You do not need to read this glossary to enjoy the story. However, if you find it helpful to reference the glossary to remind yourself of what a word means, I have provided this selection of Nova Latina terms used in the story for your convenience and enjoyment.
As you read the story, if you encounter a word you hoped to look up that is missing from the glossary, let me know in the comments, and I'll add it!
GLOSSARY
Aedificans: the lifelong teacher and guardian of a Lightholder alumna. Usually the aedificans and alumna belong to the same magical lineage to make training easier, although this is not required
Aedificanti: a polite term of address similar to "Master." Used exclusively by an alumna as an honorific when addressing or referring to their aedificans
Alumna: the lifelong student and ward of a Lightholder aedificans. Usually the aedificans and alumna belong to the same magical lineage to make training easier, though this is not required
Aquarius: the planet on which the story is set, an Earth-like planet orbiting a red dwarf star. The planet is tidally-locked, causing one side to constantly face the sun and the other side to constantly face away from the sun
Arx Luminosa: the 5-palace complex in the capital city of Vola Apertus, where the royal residences of the Rex and 4 Princepses are located
Augustus: a polite term of address similar to "Your Majesty." Used exclusively as an honorific when addressing or referring to the Rex
Avia: a kinship term used to refer to the mother of an alumna's aedificans
Basilicus: a polite term of address similar to "Your Highness." Used exclusively as an honorific when addressing or referring to a Princeps
Bestia: a night-side lifeform
Blightlands: a long region of land stretching from just beyond Provincia Sicarii's day-side borderlands into the heart of the night-side, where rogue promenia tears up the land, alters local weather patterns, and threatens the Trellis Isles and other promenia
Breaker: a Pullati thief who specializes in the art of breaking into buildings
Brightening: the time early each day when the Trellis brightens to provide golden daylight on a planet that otherwise has no day-night cycle and dwells under a crimson sun unfavorable to agriculture. Followed immediately by a daily morning Rain shower
Bulla: an amulet in the shape of the tri-hand. Believed to have protective powers, especially against the Devouring Eyes
Caeles: the mental environment generated by the Trellis within a person's mind to facilitate certain kinds of magical undertakings, such as receiving messages or accessing the Compendium
Calamity of the Twins: a disastrous event 800 years prior to the book, when a pair of twin worldholders caused a massive Trellis failure, leading to the formation of the Blightlands. The disaster was caused by twin resonance, a magical condition occurring in identical twin Lightholders, when the prometus of each twin interferes with the functioning of the other twin's prometus, leading to health issues and magical mishaps.
Cattus: a magically-modified cat-like animal with white fur, mismatched blue-and-green and red-and-orange eyes, and a neck ruff that flares when the cattus is agitated
Clivia: a vicious night-side flying creature with fur-like filiments that are used to make expensive fabrics
Collegium: a walled district located in the forum of many large cities, where sorcerers study, work, govern, and live
Compendium: a magical registry that tracks and ranks all citizens in Aquarian society
Conservatory: an advanced school for sorcerer children between the ages of 12 and 18. Most begin at age 14
Constantia: the last day of the 6-day week on Aquarius. Each day is named after and devoted to one of the 6 virtues of the Mos Maiorum, "ancestral custom" or "way of the ancestors"
Convivium: a formal dinner party in which attendees enjoy their meal while reclining on triclinum dining couches
Cultus: the 3rd day of the 6-day week on Aquarius. Each day is named after and devoted to one of the 6 virtues of the Mos Maiorum, "ancestral custom" or "way of the ancestors"
Curia: a guild of sorcerers. Every provincia has one curia, which offers sorcerous services to the entire provincia under the direction of the Praetor.
Daemon: a sentient or semi-sentient magical entity generated by the Caeles and dwelling within it
Day-side: the side of the planet Aquarius that faces the sun and so dwells in perpetual daylight
Devouring Eyes: the 3 outer planets orbiting the same red dwarf star as Aquarius. All are visible at times on the night-side of the planet and have an appearance in the sky similar to eyeballs
Dimming: the time late each day when the Trellis darkens to provide evening conditions on a world that otherwise has no day-night cycle. Followed immediately by a daily evening Rain shower
Diopetes: an organelle found within every cell of a Promethides's body that governs which lineage of magic they will be able to perform if they develop sorcerous abilities.
