_non habeo argumentum scribendi_—I have nothing to write about.
_deest mihi argumentum ad scribendum_ (Att. 9. 7. 7)—I have nothing to
write about.
_non habeo, non est quod scribam_—I have nothing to write about.
_res_ (opp. _verba_) _mihi suppetit_—I have abundance to say.
_materia mihi crescit_—my subject grows as I write.
_res componere ac digerere_—to arrange and divide the subject-matter.
_dispositio rerum_ (De Inv. 1. 7. 9)—the arrangement of the
subject-matter.
_materia rerum et copia uberrima_—abundance of material.
_infinita et immensa materia_—abundance of material.
_materiem ad ornatum praebere_—to afford matter for elaboration,
embellishment.
_id quod (mihi) propositum est_—a theme, subject proposed for
discussion.
_res proposita_—a theme, subject proposed for discussion.
_id quod quaerimus (quaeritur)_—a theme, subject proposed for
discussion.
_institutum_ or _id quod institui_—a theme, subject proposed for
discussion.
_a proposito aberrare, declinare, deflectere, digredi, egredi_—to
digress from the point at issue.
_ad propositum reverti, redire_—to come back to the point.
_ad rem redire_—to come back to the point.
_sed redeat, unde aberravit oratio_—but to return from the digression
we have been making.
_sed ad id, unde digressi sumus, revertamur_—but to return from the
digression we have been making.
_verum ut ad id, unde digressa est oratio, revertamur_—but to return
from the digression we have been making.
_mihi propositum est_ c. Inf. (or _mihi proposui, ut_)—the task I have
put before myself is...
_ponere_—to propose, set a theme.
_ponere alicui, de quo disputet_—to set some one a theme for discussion.
_ponere iubere, qua de re quis audire velit_ (Fin. 2. 1. 1)—to let
those present fix any subject they like for discussion.