caedimus

Caedimus is a Latin verb form meaning “we cut” or “we kill.” It is the first person plural present indicative active of the verb caedere, which covers senses of striking down, cutting, or slaughtering, depending on context. In English translations, caedimus is rendered as “we cut” or “we kill” with the object determining the nuance.

Etymology and forms: The verb caedere is a member of the Latin third conjugation and is associated with nouns such as caedes (slaughter, murder). The present indicative active forms include caedo, caedis, caedit, caedimus, caeditis, caedunt, with caedimus specifically serving as the “we cut/we kill” form. The standard principal parts are caedo, caedere, cecidi, caesum.

Usage: Caedimus appears in classical Latin prose and poetry where a plural subject engages in cutting, killing, or more metaphorical destruction. Its exact sense is determined by the direct object: caedimus silvas (“we cut down the forests”) versus caedimus hostes (“we kill/slay the enemies”). Like other Latin verbs, its tense and aspect are expressed through endings rather than auxiliaries.

Modern relevance: Caedimus functions primarily as a grammatical example in Latin instruction and textual studies. It illustrates the present tense of a third-conjugation verb and helps learners recognize how Latin verbs encode person, number, and action within a single word.