Etymologically
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нъ

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Forms

нъ (nŭ)[1] Also written нь, нѫ and но.[2][1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Slavic *nъ (“but”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *nu, from Proto-Indo-European *nu (“now”).[1][3] The same word is Russian но (no), Ukrainian но (no), Bulgarian но (no) and Macedonian но (no).[3][4][5]

Most scholars place it with the Indo-European word for "now": Lithuanian nù, Latvian nu, Gothic 𐌽𐌿 (nu), Ancient Greek νύ (nú), νῦν (nûn, “now”), Sanskrit नु (nu), the introductory particle Hittite nu and Tocharian A nu and Tocharian B no "but, then".[5][4][1] Wiktionary thinks it was first an adverb that became a conjunction, as in Sanskrit, and relates it to нꙑнѣ (“now”).[1] Vasmer finds a derivation from *nom, close to Latin num, less likely.[4] ESSJa records other comparisons too, and the view of the authors of a recent Czech study that *nъ is in origin an interjection;[5] Gamkrelidze and Ivanov take it as an Indo-European particle that stood first in the sentence.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the Gospels it translates Ancient Greek ἀλλά (allá) after a negative: не оумрѣтъ бо дѣвица нъ съпитъ "for the girl is not dead but asleep" (Mt 9, 24, Zographensis, Marianus, Assemanianus, Savvina kniga, Ostromir).[6]

Semantic evolution

The SJS distinguishes the adversative нъ "but, rather", mostly for ἀλλά and rarely for δέ, καί or μέντοι, the connective нъ that adds a new statement with only a weak contrast, and the graded не тъкъмо — нъ и "not only — but also" (J 5, 18).[6] Set phrases are нъ паче "but rather", нъ тъкъмо "but only" (Mt 8, 8) and нъ обаче "but still".[6] The SNSP adds a restrictive "but only, except" (Mt 19:11).[2] The Euchologium Sinaiticum uses it for ἀλλά, μέντοι and once for ἤ.[7] In Old East Slavic нъ meant "but, however, only", and it lives on as Russian но.[4][5]

Timeline

  • End of the 9th – beginning of the 10th century – the Euchologium Sinaiticum renders ἀλλά and μέντοι with нъ.[7]
  • Up to the beginning of the 15th century – a Serbian text of the Rila monastery uses it for ἀλλά.[7]

Meanings

Conjunction

  1. but, but rather, after a negative statement; for ἀλλά.[6][2][1]
  2. But, however, and, adding a statement; for ἀλλά, δέ.[6][2]
  3. But only, except.[2]
  4. (in не тъкъмо — нъ и) not only — but also; for οὐ μόνον — ἀλλὰ καί.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Slovník nejstarších staroslověnských památek (digital ed., Gorazd, Slovanský ústav AV ČR, gorazd.org); cf. Cejtlin, R. M.; Večerka, R.; Blagova, É. (eds.) (1994), Staroslavjanskij slovar' (po rukopisjam X–XI vekov), Moskva: Russkij jazyk
  3. ^ a b Derksen, Rick (2008), Etymological Dictionary of the Slavic Inherited Lexicon, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 4, Leiden / Boston: Brill, p. 360
  4. ^ a b c d Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), Ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka, transl. and suppl. by O. N. Trubačev, 4 vols., Moskva: Progress, p. 3, 77
  5. ^ a b c d e Trubačev, Oleg N.; Žuravlev, Anatolij F.; Varbot, Žanna Ž. (eds.) (1974–2021), Ètimologičeskij slovar' slavjanskix jazykov: praslavjanskij leksičeskij fond, vols. 1–42, Moskva: Nauka, p. 26, 50
  6. ^ a b c d e f Kurz, Josef; Hauptová, Zoe (eds.) (1958–1997), Slovník jazyka staroslověnského / Lexicon linguae palaeoslovenicae, 4 vols. + supplements, Praha: Academia; digital ed. gorazd.org
  7. ^ a b c SlaVaComp Metaglossar Griechisch–Kirchenslavisch, Universität Freiburg, slavistik-portal.de