1227. A substantive is often limited by another substantive in the
genitive.
The things denoted by the two words are usually distinct: as, #metus
hostium#, _the fear of the enemy_, i.e. either (_a._) which they feel
(1231), or (_b._) which is felt towards them (1260); #magnī ponderis
saxa#, _stones of great weight_ (1239). Sometimes, however, they are
more or less the same: as, #mīlitum pars#, _part of the soldiers_
(1242); #magna multitūdō perditōrum hominum#, _a perfect swarm of
desperadoes_ (1255).
1228. Two or even three genitives expressing different relations,
sometimes limit one substantive: as, #superiōrum diērum Sabīnī
cunctātiō#, 3, 18, 6, _Sabinus’s dilatoriness in days preceding_. #eōrum
diērum cōnsuētūdine itineris nostrī exercitūs perspectā#, 2, 17, 2,
_studying up the order of march followed by our army in those days_.
1229. The limited substantive is often omitted, when it is obvious from
the context: as, #ventum erat ad Vestae#, sc. #aedem#, H. _S._ 1, 9, 35,
_to Vesta’s were we come_, i.e. to her temple. #aberam bīduī#, sc.
#iter#, _Att._ 5, 17, 1, _I was two days distant_. Usually so, when it
is expressed with another genitive, which generally precedes: as, #quis
est, quī possit cōnferre vītam Trebōnī cum Dolābellae?# _Ph._ 11, 9,
_who is there that can compare the life of Trebonius with Dolabella’s?_
1230. Instead of the genitive depending on a substantive, an equivalent
adjective or a prepositional expression is often used. Such
substitutions will be mentioned below in their appropriate places.
1231. The relations expressed by the limiting genitive vary very much
according to the context. These relations may be put in classes, as
below (1232-1260). But it must be remembered that as the genitive
connects substantives in a loose way, the same construction may
sometimes be referred to more than one head.