This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: Forfarian Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.britisles.scotland.ans.general/5895.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: If you are not interested in Latin, just delete this now without bothering to read any further. 'Eodem die' is the ablative case of 'idem dies', which means 'the same day'. By using the ablative, the meaning is changed to make it 'on the same day'. In Latin (and some other languages, for example Russian and German) you alter the meaning of a word by changing the end of it, whereas in English you have to use an extra word like 'on' or 'in' or 'of or 'by' to do the same job. 'Dies' means 'day', and to say, for example, 'today' you stick 'ho' in front and change the end of the word by dropping the 's' to make 'hodie'. 'Die' doesn't really occur on its own, because it expresses 'on ..... day' but you need to fill in ths blank with something. 'Idem' occurs quite frequently, and it just means 'the same'. It is made up of the neuter pronoun 'id' meaning 'it' with '-dem' tacked on the end. (You often see 'ibidem' which is the word 'ibi' meaning 'there' and '-dem' making the composite word mean 'in the same place'.) 'Id' changes completely in some cases. to say 'its', for example, it becomes 'eius', which is also, as it happens, the analogous word for 'his'. Tack on '-dem' and you get 'eiusdem' which crops up in documents in phrases like 'dominus eiusdem' which translates as 'lord of the same' and thus 'lord of that ilk'. To say 'on that ....' you change 'id' to 'eo', then you tack on '-dem' to make eodem, meaning 'on that same .....' So 'eodem die' is 'on that same day'. Well, you did more or less invite an explanation .... I have been extremely grateful all my life that I studied Latin to Higher level at school. It has been incredibly useful in all sorts of ways, and well worth the effort needed to learn it. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.