtum. Because Latin orthography without diacritical marks can render long vowels differently, adiūtum is sometimes rendered in unaccented texts as adiutum or, less precisely, as adiuvtum. In this sense, adiuvtum is best understood as a pedagogical or reconstructive form rather than a regularly attested form in surviving Latin literature.

Usage and status: The exact form adiūtum is not widely attested in classical authors; it is mainly discussed in grammars and linguistic treatments as a canonical example of how supines are formed from a first-conjugation verb. When used in teaching, adiūtum serves to illustrate the neuter singular supine paradigm and the relationship between the verb and its nominal, action-denoting counterpart. Some modern references cite adiūtum as a hypothetical or textbook-oriented illustration rather than a word commonly found in extant Latin texts.

Origin and morphology: The form derives from the verb adiuvāre with the standard neuter singular supine ending -um, following common Latin patterns for supines. The presence of macrons (adiūtum) signals the classical long ū, which is often omitted in unmarked text.

See also: adiuvāre; adiūtum; supine.