ast

Forms

ast ^[1] Inscriptions write astu for ast tu.^[2]

Etymology

It is an amplified form of at (“but”).^[2] De Vaan suspects that it hides ⟨*at-est⟩ “but is”, contracted to ⟨*atst⟩, and Wiktionary also takes it as from Latin at (“but”) + est (“is”).^[3][1] The Thesaurus calls its origin unknown.^[4] Grammarians note that its syllable is long by position, not by nature.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from the Twelve Tables;^[3][5] a law ascribed to the kings has “if a boy beats his parent, and the parent cries out, let the boy be accursed to the gods of the parents”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

In old laws and formulas it introduces a further condition, “but if, and if”, as in the archaic laws Cicero composes for his De legibus and in Plautus.^[2] In a vow it introduces the consequence, “then”, as in Livy's prayer: “Bellona, if you give us victory today, then I vow you a temple”.^[2] From Ennius on it is a poetic word for “but, however, whereas”, usually before a vowel, and in a weaker sense “while, and”.^[2] Virgil also uses it for “and then”, as at the end of the Aeneid where Aeneas buries his sword and Turnus' limbs grow slack with cold.^[2]

Church Latin glosses it “but, and, on the other hand”.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it in a condition.^[3][5]
• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it for “but”.^[2][5]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy quotes it in a vow formula.^[2][5]
• 70–19 BC – Virgil of “and then”.^[2][5]

Meanings

Conjunction

1. In laws, but if, and if.^[2][1]
2. In vows, in that event, then.^[2]
3. (poetic) But, however, whereas; and, while.^[2][7][1]
4. And then, forthwith.^[2][1]

Related words

• at

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press