renunciavimus et constituimus

English translation: We have declared and awarded the grade

10:26 May 21, 2020
Latin to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Education / Pedagogy / Oxford Diploma
Latin term or phrase: renunciavimus et constituimus
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.
Robert Creech
English translation:We have declared and awarded the grade
Explanation:
Perfect tense, as far as I remember. Not Present tense.
Selected response from:

Pierre POUSSIN
France
Local time: 06:10
Grading comment
Thanks for your help
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3We have declared and awarded the grade
Pierre POUSSIN
4[wherefore] we have awarded and granted
TechLawDC
3we declare and give the title
Jennifer White


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
we declare and give the title


Explanation:
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.

Jennifer White
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:10
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
We have declared and awarded the grade


Explanation:
Perfect tense, as far as I remember. Not Present tense.

Pierre POUSSIN
France
Local time: 06:10
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thanks for your help

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
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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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
[wherefore] we have awarded and granted


Explanation:
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.

TechLawDC
United States
Local time: 01:10
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
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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