Newton Principia: Definitiones

Sir Isaac Newton
Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica
 

Author’s Preface to Reader (translation
by Andrew Motte, 1729)

Definitiones (this page)

Characteristics of Newton’s Latin:

Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica

Title Page (3rd edition, 1726)

Notes: (see also Characteristics of Newton’s Latin)
    Philosophiae Naturalis


Notes:

Definitio I:

I.: (ordinal) prima. For the period, see Characteristics of Newton’s Latin.
orta: < orior, oriri, ortus sum arise
conjunctim (adverb; *note –(t)im suffix): together, jointly (i.e. multiplied together)

line 3 *summa, -ae: sum
line 4 duplo: by two, doubly (adverbial ablative degree of difference)
            duplus est
[motus]
: duplus, -a, -um (adjective)
            duplā: What does this modify?

line 2: vis insita: innate force (vs. vis impressa):  The phrase was old (Horace, Cicero, Kepler, etc.). but Newton was redefining it.
3 quantum in se est: as much as in it lies; as much as possible (cf. Magna Carta; Descartes)
3-4 vel . . . vel
uniform-iter: What part of speech?

5 Haec: = vis insita
5-6 quicquam: adverbial
9-10 solummodo: (adv.) only [L&S s.v. solus, adv. A2]
11 factā
est:
linking verb (not there is; see "Characteristics").
11-12 & resistentia & impetus both . . . and (does not connect these with respectu)
13 vi: dative (with cedendo)
14 obstaculum, -i, nt.: obstacle, hindrance [L & S]
17 ab invicem: from each other

exercita: exerted

line 6 vi centripeta: see Definitio V (next)


line 1 versus: (preposition + acc.) towards
punctum: point
2-3 utcumque: in some way
7 funda: sling
9 eo-que . . . quo: correlative (the more . . . the more)
13 gyrum: circle, ring
Note: Newton says there are three kinds of quantities of centripital force: absoluta (Definitio VI), acceleratrix (Definitio VII), and motrix (Definitio VIII).

quantitas absoluta: absolute quantity
maior vel minor: i.e. proportional

magnes, magnetis, m.
magnet, loadstone [L&S]
intensione
: intensity
virtutis: force

Notes:

quantitas acceleratrix (-trix adj. suffix): accelerative quanitity
eadem [vis]
propterea quod [propterea sets up "quod" because; cf. eo quod]
for the reason that; because
sublata aeris resistentia: ablative absolute
            sublata (< tollo): taken away
            resistentia: noun (not participle): resistence

Definitio VIII. (1st paragraph)

quantitas motrix: motive quantity
uti: variant form of the conjunction "ut" (here: as)

Axiomata sive Leges Motus (text and notes)
Liber Primus: De Motu Corporum [without resistence]

Liber Secundus: De Motu Corporum
[with resistence]

Liber Tertius: De Mundi Systemate
            Preface (translation by Andrew Motte)
           
Regulae Philosophandi (text and notes)
            Phaenomena.
            Propositiones. 
(Tides: (text and notes)

Scholium Generale