emebam

Emebam is a Latin verb form. It is the first person singular imperfect indicative active of the verb emere, which means “to buy.” The form is built from the present stem em- combined with the imperfect ending -ebam, giving emebam. The full imperfect active paradigm for emere in the present system is emebam, emebas, emebat, emebamus, emebatis, emebant.

The imperfect tense in Latin denotes past action that was ongoing, habitual, or not completed at a point in the past. Thus, emebam can be translated as “I was buying” or “I used to buy.” Emere is a third-conjugation verb, and its principal parts are emo (or emō), emere, emi, emptum, from which modern learners derive all other tenses and voices.

Usage and examples: Emebam libros translates to “I was buying books.” Latin word order is flexible, but emebam typically appears with the direct object in the accusative (e.g., libros) and can be reinforced by context or time expressions.

Related forms include the other persons in the imperfect: emebas, emebat, emebamus, emebatis, emebant. The verb’s perfect and supine forms (emi, emptum) appear in other tenses and constructions, but emebam itself is specifically the imperfect indicative active form.

In summary, emebam is a key example of a Latin 3rd-conjugation verb in the imperfect, illustrating how past, ongoing action is expressed with a standard -ebam ending. See emere for full conjugation and related forms.