Avada Kedavra Meaning

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 84821

> Another question that has bugged me a bit is whether there is
> an actual, significant, difference between the phrases 'Prior
> Incantato' and 'Priori Incantatem' - I originally thought that
> the latter was plural, but both are singular.
> 
> Any help on those two would certainly be much appreciated.
> 

Geoff:
Without having a Latin dictionary to hand, I have a feeling 
that "Prior Incantato" is bad Latin. Prior seems to lack a case 
ending. Incantato smacks of a Dative to me. The second "looks" more 
correct to me though Incantatem seems like an Accusative.

There are other examples in HP of possible misuse. The curses should, 
I think have a "-us" (Nominative) ending; Cruciatus, Imperius etc. 
whereas the command word is a Vocative; Crucio, Imperio etc.

I'll have to see if I can root out a Latin primer. It's a long, long 
timne since I did Latin but it was a fine language to learn - gives 
you and enormous insight into linguistics and other languages with a 
case structure - like German for example.