ambo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈam.boː], [ˈam.bɔ]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈam.bo]^[1]

Forms

ambō̆ m (feminine ambae, neuter ambō̆)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *ambō (“both”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₂(e)nt-bʰoH (“both”).^[2] The ending ⟨-ō⟩ continues the PIE dual.^[2] Greek, Latin and Tocharian have a first syllable in *aN(t)-, and de Vaan suggests the word began as a case form of Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- (“face”).^[2][1] Cognate with Ancient Greek ἄμφω (ámphō, “both”), Sanskrit उभ (ubhá, “both”), Lithuanian abù, Old Church Slavonic оба (oba) and Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐌹 (bai).^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Naevius uses it.^[2] Köbler dates Naevius c. 235–200 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was both of a pair, as Plautus' twins or both hands, and two taken together, as Caesar's two bridges.^[3] Virgil uses it of each of two.^[3] Plautus still has the old accusative ambō.^[5] Döderlein sets it, the halves of a pair, against uterque, two separate units.^[6]

It survives as Italian ambo, Spanish ambos and Romanian ambii.^[1]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.^[2][4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of twins.^[3][4]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of two bridges.^[3][4]

Meanings

Determiner

1. Both (of a pair).^[3][5]
2. Both, the two together.^[3][7]
3. Each of two.^[3][7]

Word family

• ambiegnus
• amburbium
• anceps

Related words

• ante
• duo
• uterque
• English both

Usage notes

Medieval ambō, ambōnis “pulpit” is a different word, from Greek ámbōn.^[8][1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
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
8. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill