invalidam

Invalidam is the feminine accusative singular form of the Latin adjective invalidus, meaning weak, infirm, or disabled. In Latin, adjectives agree with the nouns they modify in gender, number, and case, so the form ending -am marks feminine accusative singular. As a result, invalidam commonly appears in sentences where a feminine noun in the direct object position is present, and it can also occur as a substantive referring to a sick or disabled person when the noun is understood from context.

Origin and sense: The root invalidus is derived from in- ‘not’ + validus ‘strong.’ The term conveys physical or moral weakness and has been used in classical, late antique, and medieval Latin to describe persons who are ill or otherwise incapacitated. In some texts, the feminine form invalidam is used with implied nouns such as “the invalid (woman)” where the noun is omitted but understood from context.

Usage and translation: In Latin pedagogy, invalidam serves as an illustrative form for teaching agreement and the use of substantives. In English-language editions of Latin texts, the form is typically translated as “the invalid” or “an invalid (woman)” depending on context, though modern usage often favors terminology that emphasizes the person rather than the condition.

See also: Latin grammar; Latin adjectives; substantive usage of adjectives in Latin; disability in classical literature.