aliquatenus

Forms

aliquātenus (not comparable)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin aliquā (“by some way”) + tenus (“as far as”).^[2][1][3] The TLL instead analyses it as ali- and quātenus (“how far”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler records it first in Mela,^[3] who uses it of space: Asia aliquatenus solida processit, “stretched on for some distance as solid land”.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

Lewis and Short call it post-Augustan.^[5] In Mela it means for a certain distance, some way, and the OLD also gives the sense for a certain while.^[2][5] Of actions it means to a certain degree, in some measure: Columella uses it of a vine that has gained some strength, and Seneca of allowing oneself to grieve and fear up to a point.^[2][5] Quintilian, Pliny the Elder and the Digest use it in the sense in some respects, partly.^[5] In Ecclesiastical Latin it means to a certain degree, somewhat, partly.^[6] Medieval British writers use it of “to some extent”, and in negative sentences of “at all”: Anselm writes of his soul vidit te aliquatenus, sed non vidit te sicut es, “it saw you to some extent, but did not see you as you are”.^[7] The grammarians note that its penultimate syllable is short and that it is pronounced under one accent.^[4]

Timeline

• 43/44 AD – Mela uses it of distance.^[2][5][3]
• 1st century AD – Columella uses it of degree.^[2][3]
• c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian uses it in the sense partly.^[5][3]
• 533 AD – The Digest uses it of partial guilt.^[5][3]

Meanings

Adverb

1. For a certain distance or while, some way, up to a point.^[2][5]
2. To a certain degree or extent, in some measure, somewhat.^[2][5][6]
3. In some respects, partly.^[5][1]
4. (Medieval Latin) In negative sentences, at all.^[7]

Related words

• aliquis
• tenus
• quātenus

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press