VOTis

Votis is a form found in classical Latin grammar. It is the dative and ablative plural of votum, the neuter noun meaning a vow, a promise, or a votive offering. As a result, votis is used to render the sense “to the vows” or “by the vow” in Latin sentences and inscriptions.

Etymology and form: votum is a second-declension neuter noun. Its plural dative and plural ablative endings are -is, yielding votis. This form appears especially in contexts involving religious vows, dedications, or votive gifts, where the action relates to the vows or to what is offered in fulfillment of a vow.

Usage in Latin texts: In classical writings and inscriptions, votis appears when indicating the indirect object of a vow-related action (to/for the vows) or when expressing the means by which a vow is fulfilled. The neuter nature of votum means that the plural form votis governs both the dative and ablative usages, depending on the syntactic role within a sentence.

Modern usage: The form votis is primarily encountered in scholarly discussions of Latin grammar, epigraphy, and liturgical language. It is not an English word with independent usage outside of linguistic or historical analysis, but rather a grammatical inflection within Latin.

See also: votum (vow), votive offering, votive, votare (to vow).