Etymologically
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ast

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈast][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈast][1]

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]

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