Geminatio

Latin-English

gĕmĭnātĭ|ō, -ōnis. (dʒe.miˈna.tsi.o) fem.

1. Doubling; gemination.

[gemino.]

Loci

• αʹ Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria 7.9:

Accusativi geminatione facta amphibolia solvitur ablativo, ut illud "Lachetem audivi percussisse Demean" fiat "a Lachete percussum Demean".

Ambiguity created by doubling an accusative is resolved with an ablative, so that Lachetem audivi percussisse Demean ['Demea Laches struck, I heard'] may become a Lachete percussum Demean ['...Demea was struck by Laches'].