expugnatur

Expugnatur is a Latin verb form, the third-person singular present passive indicative of expugno, expugnare, meaning to storm or to take by assault. In its passive form, expugnatur translates as “he/she/it is being captured” or “it is conquered,” and it is commonly found in military and historical narratives.

Etymology and related forms: The verb derives from ex- “out” plus pugnare “to fight.” Related lexemes include expugnatio, a noun meaning a siege or assault; expugnator, a besieger or attacker; and expugnatus, the passive perfect participle meaning “having been captured” and often used adjectivally as “taken.” The word is part of standard classical and medieval Latin vocabulary.

Usage: Expugnatur appears in classical and medieval texts to describe a town, fortress, or stronghold being taken by force. The agent of the action can be expressed with a by-phrase using a or ab, for example, oppidum ab Caesare expugnatur, “the town is captured by Caesar.” It is frequently employed in siege reports and narrative histories to convey the moment of capture from the perspective of the besieged or the event itself.

Notes: As a present passive form, expugnatur contrasts with related forms such as expugnat (active present “he conquers”) and expugnatus (past participle “taken”). The broader verbal family also includes expugnatio (the act of taking by storm) and expugnator (the attacker). Together, these terms illuminate Latin military vocabulary and its handling of siege events.