condemnunt

Condemnunt is a Latin verb form that means “they condemn.” It is the third-person plural present indicative active ending for a verb of the third conjugation, typically formed with a stem that takes the -unt ending in the present tense. In classical Latin, the standard or more common form for the verb “to condemn” is condemnant (from condemnare, a 1st-conjugation verb). The form condemnunt would be expected from a 3rd-conjugation variant of a condemnatory verb.

Etymology and grammatical context

The word condemnunt derives from a Latin verb meaning to condemn. While the best-known Latin verb with that meaning is condemnare (a 1st-conjugation verb often translated “to condemn”), the present active third plural of a 3rd-conjugation counterpart could theoretically appear as condemnunt in Latin texts that use a stem ending in -condemn- and the -unt ending characteristic of the 3rd conjugation. In practice, condemnunt is not the standard form widely attested for condemnation in classical Latin; condemnant is the common form for condemnare. As a result, condemnunt is encountered primarily in discussions of Latin morphology or in texts where a nonstandard or dialectal form is used.

Usage

As a morphological form, condemnunt serves to illustrate how Latin assigns person and number in the present active tense. It translates to “they condemn” in English, though the exact sense depends on the underlying verb and its stem. In ordinary Latin prose, speakers would more commonly use condemnant for condemnare or choose another verb depending on the register and dialect.

See also

Latin verbs, Latin grammar, present indicative, third conjugation, condemnare.