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

Here's a tip...:[X] [X - Day]
Tip: When you have to look up a word, make a mark in the margin or highlight it (or write it down).
If you look it up (again) and find it marked, mark it differently (e.g. highlight in darker color).
Come up with a system for learning/reviewing ones that keep coming up.