Sequi

Sequi is a Latin verb meaning to follow or to come after. It is a deponent verb of the third conjugation, which means it has passive morphology but active meaning in translation. The dictionary entry is sequor, sequi, secutus sum, and its forms are built from the root sequ-.

The principal parts establish its paradigm. In the present system, the forms are sequor, sequeris, sequetur, sequimur, sequimini, sequentur, used with active meaning (I follow, you follow, he follows, etc.). The imperfect is sequebar, sequebaris, sequebatur, sequebamur, sequebamini, sequebantur. The future is sequar, sequeris, sequetur, sequemur, sequemini, sequentur. The perfect is secutus sum, secutus es, secutus est, secuti sumus, secuti estis, secuti sunt, with the meaning “I have followed,” etc. The pluperfect and future perfect are formed from the same participle with appropriate auxiliary forms. The imperative is sequere (singular) and sequimini (plural); the negative imperative is noli sequi.

In usage, sequi typically takes a direct object in the accusative when referring to following a person or thing, e.g., ego te sequor “I follow you.” The phrase sequitur illa sententia means “that follows” or “it follows.” The verb is common in classical prose and poetry, especially in expressions of sequence, consequence, or literal following. Its semantic range includes both physical following and logical continuation.

Etymology and derivatives: sequ- comes from the Latin root meaning to follow, related to English sequence, consecutive, sequel, and subsequent. The verb also furnishes related nouns such as sequi- and sequentia in Latin, and contributes to the family of words describing order and progression in many languages.