2006-06-16 09:16:11 · 6 answers · asked by His 5 in Business & Finance ➔ Other - Business & Finance
"He (God) has favored our undertakings."
2006-06-16 09:19:16 · answer #1 · answered by Melissa A 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Annuit Cœptis is one of two mottos (the other being Novus Ordo Seclorum) on the reverse side of the Great Seal of the United States. Taken from the Latin words annuo (to nod, approve) and cœpio (to begin, undertake), it literally means someone or something "favors the things having been begun."
2016-05-19 21:33:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Great Seal Mottoes
Annuit Cœptis
Providence Has Favored Our Undertakings
The Latin motto "Annuit Cœptis" was suggested by Charles Thomson when he put together the final design for the reverse side of the Great Seal in June 1782:
"A Pyramid unfinished. In the Zenith an Eye in a triangle surrounded with a glory proper. Over the Eye these words 'Annuit Cœptis'."
The motto has been traced to Virgil, the renowned Roman poet who lived in the first century B.C. – to a line in his Georgics, the evocative instructional manual for farmers:
"Da facilem cursum, atque audacibus annue cœptis."
Virgil's line has been translated in different ways, including:
Give me an easy course, and favor my daring undertakings.
Smooth my path, condone this enterprise of bold experiment.
Thomson (a Latin expert) changed "annue" to "annuit," the third person form of this verb that means to nod assent to, to be favorable to, to smile on.
"Cœptis" means undertakings, endeavors, beginnings.
In the motto "Annuit Cœptis," the subject must be supplied. Thomson explained:
"The pyramid signifies Strength and Duration: the Eye over it & the Motto allude to the many signal interpositions of providence in favour of the American cause."
Therefore, the subject of the sentence is Providence. "Annuit Cœptis" means "Providence has favored our undertakings" or "Providence favors our undertakings."
The official translation of "Annuit Cœptis" is:
"He (God) has favored our undertakings.
2006-06-16 09:20:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Annuit Cœptis is one of two mottos (the other being Novus Ordo Seclorum) on the reverse side of the Great Seal of the United States. Taken from the Latin words annuo (to nod, approve) and cœpto (to begin, undertake), it literally means someone or something "has approved our beginnings".
2006-06-16 09:20:02 · answer #4 · answered by jay_bmore 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Providence has favored our undertakings
2006-06-16 09:23:47 · answer #5 · answered by spirited_freegoddess 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"has approved our beginnings"
2006-06-16 09:20:05 · answer #6 · answered by podaleiros 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