Vurbal Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 I'm working on an urban fantasy setting which is very mage-centric. I'm trying to come up with a name for an ancient group of magi that translates roughly to nameless, with no name, or nameless ones. I haven't gotten their history written yet, but I'm thinking they started in the Roman Republic, so either Latin or another language from around the same area (and era) would be preferred. I tried an online English to Latin translator, but I wasn't happy with how the translations for those phrases translated. They didn't sound or look mysterious enough. Any suggestions would be appreciated. It doesn't have to translate exactly to one of the phrases listed above as long as it means roughly the same thing and sounds like a secret society. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hierax Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 Re: Need help naming ancient group of wizards Offhand, I don't think that there is a one word Latin for unnamed. you'd probably use a nullo or sine before name -- e.g., sine nomine (without name) or nolo nominare (I don't want to name). But those don't sound like what you're looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hierax Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 Re: Need help naming ancient group of wizards You could also look at ancient Greek instead and go with something like ανώνυμος (anonymos -> anonymous) or related words. Or check the debased Latin Romance languages like Italian, French, Spanish, etc. to see what they do; or perhaps various earlier English and Germanic languages for words that sound more mysteriously magical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vurbal Posted July 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 Re: Need help naming ancient group of wizards Offhand' date=' I don't think that there is a one word Latin for unnamed. you'd probably use a [i']nullo[/i] or sine before name -- e.g., sine nomine (without name) or nolo nominare (I don't want to name). But those don't sound like what you're looking for. That's pretty much what I came up with. You could also look at ancient Greek instead and go with something like ανώνυμος (anonymos -> anonymous) or related words. Or check the debased Latin Romance languages like Italian, French, Spanish, etc. to see what they do; or perhaps various earlier English and Germanic languages for words that sound more mysteriously magical. I had found innominato as an Italian equivalent. If I can't find a suitable ancient equivalent it's probably what I'll go with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Liaden Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 Re: Need help naming ancient group of wizards I tried running a few synonyms for "nameless" through a Latin translator, and came up with these: unknown: incognitus, ignotus, incompertus hidden: occultus, absconditus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vurbal Posted July 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 Re: Need help naming ancient group of wizards I tried running a few synonyms for "nameless" through a Latin translator, and came up with these: unknown: incognitus, ignotus, incompertus hidden: occultus, absconditus Incompertus will do nicely. Which is, of course why it's the only one you listed that I hadn't found already. Thanks for the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba smith Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 Re: Need help naming ancient group of wizards you've heard of the illuminati? how about the incognito? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egyptoid Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 Re: Need help naming ancient group of wizards The octonymous Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curufea Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 Re: Need help naming ancient group of wizards Nemo Noms de guerre Anonymal Foras appello Absquedico Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilFleischmann Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Re: Need help naming ancient group of wizards How 'bout something like: umbraenymus "shadow name" "name in shadow" oscuronymus "dark name" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killer Shrike Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Re: Need help naming ancient group of wizards http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cthulhu_Mythos_supernatural_characters#Magnum_Innominandum ...so, the Innominandi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vurbal Posted July 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Re: Need help naming ancient group of wizards http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cthulhu_Mythos_supernatural_characters#Magnum_Innominandum ...so, the Innominandi We have a winner! That's exactly what I was looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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