Expert: Maria - 8/3/2009

Question
My high school Latin has abandoned me!  I'm trying to translate "clearing the way" as a motto for my unit, and I can't find an appropriate verb that captures the connotation I'm looking for.  I mean clear as in removing obstacles.  What translation would you suggest?  Thanks!

Answer
Hello,

The phrase “Clearing the way”  in the sense you say, i.e. “clear” as in removing obstacles,  can be translated as follows:

1-“Viam expeditam facere” in the infinitive  as well as “Viam expeditam faciendo” in the gerund.

2-“Viam expedire” in the infinitive  as well as “Viam expediendo” in the gerund.

All the above translations are correct, of course.

See below for grammatical analysis.

Best regards,
Maria
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-Clearing = EXPEDITAM (accusative feminine of EXPEDITUS agreed with VIAM)  FACERE (infinitive of FACIO) or FACIENDO (gerund in the ablative case as an abl. of means). Otherwise you can use the verb EXPEDIRE (infinitive of EXPEDIO) or EXPEDIENDO (gerund in the ablative case as an abl. of means).

-the way = VIAM (accusative of VIA, 1st.declension)