Etymologically
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паче

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Forms

паче (pače)[1]

Etymology

It is the comparative of the adverb пакъ (beside пакꙑ “again”), formed with the suffix -je.[2][3][4] Vaillant, cited by ESJS, doubts that this suffix is the Indo-European comparative suffix *-jos-, and Matzenauer derived паче instead from an adjective meaning strong or great.[2] With the prefix наи- it forms the superlative наипаче (“most of all”).[2]

The base is inherited from Proto-Slavic *pakъ (“again, once more”).[1] It is usually held to be Proto-Slavic *opakъ (“backwards, the other way round”) that lost its o- by mistake, while others derive it from the preposition по with a suffix -k-, perhaps by analogy with такъ and какъ.[2][1] Sadnik and Aitzetmüller compare Sanskrit words meaning far away and turned backwards, derivatives of the Indo-European preposition Proto-Indo-European *apo- (“away”) or *po-, and perhaps also *opi as in Ancient Greek ὄπισθεν (ópisthen, “behind”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

In the Gospels паче renders Ancient Greek μᾶλλον (mâllon, “more, rather”) and Ancient Greek πλέον (pléon, “more”): любиши ли мѧ паче сихъ “do you love me more than these?” (J 21, 15 Zogr Mar As Sav Ostr).[6] It occurs more than two hundred times in the oldest manuscripts.[7]

Semantic evolution

The SJS divides its uses into an adverb of measure “more”, a grading adverb “even, moreover” or “rather”, and a comparative “more than, above” with the genitive, where it comes close to a preposition (паче снѣга “whiter than snow”, Ps 50, 9 Sin).[6] With an adjective it forms a comparative (Supr 456, 16), and the phrase паче ѥже copies Greek παρ’ ὅ, ὑπὲρ ὅ “beyond what”.[7][6] Later Church Slavonic used it in phrases such as паче естества “supernaturally”, паче слова “inexpressibly” and паче разума “beyond understanding”.[8]

Timeline

  • End of the 9th – beginning of the 10th century – the Euchologium Sinaiticum uses паче for ὑπέρ and ἐξαιρέτως.[9]
  • 14th century – the Serbian Athonite translation of Gregory of Nyssa uses it for μᾶλλον and μάλιστα.[9]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. more, to a greater degree; for μᾶλλον, πλέον.[6][7][1]
  2. even, moreover; rather, sooner; for μᾶλλον, προσέτι, μάλιστα.[6][7]
  3. With the genitive, more than, above; for ὑπέρ, πλέον, παρά.[6]

Word family

  • наипаче
  • пакъ

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d Havlová, Eva; Erhart, Adolf; Janyšková, Ilona (eds.) (1989–2022), Etymologický slovník jazyka staroslověnského, 21 fascicles, Praha: Academia / Brno: Tribun EU, p. 622
  3. ^ Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), Ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka, transl. and suppl. by O. N. Trubačev, 4 vols., Moskva: Progress, p. 3, 223
  4. ^ Miklosich, Franz (1862–1865), Lexicon palaeoslovenico-graeco-latinum emendatum auctum, Vindobonae: Braumüller
  5. ^ Sadnik, Linda; Aitzetmüller, Rudolf (1955), Handwörterbuch zu den altkirchenslavischen Texten, Heidelberg: Winter / 's-Gravenhage: Mouton, p. 280
  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 d 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
  8. ^ D'jačenko, Grigorij (1899), Polnyj cerkovno-slavjanskij slovar', Moskva
  9. ^ a b SlaVaComp Metaglossar Griechisch–Kirchenslavisch, Universität Freiburg, slavistik-portal.de