It goes 'Spiritus septus in nomine. Deus et te domino' from the Kate Bush song Waking the Witch (Hounds of Love album).
From the little Latin I've picked up and the fact it's obviously religion orientated I'm thinking it means 'In the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit.' Can anyone who actually knows tell me if I'm correct or not?
2006-12-07 10:01:03 · 9 answers · asked by Kate 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
It is deliberately garbled Church Latin with oddly placed punctuation. You have several valid interpretations above.
Remember that witches do use "nonsense speak" for their spells (Think of the witches in Macbeth) and perhaps there was also an intention there not to put the exact incantation used in church so as not to offend anyone.
2006-12-07 18:32:47 · answer #1 · answered by WISE OWL 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not quite. I've looked up the lyrics. There are snatches of the blessing, but the words are somewhat distorted, possibly to make everything more sinister. After all, witches are known to say the Lord's Prayer backwards.
Spiritus sanctus in nomine...
"In the name of the Holy Spirit" (almost!)
Deus et dei domino...
"God and of God to the Lord"
It's like what you hear in a Catholic church, but not quite. "In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti" is ""in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." I think there is a deliberate distortion in this song.
2006-12-07 18:25:54 · answer #2 · answered by Doethineb 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sorry but that's wrong "in the name of the father the son and the holy spirit" is written "in nomine patris et fili et spiritus sancti"
2006-12-07 18:10:50 · answer #3 · answered by Peace And Quiet 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The lyrics are actually "Spiritus sanctus in nomine..." (In the name of the Holy Spirit..." then later "Deus et dei domino" (God and the master of God.)
2006-12-08 05:30:20 · answer #4 · answered by Maitreya 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think it's something along the line of 'call upon his name, God and master.'
It's a long time since i studied Latin tho!
Ok, just looked up the first two words which were the ones i wasn't sure of, spiritus = beathe/breathing/soul, septus = surrounding/encircle/enfold.
2006-12-07 18:10:44 · answer #5 · answered by L D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Breath seven upon by name. God and you master
Maybe you wrote it wrong because that is the direct translation.
Septus is 7
2006-12-07 18:44:38 · answer #6 · answered by Roni 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't speak Latin, but I don't think that's right.
I think septus might be 7.
2006-12-07 18:09:58 · answer #7 · answered by SteveT 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"Holy Spirit in name. God and your master."
2006-12-07 18:15:52 · answer #8 · answered by hailesaladdie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means...hmm not sure about the first part...but the second bit means god and your master...
2006-12-07 18:10:32 · answer #9 · answered by ~Grace~ 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