Ars maior

work by Donatus

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June 18, 2026

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The Ars maior is a significant grammar work by Aelius Donatus, a 4th-century Roman teacher of rhetoric. This larger text, along with its simpler counterpart Ars minor, provided foundational instruction in grammar, focusing on the eight parts of speech and language nuances.1

Donatus's grammars were widely used throughout the European Middle Ages, to the extent that his name became synonymous with grammar lessons. While not highly original, his works were frequently referenced and commented upon by other scholars. The Ars maior dealt with grammatical elements, the parts of speech, and linguistic errors and excellences. Medieval scholars, including the modistae, built upon Donatus's framework, exploring the relationship between language and reality.12

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Aelius Donatus
…and a small school grammar, Ars maior and Ars minor. The latter was written for young students and gives, by question and answer, elementary instruction in the eight parts of speech. It remained in use throughout the European Middle Ages, and its author’s name in the forms donat and donet…
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…and a small school grammar, Ars maior and Ars minor. The latter was written for young students and gives, by question and answer, elementary instruction in the eight parts of speech. It remained in use throughout the European Middle Ages, and its author’s name in the forms donat and donet…
Read More