Priori Incantatem/ Prior Incantato (was: Re: prior incantantum... )

[eloise_herisson]

No: HPFGUIDX 124296


Geoff:

>slightly differing forms of the 
> spell wording are mentioned. Amos Diggory uses "Prior Incantato" 
> which sounds suspiciously like a genitive whereas "Priori 
> Incantatem" - which is not actually heard being used in this book - 
> looks like an accusative. I am trying to remember whether any of 
> the spells used in the books appear in more than one version and, 
> if so, if that affects the result."

I don't recall any other case where spells occur in more than one 
version. This is part of my argument (aside from Dumbledore's 
description) that Priori Incantatem isn't a spell as such, but an 
associated natural magical phenomenon (an "effect" as Dumbledore 
called it). I see a "spell" as something which is intentionally cast.

Regarding the Latin, remember both that JKR has said she makes the 
spells up and that we know from previous analysis that she doesn't 
use classical Latin, but words that are derived from, or sound like 
they should be derived from, Latin. As far as I can ascertain, 
neither incantato nor incantatem are proper Latin words. Incantator 
is an enchanter or wizard and incantationem is an enchantment or 
spell. 

You're right that Incantatem sounds like it should be an accusative. 
Incantato sounds like the first person singular of a verb. JKR tends 
to use this form for spoken incantations (Accio, Crucio, Densaugeo, 
Diffindo, Engorgio,  Evanesco,  Expecto Patronum, etc. etc.) although 
then she goes and confuses things by also using incantations that 
sound like nominative or accusative nouns (Aparecium, Deletrius). 
What the difference between the use of prior and priori is, I have no 
idea. I think priori is a dative.

~Eloise