laudare

Laudare is a Latin verb meaning "to praise." It is a regular first-conjugation verb, and its present-active infinitive is laudāre. In standard reference form, it appears with the four principal parts laudō, laudāre, laudāvī, laudātum, which supply the main tense and mood stems: the first part for the present, the second for the infinitive, the third for the perfect, and the fourth for the supine or perfect passive participle.

As a regular verb, laudare follows the standard first-conjugation endings in the active voice. Present indicative active forms are laudo (I praise), laudas (you praise), laudat (he/she/it praises), laudāmus (we praise), laudātis (you all praise), laudant (they praise). Imperfect active is laudābam, laudābās, laudābat, laudābāmus, laudābātis, laudābant; future active includes laudābō, laudābis, laudābit, laudābimus, laudābitis, laudābunt. The perfect active is laudāvī, laudāvistī, laudāvit, laudāvimus, laudāvistis, laudāvērunt. Passive forms parallel these with appropriate endings, e.g., laudor, laudāris, laudātur, laudāmur, laudāminī, laudantur.

Usage of laudare centers on praising someone or something, often with a direct object in the accusative (laudare virum, “to praise the man”). It is common in religious, rhetorical, and literary contexts, where praise of gods, heroes, or actions is expressed. The verb also yields several derivatives, such as laudatio (a speech of praise or laudation), laudator (a praiser), laudabilis (praiseworthy), and laudātum or laudāndum forms used in participial constructions. In addition, the passive infinitive laudārī and related forms appear in indirect discourse and certain periphrastic constructions.