[MR] The Plural of Vivat

[Tricia Donadio]

I'd be delighted!

The cheer we use in court, on the fields of valor, and to generally
congratulate someone is "vivat", meaning "long life".  Adding a "s" to the
end of it is not the correct way to make it plural.  If you want to cheer a
single person several times, saying vivat two or three time is perfectly
acceptable.  Attempting to wish someone "long lives" is a bit silly, and it
not grammatically correct.

The plural, when cheering more than one person, is "vivant".  For instance,
I might raise a cheer to our new heirs by saying "Vivant Sinclair and Kari".
I could also say this cheer several times, but would not say "vivants".

I hope this helps some of our newer (and not so new) members!

Regards,
Duchess Padraigin


-----Original Message-----
From: atlantia-bounces at atlantia.sca.org
[mailto:atlantia-bounces at atlantia.sca.org] On Behalf Of Beverly
Robinson-Curry
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 4:00 PM
To: 'Merry Rose'
Subject: [MR] The Plural of Vivat

Duchess Padraigin,

 

You and I have been discussing the usage of the term "vivat" in the third
person singular and the correct conversion to plural.  Could you enlighten
all of us with the definition and correct usage when saluting a duo or group
as opposed to an individual/entity?

 

Rhiannon

 

Mistress Rhiannon ui Neill

Triton Principal Herald

House Corvus, Atlantia