I think the spelling is a bit mangled here, possibly
"Praeterunt" is meant. It means 'to become past' (as opposed to 'present' or
'future')
Compare: Tempus Praeteritum = Past
Tense.
Pereunt is also 'to pass', but more in the sense of 'to
vanish away"; "to perish".
Perhaps this could explain it.
Rudolf
Van: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Namens Douglas Bateman
Verzonden: woensdag 11 mei 2005 20:43
Aan: Sundial List
Onderwerp: Latin scholars
The motto is on a pair of vertical dials and Mrs Gatty (4th edition 1900) gives the following PrĂștereunt: /x-tad-bigger>They pass by/x-tad-bigger> Imputantur: /x-tad-bigger>They are reckoned
/x-tad-bigger>However, our respected editor, Dr Margaret Stanier gives the same(?) motto as Pereunt et Imputantur as /x-tad-bigger>(The hours) pass away and are set down to (our) charge/x-tad-bigger>
Margaret, in her small book on Oxford Sundials, shows this motto on the dial at All Souls' College and says that it is a quote from Martial's Epigrammata.
The mottos don't look the same, but given the scope for mis-copying, are they supposed to be the identical?
Comments please, Doug/x-tad-bigger>/bigger>/fontfamily>