Expert: Maria - 7/11/2011

Question
Thank you in advance for your time. I was curious if "tantum ex mea amore" might be a functional or even partially correct adaptation of "ex amore" which as far as I know is equivalent to the English "sincerely" sign off for a letter.  Thank you again. Best wishes for a pleasant day.

Answer
Hello,

I am sorry, but I have to tell you that "tantum ex mea amore" is grammatically wrong in Latin where this phrase would make no sense at all, as “tantum” used as an adverb would mean “So much/only/but”, whereas the possessive “mea” in the feminine is wrong as it should be “meo”(my)in the masculine agreed with the ablative masculine “amore” (love).

Moreover the Latin indirect object "ex amore" literally means “from love” like in “Ex amore vita” meaning “From love comes life”.

In short, the literal translation of "tantum ex mea amore" would sound as "So much/ but from my love" that is absolutely incorrect.

To conclude, firstly neither the wrong phrase "tantum ex mea amore"  nor “ex amore” are equivalent to the English "sincerely" sign off for a letter; secondly, I  have to point out that in Latin at the conclusion of letters it was needed to write  “Vale” as well as “Valeas” or "Cura ut valeas", all literally meaning ”Be healthy” and then “Farewell”.

No other expression of greeting was used in Latin epistolary style at the conclusion of letters.

Hope this is clear enough.

Best regards,
Maria