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Ancient Languages/Latin Motto

Expert: Maria - 9/12/2007

Question
Could you please translate "ex nihil panton" into English for me? Thank You.

Answer
Hello,

first of all "ex nihil panton" is a kind of assemblage of two Latin terms (ex nihil) and one Greek word (panton).

Moreover “ex nihil” is not correct in Latin as it should be “ex nihilo” meaning “Out of nothing” (see below), while the ancient Greek word “panton” (meaning "of all things”) is the genitive plural of the adjective “pas” meaning “all” / “whole”/ “every”.

Therefore such a phrase has no sense at all. So, I’m curious to know where you’ve read it.

Best regards,
Maria
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-EX (preposition which takes the ablative case) = out of

-NIHILO (ablative of NIHIL, nothing) = nothing

-PANTON (Greek, genitive plural of the adjective “pas”(masculine), “pasa”(feminine), “pan” (neuter) meaning “all” / “whole”/ “every”)= of all things

Questioner's Rating

Rating(1-10)	Knowledgeability = 10	Clarity of Response = 10	Politeness = 10
Comment	I read the phrase on a 'new religion' website as their motto. The claim is that it means - Out of nothing, everything. I was just checking. Thank you so much. You've been very helpful.