humilari

Humiliari is the present passive infinitive of the Latin verb humiliare, meaning to be humiliated or to be brought low. In Latin, this non-finite form expresses passive voice and is used in indirect discourse, purpose clauses, and other subordinate constructions where the action is described from the perspective of the subject.

Etymology and form: The verb humiliare comes from the root humilis, meaning low or ground, with the causative suffix -āre, forming a first-conjugation verb. The present passive infinitive ends in -ari, yielding humiliari. The perfect passive infinitive, by contrast, is formed with the perfect participle and esse, e.g., humiliatus esse (to have been humiliated).

Grammar and usage: Humiliari functions like other passive infinitives in Latin. It appears with verbs of saying, thinking, perceiving, or commanding in indirect discourse, as well as in purpose or result clauses. The subject of the infinitive is typically the same as the subject of the controlling main verb. For completed action, Latin uses the perfect passive infinitive (humiliatus esse) rather than a different form of the present infinitive.

Examples:

- Dixit se humiliari. (He said that he was being humiliated.)

- Putavit se humiliari a inimicis. (He thought he was being humiliated by his enemies.)

See also: humiliare, humilius, Latin verb conjugation, indirect discourse in Latin.