Elementary Latin question

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AngelicDoctor

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What is the meaning of:
“Aversio a Deo”
and
“Conversio ad Deum”?

Is conversio ad Deum, “turn back to God” (as in convert)

while aversio ad Deum… turn from God?

I know both Deo and Deum are God, and Deum is God as an object… but what case is Deo?

I should not have dropped out of elementary Latin.
 
“Aversio” is the Latin root for the English word “aversion” and in both cases means turning away.
 
AngelicDoctor said:
Yes, but why Deo vs. Deum?
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It is ablative vs. accusative

Active motion away from a place is only one particular use of the ablative case and is called the ablative of place from which. A closely related construction is called the ablative of separation. This usage of the ablative implies that some person or thing is separated from another. (from wikipedia, keyword:ablative)
 
Furthermore, “Deum” is an object, but not an object of the verb, rather an object of the preposition. “Ad” simply takes the accusative, just as “a” takes the ablative.
 
Going back to the late 1950’s when I had Latin grammar, and I agree that my memory is probably foggy on this, But I think “Deo” is the nominative singular meaning God. I think “Deum” is the genitive singular meaning “of God”. If there are any Latin scholars out there, help me.
Deacon Ed B
 
Deacon_Ed_B said:
Going back to the late 1950’s when I had Latin grammar, and I agree that my memory is probably foggy on this, But I think “Deo” is the nominative singular meaning God. I think “Deum” is the genitive singular meaning “of God”. If there are any Latin scholars out there, help me.
Deacon Ed B
Click to expand...
Nope, Andreas Hofer above is correct. “Deus” is the nominative; “Dei” is the genitive.
 
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