Latin motto question

[euel]

Hi all!  First time poster here.

I'm working on a super hero webcomic, and I need a motto for a SHIELD knockoff called AEGIS (Advance Enforcement, General Intervention Service).  I've searched the Web for Latin translation pages and I have a vague idea of what I want.  The phrase is "Defend Freedom", and the Latin seems to be either "libertas tuebor

Comments

[whistler_wren]

Your translation depends on what form you want the verb to take. A verb might have many tenses and forms that look and sound the same in English, but they are almost always very different from each other in Latin. Do you want your motto to be a command ("(You), defend freedom" or "(All of you), defend freedom"), a statement ("(I) defend freedom" or "(We) defend freedom"), an infinitive ("(To) defend freedom", compare: "To Protect and Serve"), or something else entirely? This will determine the translation you wish to use.

You also might want to use a dictionary and the wonderful people here more familiar with the connotations of certain verbs to choose which "defend" you want to use; Latin has several verbs that could work as translations. I, myself, might avoid this one if you wish your group to be a good-guy group, because it brings to my mind the French "tuer", which means "to kill".

[euel]

Thank you so very much!

[stormwreath]

The verb tueri that you've chosen means 'protect' in the sense of 'watch over' or 'support'; it's the origin of our own words 'tutor' and 'tutelary'. It's certainly usable for the meaning you want, although other words could do just as well. Custodire means to guard or protect (hence 'custody' and 'custodian'); munire means to defend or fortify (literally, 'build a wall around', but can be used figuratively); protegere means to protect (it's the origin of the English word) or to shield; servere means to keep something safe and unharmed; and defendere means to defend or ward off danger.

By analogy, fidei defensor is a recognised expression for 'Defender of the Faith' (a title of the British monarchy), which by analogy leads me to think that defendere would be the best word to choose. but tuere would do fine as well, so I'll give both examples. Note that the form of the words has to be inflected: it's libertatem - not libertas - when it's the object of the sentence.

Defend freedom! (A command to one person)Libertatem defende

[euel]

Thanks so much! I think I'll go with defendere, and not with tuere. (See whistler_wren's comment above, and as a connection with the U. S. Marine motto "Semper Fidelis". So, what I want is something that says "We defend freedom"...

[stormwreath]

'We defend freedom' would be Libertatem defendimus.

Though speaking personally, I think the infinitive 'To defend freedom' (Libertatem defendere)sounds better as a motto than 'We defend freedom'. The second one sounds a bit like, "WE defend freedom, you don't" (or, "...so you don't have to") - which, okay, might be fine for a group of superheroes with attitude. *g* The first one sound more like a general principle, "(Our aim is) to defend freedom", or "(It is a good thing) to defend freedom". But neither is actually wrong, so it's up to you. :)

[stormwreath]

I like 'Libertatem defendere' as well. Partly because it makes me think of the motto 'To protect and serve'...