Fifty Examples Showing Colligere in Context

Fifty Examples Showing Colligere in ContextColligere is a Latin verb meaning “to gather,” “to collect,” “to bring together,” or “to compile.” It belongs to the third conjugation (colligĕre) and combines the prefix com- (with, together) and ligare (to bind, tie). Over centuries the verb has appeared across classical Latin literature, medieval texts, legal and ecclesiastical documents, and modern scholarly works, often conveying the physical act of gathering as well as the mental act of assembling ideas or evidence.

Below are fifty examples demonstrating colligere used in a variety of grammatical forms and contexts: classical sentences (often paraphrased or adapted for clarity), medieval or ecclesiastical usages, legal and philosophical formulations, and modern English translations or reconstructions that show how the verb’s sense transfers into contemporary usage. Where useful, brief notes clarify form, tense, or nuance.

1. Colligere frumentum e agro.

   • (To gather grain from the field.) — Present infinitive showing physical gathering.

2. Pueri multum ligna colligebant.

   • (The boys were collecting a lot of wood.) — Imperfect indicative describing repeated past action.

3. Librum colligo ex variis chartis.

   • (I compile a book from various papers.) — Present indicative with sense of compiling.

4. Consilium colligendum est antequam agamus.

   • (A plan must be gathered before we act.) — Gerundive expressing necessity.

5. Collegerunt signa belli.

   • (They collected the signs of war.) — Perfect indicative.

6. Mens nostra notas colligit et iudicat.

   • (Our mind gathers notes and judges.) — Present used metaphorically for mental collection.

7. Ut testimonia colligerem, multos audivi.

   • (So that I might gather testimonies, I listened to many.) — Purpose clause with subjunctive.

8. Res publicae copias colligere debent.

   • (Republics ought to gather resources.) — Modal obligation.

9. Colligite verba ad sermonem.

   • (Collect words for the speech.) — Imperative plural.

10. Colligere potes seminaria in horto.

    • (You can gather seeds in the garden.) — Present with potential sense.

11. Leges colliguntur in codice.

    • (Laws are compiled in a code.) — Passive voice, present.

12. Volumina antiquorum colligebantur in bibliotheca.

    • (The volumes of the ancients were being collected in the library.) — Imperfect passive.

13. Colligendo experientias, sapientiam auget.

    • (By collecting experiences, one increases wisdom.) — Gerund in ablative of means.

14. Si omnia colligeres, veritatem invenires.

    • (If you were to gather all things, you would find the truth.) — Contrary-to-fact conditional.

15. Colligat argumenta pro causa sua.

    • (Let him gather arguments for his case.) — Subjunctive exhortation.

16. Colliguntur dona ad festum.

    • (Gifts are collected for the festival.) — Present passive plural.

17. Non facile colliges omnes vestigia.

    • (You will not easily gather all traces.) — Future sense in present periphrasis.

18. Colligente agro, agricola laetus erat.

    • (With the field having been gathered, the farmer was happy.) — Ablative absolute (though classical usage would differ: “frumento colligto” hypothetical).

19. Colligere data in tabulas necesse est.

    • (It is necessary to collect data into tables.) — Infinitive with impersonal construction.

20. Multa memoriae colliguntur in poema.

    • (Many memories are gathered into the poem.) — Metaphorical literary use.

21. Colligat qui semina veritatis.

    • (May he gather the seeds of truth.) — Subjunctive wish.

22. Colligere debemus index rerum.

    • (We must compile an index of things.) — Duty/necessity with obligation modal.

23. Colliguntur fragmenta historiae.

    • (Fragments of history are gathered.) — Passive present, historiographical.

24. Collegerasne epistulas ante lucem?

    • (Had you collected the letters before dawn?) — Pluperfect interrogative.

25. Colligendo libris, discipulus se instruit.

    • (By collecting books, the student equips himself.) — Gerund/gerundive nuance.

26. Colligantur verba in hymnorum cantu.

    • (Words are gathered in the singing of hymns.) — Liturgical sense.

27. Colligat omnis sapientia in uno sermone.

    • (Let all wisdom be gathered into one discourse.) — Poetic exhortation.

28. Colligere nullum periculum videtur.

    • (He seems to collect no danger.) — Impersonal phrasing with apparentative verb.

29. Magistri discipulos colligebant ad disputationem.

    • (The teachers gathered the students for debate.) — Imperfect indicating habitual past.

30. Colligitur lux ex multitudine luminarium.

    • (Light is gathered from a multitude of lamps.) — Metaphor for combined effort.

31. Collegiis literarum multa bona colligere possumus.

    • (At colleges of letters we can gather many goods.) — Plural noun play (“collegiis”) and modal ability.

32. Colligenda sunt verba in nova editione.

    • (Words must be collected in the new edition.) — Gerundive passive necessity.

33. Colligeres si adesset melior fortuna.

    • (You would gather if better fortune were present.) — Conditional contrary-to-fact.

34. Colligere meminerunt antiqui scriptores.

    • (Ancient writers remembered to collect.) — Historic present/perfect nuance.

35. Colligat veritatem testis fidus.

    • (May the faithful witness gather the truth.) — Jussive subjunctive.

36. Colligebat mythos et fabulas ad narrandas.

    • (He was collecting myths and fables to tell.) — Imperfect progressive narrative.

37. Colligatur aqua in cisternis.

    • (Water is collected in cisterns.) — Everyday practical use.

38. Collegi ut examen facerem.

    • (I gathered myself in order to take the exam.) — Reflexive nuance in Latin-esque phrasing.

39. Colligebant dona, sed opus erat magis.

    • (They were collecting gifts, but more work was needed.) — Contrastive narrative.

40. Colligantur testimonia adversus culpam.

    • (Testimonies are being collected against the guilt.) — Legalistic usage.

41. Colligere causas actionum necesse est ut iudicium firmetur.

    • (It is necessary to gather the causes of actions so that judgment is firm.) — Legal-philosophical phrasing.

42. Colligat unusquisque pondera sua.

    • (Let each one gather his weights.) — Proverbial/moral tone.

43. Colligebantur opes regis in arca magna.

    • (The king’s riches were being gathered into a great chest.) — Historical image.

44. Colligere verba in epitome.

    • (To collect words into an epitome/summary.) — Action of abridging/compiling.

45. Colliguntur floribus coronas ad nuptias.

    • (Crowns are collected from flowers for weddings.) — Ceremonial context.

46. Collegerimus, ergo decernemus.

    • (If we have gathered, therefore we will decide.) — Perfect subjunctive with consequence.

47. Colligant praecepta ad disciplinam iuvenum.

    • (Let them gather rules for the training of youths.) — Purpose-oriented exhortation.

48. Colligebat notas in marginibus librorum.

    • (He used to collect notes in the margins of books.) — Scholarly practice.

49. Colligitur in memoria nomen familiarium.

    • (The family name is gathered in memory.) — Genealogical/literary use.

50. Colligamus veritates ex variis fontibus.

    • (Let us gather truths from various sources.) — Inclusive intellectual appeal.

Notes on forms and nuance:

• The verb appears across tenses (present, imperfect, perfect, pluperfect), voices (active, passive), and moods (indicative, subjunctive, imperative).
• Uses range from literal (gathering grain, water, gifts) to metaphorical (gathering ideas, memories, truths).
• Gerundives and gerunds commonly express necessity or means (colligendum est, colligendo).
• In classical prose the exact syntax might differ slightly; several examples are adapted for clarity or to show plausible idiomatic structures.

This selection illustrates colligere’s versatility in physical, intellectual, legal, liturgical, and literary contexts.