Disciplina: the 4th day of the 6-day week on Aquarius. Each day is named after and devoted to one of the 6 virtues of the Mos Maiorum, "ancestral custom" or "way of the ancestors"
Dole: a grain ration available to all citizens on Aquarius
Dominus: a polite term of address similar to "Your Grace." Used exclusively as an honorific when addressing or referring to a Praetor
Domus: a mansion or palace
Domus Onychini: the "Onyx Palace", royal residence of the Princeps Worldholder in the capital city of Vola Apertus. Part of the 5-domus Arx Luminosa palace complex
Dye-house: an illegal place of business where a dyer sells their services
Dyer: a lifeholder who sells magical services that change the body in ways that mimic the glowing markings on a sorcerer's neckline, allowing one to fake being a sorcerer
Eidolon: the spirit of a dead person
Empowered: an enslaved sorcerer born without prometus into a magical bloodline and given donated prometus in order to grant them the ability to use promenia to create magical effects
Erus: a polite term of address similar to "Sir." Used exclusively as an honorific when addressing any non-sorcerer
Eternal Radiance: a genderless deity believed to have kindled day-side life on Aquarius and granted magical abilities to the Promethidae
Eyes: the 6 planets orbiting the same red dwarf star as Aquarius. The 3 outer planets, the Devouring Eyes, appear at times on the night-side of the planet and look like eyeballs, and the 3 inner planets, the Wandering Eyes, appear at times on the day-side of the planet and look like black dots against the red iris of the sun
Fides: the 1st day of the 6-day week on Aquarius. Each day is named after and devoted to one of the 6 virtues of the Mos Maiorum, "ancestral custom" or "way of the ancestors"
Forgeholder: a sorcerer who specializes in magic that creates magical artifacts. One of the 5 lineages of sorcerers
Genetrix: kinship term used to refer to the spouse or lover of an alumna's aedificans
Germinating: the cold season on Aquarius, when the light and heat of the Trellis is diminished to allow seeds to germinate. Followed by the seasons of Sowing, Sprouting, and Reaping
Gravitas: the 5th day of the 6-day week on Aquarius. Each day is named after and devoted to one of the 6 virtues of the Mos Maiorum, "ancestral custom" or "way of the ancestors"
Imperium: the right to govern by decree. Possessed by the Rex, four Princepses, and the four hundred Praetors
Lapis Translationis: a "stone of transference", a magical stone that can take blood from sorcerers and store it for later use. Usually used to collect blood donations that are used to create a new Empowered
Laurel: the glowing neck marking that identifies a person as a sorcerer. Glows red, blue, glittery black, green, or purple depending on the type of sorcerer. The visible part of a sorcerer's prometarium
Legatus: a high-ranking member of the world government, essentially a director of a specific administrative area such as education or transportation
Lifeholder: a sorcerer who specializes in magic that influences the bodies of living creatures. One of the 5 lineages of sorcerers
Lift: a high-risk, high-reward thieving endeavor. Usually refers to an increase in the rate of pickpocketing to increase earnings, but can also refer to a heist or other large undertaking
Lightbearer: a Promethidae sorcerer. Some are Trueborns who are born with the ability to do magic, and others are Empowered who are given magical abilities by a Trueborn. All are Promethidae
Lightless: a Promethidae born to a sorcerous bloodline but who lacks the ability to perform magic
Lineage: the type of sorcerer a person is. The five lineages are starholder, mindholder, worldholder, lifeholder, and forgeholder
Mindholder: a sorcerer who specializes in magic that influences the mind. One of the 5 lineages of sorcerers
Night-side: the side of the planet Aquarius that faces away from the sun and so dwells in perpetual nighttime, and where the Trellis is weak and the land is given over to wild and dangerous lifeforms
Nipos: kinship term used to refer to the alumna of one's child
Nova Latina: the language spoken by all people on Aquarius
Nursery: a primary school for sorcerer children between the ages of 4 and 10. Most begin at age 6
Observance: religious and civic rituals, including an annual New Years observance celebrating the day the Eternal Radiance brought light and order to Aquarius
Paenula: a poncho-like mantle worn by all genders and classes. Longer, paler paenulas are worn by the upper classes and shorter, darker ones by the lower classes
Pietas: the 2nd day of the 6-day week on Aquarius. Each day is named after and devoted to one of the 6 virtues of the Mos Maiorum, "ancestral custom" or "way of the ancestors"
Princeps: a royal sorcerer who, together with the Rex, rules Aquarius. There are four Princepses, all of whom inherit their positions and power magically via the Trellis, though only the Princeps Worldholder inherits the Trellis itself
Princeps Mindholder: the second highest ranking royal sorcerer on Aquarius, who rules over all mindholders and governs in matters concerning public relations and communications
