Velut arbor aevo
“As a tree with the passage of time.”
Horace, Odes 1.12.45
What does “Velut arbor aevo” mean?
Velut arbor aevo translates as “As a tree with the passage of time.”
Growth that is slow, steady and unseen still becomes great. Reputation, learning and institutions grow like trees.
“Velut arbor aevo” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Velut | just as, like | a conjunction/adverb introducing a comparison; it does not change form |
| arbor | a tree | nominative singular feminine of arbor, arboris, “tree” (a feminine noun, as with many tree names); the subject of the comparison |
| aevo | with time, through the ages | ablative singular of aevum, “time, age, lifetime”; the ablative of means or manner: “by means of time” |
How to pronounce “Velut arbor aevo”
The difference is in velut (classical v = w) and aevo (classical ae = eye, church ae = eh). Stress falls on the first syllable of each word.
The story behind it
Word for word the line reads “just as a tree by time”. There is no verb: the full sentence it comes from says that something grows “like a tree with the passing of time”, and the Latin leaves the growing to be understood.
It comes from Horace’s Odes 1.12, a long hymn in praise of the gods and of the great men of Rome. Near the end Horace turns to the Marcelli and says that their fame increases like a tree over time. The ode was written in the reign of Augustus, and the Marcelli were one of the great families of the Roman Republic.
In English the line is best known as the motto of the University of Toronto, where it expresses learning that grows slowly and steadily. It now suits any institution, family or reputation that builds up over years rather than all at once.
How to use “Velut arbor aevo”
A fitting line for a graduation card, a family tree print, an anniversary of a school or firm, or a tattoo for someone who values patient growth over quick results.
- Latin
- Velut arbor aevo
- English
- As a tree with the passage of time.
- Source
- Horace, Odes 1.12.45
- Era
- Classical
- Theme
- Growth
Common mistakes
- It is not a complete sentence in Latin. The verb is left out, so it works as a motto or caption, not as a statement on its own.
- Do not read aevo as “evil” or “age” in the sense of old age. Aevum means time or an age in the broad sense, not old age.
- Velut is sometimes written veluti. The shorter form velut is the one used in the line as Horace wrote it.
- The tree is not simply a symbol of strength. In the ode the point is its slow, unnoticed growth over time.
Questions about “Velut arbor aevo”
What does “Velut arbor aevo” mean literally?
“Just as a tree by time”, usually rendered “as a tree with the passage of time”. The verb is understood: it grows.
Who said “Velut arbor aevo”?
The Roman poet Horace, in his Odes 1.12, line 45, where he praises the fame of the Marcelli.
How do you pronounce “Velut arbor aevo”?
In Classical Latin: WEH-loot AR-bor EYE-woh. In church pronunciation: VEH-loot AR-bor EH-voh.
Is “Velut arbor aevo” a university motto?
Yes, it is the motto of the University of Toronto, chosen to express steady growth through the years.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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