https://www.proz.com/kudoz/latin-to-english/education-pedagogy/6821117-renunciavimus-et-constituimus.html
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Luce Et Labore
In Florentissima Academia Jos Medicinae Baccalaureus
May 21, 2020 10:26
3 yrs ago
9 viewers *
Latin term

renunciavimus et constituimus

Latin to English Art/Literary Education / Pedagogy Oxford Diploma
Phrase on honorary MA degree issued to Robert Browning in 1867 from Oxford University.

Full text (which I would like help translating, actually)"

Quoniam pro comperto habeat Universitas virum egregium, Robertum Browning, usque a pueritia Musis deditum, scriptis suis, singulari ingenio, venustate, dulcedine exundantibus, ita se insignivisse, ut inter Primarios in literarum Republica merito et jure censeatur. Nos, Cancellarius Magistri et Scholares Universitatis Oxoniensis ut voluntati pareamus permultorum, quos favore suo lubenter prosequitur Academia, et (quoad licuerit) provideamus, ne in posterum laudis simul ejusdern ornate viri, necnon propensissimi nostri erga literas amoris desit stabilis quædam et perpetua accordatio, in solenni Convocatione prædictum Robertum Browning Magistrum in Artibus renunciavimus et constituimus, eumque virtute præsentis Diplomatis singulis juribus, privilegius et honoribus ad istum Gradum quàquà pertinentibus frui et gaudere jussimus— In cujus rei testimonium commune Universitatis Oxoniensis sigillum præsentibus apponi fecimus.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +3 We have declared and awarded the grade
4 [wherefore] we have awarded and granted
3 we declare and give the title
Change log

May 21, 2020 10:23: Yana Dovgopol changed "Vetting" from "Needs Vetting" to "Vet OK"

May 21, 2020 10:26: Yana Dovgopol changed "Kudoz queue" from "In queue" to "Public"

Discussion

Jennifer White May 21, 2020:
@TechLawDC https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/renunciavimus
Past tense. Also renuncio = to announce or declare. Oh, I see your answer has been deleted. Fair enough, Cheers.
TechLawDC May 21, 2020:
I have never seen the word "declare". I do not think "declare" is at all idiomatic in this context.
constituo = to confer, to establish, etc.
renuncio = publicly do something (e.g. grant an honorary degree), announce, etc.
Jennifer White May 21, 2020:
Translation If you would like the paragraph translated you should post it as a job.

Proposed translations

+3
4 hrs
Selected

We have declared and awarded the grade

Perfect tense, as far as I remember. Not Present tense.
Peer comment(s):
agree Jennifer White : yes, would be better I agree
5 mins
Thank you.
agree TechLawDC : .
36 mins
Thank you!
agree Veronika McLaren
7 hrs
Merci!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks for your help"
2 hrs

we declare and give the title

of Master of arts to Robert Browning

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Note added at 3 hrs (2020-05-21 13:40:12 GMT)
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or words to that effect.

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Note added at 3 hrs (2020-05-21 13:40:47 GMT)
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or words to that effect....

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Note added at 3 hrs (2020-05-21 13:42:53 GMT)
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sorry about duplication.
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5 hrs

[wherefore] we have awarded and granted

Alternative 1: we have awarded
Alternative 2: we have awarded and do herewith grant
(Explanation: Constituimus could be present tense, with the assumption that the author or printer omitted the acute accent on the first letter u.)
("Renunciavimus et constituimus" is an idiom found in numerous diplomas and honorary degree awards. Whereas "renunciavimus" literally may mean "we have decided and resolved", more likely it just means that we are publicly doing the thing stated, and this idea is conveyed with the word "herewith".)
(Namely, "herewith" is also used idiomatically here, to emphasize the present tense as well as the fact that the document itself embodies the award.)
Alternative 3: we have granted and do hereby confer.
(The word "hereby" may be preferred in some circles over the word "herewith".)
(With this Alternative 3, the passage would end with, e.g., "upon" (followed by the name of the awardee).)

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Note added at 5 hrs (2020-05-21 15:59:24 GMT)
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See also my note in the Discussion, concerning renuncio, constituo, and the unidiomatic use by other answerers of the word "declare".

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Note added at 5 hrs (2020-05-21 16:01:54 GMT)
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In my Alternative 3, "we have granted and do hereby confer", the notion that we have decided to do something is implicit in the word granted, from which it is obvious that we have decided to grant and now do in fact grant.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Jennifer White : constituimus is either present or perfect. I don't see any "wherefore" - quamobrem - here. (and doesn't award and grant mean the same thing?)
4 hrs
My point is "declare" is unheard of in English, and should not be used just to respect the author's use of it, given that the author is not writing in English. I have translated hundreds of Latin diplomas, and have read hundreds more. I reject "declare".
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