Princeps Worldholder: the third highest ranking royal sorcerer on Aquarius, who rules over all worldholders, governs in matters concerning environmental sustainability and threats, and protects and controls the Trellis
Prome: a polite term of address similar to "Your Honor." Used exclusively as an honorific when addressing or referring to an Empowered sorcerer
Promenia: a substance in the environment that sorcerers use to create magical effects
Promerenti: a polite term of address similar to "Your Lordship." Used exclusively as an honorific when addressing or referring to a Trueborn sorcerer
Prometarium: vessels within a sorcerer's body that generate and transport prometus through the body. The laurel is the visible part of the prometarium
Promethidae: the race of people born to sorcerous bloodlines, whether they are Trueborns, Empowered, or Lightless. Also used as an adjective
Promethides: a person born to a sorcerous bloodline, whether they are a Trueborn, an Empowered, or a Lightless
Prometus: a substance in the body that allows sorcerers to use promenia in the environment to create magical effects
Provincia: one of the four-hundred vassal states on Aquarius, all established over 500 years earlier by royal decree. Each is ruled by a Praetor and owes fealty to the Rex
Provincia Sicarii: a vassal state located near the frontier. One of 400 provincias. Ruled by Praetor Cerasus Erythranus
Puer: kinship term used to refer to the alumna of one's spouse or lover
Pullati: "scum", the impoverished criminal underclass in Aquarian society, known for wearing filthy black rags. Also used as an adjective
Pullatus: "scum", an individual member of the impoverished criminal underclass in Aquarian society, known for wearing filthy black rags
Pyrrhaei: the human race. Aquarius is populated by 2 races, the human Pyrrhaei and the sorcerous Promethidae. Also used as an adjective
Pyrrhaeus: a human. Aquarius is populated by 2 races, the human Pyrrhaei and the sorcerous Promethidae
Rain: the twice-daily rainshower occuring directly after Brightening and Dimming
Reaping: the harvest season on Aquarius. Preceded by the seasons of Sowing and Sprouting and followed by the season of Germinating
Regis Heres Pullati: "crown prince of scum", Domi's street nickname because he is the son of the leader of the local Pullati criminal organization
Rex: the sorcerer who rules Aquarius by divine right. Always a starholder. Immediately under the Rex in rank are the Princeps Mindholder, the Princeps Worldholder, the Princeps Lifeholder, and the Princeps Forgeholder
Rex Pullati: "ruler of scum", the street nickname of Domi's mother, who is the leader of the Pullati local criminal organization
Six Stars: the six pulsar stars beyond Aquarius's sun that all Trueborn starholders, as well as some Empowered and Lightless born into starholder bloodlines, can sense
Snatcher: a Pullati thief who specializes in the art of picking pockets
Sowing: the planting season on Aquarius. Preceded by the season of Germinating and followed by the seasons of Sprouting, and Reaping
Sprouting: the growing season on Aquarius. Preceded by the seasons of Germinating and Sowing and followed by the season of Reaping
Starholder: a sorcerer who specializes in magic that allows them to lead others. One of the 5 lineages of sorcerers. Able to sense the Six Stars
Terrarium: an intermediate school for sorcerer children between the ages of 8 and 14. Most begin at age 10
Trellis: the magical artifact in Aquarius's upper atmosphere, responsible for improving the range and strength of magic and maintaining favorable environmental conditions
Tri-hand: a symbol consisting of 3 interlocked hands of differing sizes, representing the unified purpose of the divine, the sorcerers, and the humans
Tricliniaria: a kind of dining room in a palaces and mansions where people enjoy meals while reclining in triclinum dining couches
Triclinum: a dining couch
Trueborn: a sorcerer born with their own prometus and therefore the ability to use promenia to create magical effects
Tunica: a shirt-like garment worn by all genders and classes. Longer, paler tunicas are worn by the upper classes and older people and shorter, darker ones by the lower classes and younger people. Typically worn by upper and middle classes with a paenula covering, and often worn alone by lower classes
Urbs Hostiae: the capital city of the frontier vassal-state, Provincia Sicarii
Vola Apertus: the capital city of the world of Aquarius and seat of the royal government
Wandering Eyes: the 3 inner planets orbiting the same red dwarf star as Aquarius. All are visible at times on the day-side of the planet and appear in the sky as black dots against the red iris of the sun
Wine Bar: a cheap establishment that serves alcohol and some food to impoverished people and other commoners. Often places of gambling and shady business dealings
Worldholder: a sorcerer who specializes in magic that influences the land and air and who can make and destroy promenia. One of the 5 lineages of sorcerers