atque

Forms

atque ^[1]

Etymology

It is a compound with the enclitic -que “and”, but the first part is disputed.^[2][1] De Vaan thinks from Latin at + -que more likely, since a compound with ad would be expected to keep or restore ⟨ad⟩; the TLL also sees ⟨at⟩ rather than ⟨ad⟩ in it.^[2][3] The OLD derives it from ⟨ad-⟩ and ⟨-que⟩, and Dunkel's interpretation as *ad-kʷe, based on a line of Ennius in which the doubled conjunction means “nearer and nearer”, is called not implausible by de Vaan.^[4][2] The comparison with Umbrian ape (“when, as soon as”) is uncertain because the meanings differ.^[2][1]

The short form ac stands mostly before consonants.^[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Livius Andronicus on.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

Atque adds a more particular or emphatic term (“and also, and what is more”), opens an emphatic sentence (“and indeed”), introduces a fresh point, and corrects or strengthens what precedes (atque adeō “and in fact”, ac potius “or rather”).^[4] After words of likeness and difference it means “as, than” (aliter atque “otherwise than”).^[1][6][7]

Döderlein notes that atque and ac join near-synonyms, unlike et and -que.^[8] In British Medieval Latin it was less common than in Classical Latin, and ac was no longer limited to consonants.^[9]

Timeline

• c. 280–200 BC – First found in Livius Andronicus.^[2][5]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it to announce someone just mentioned: atque eccum ipsum hominem “and look, here's the man himself”.^[4][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses atque adeō to correct and strengthen a term.^[4][5]

Meanings

Conjunction

1. and, and also, and what is more.^[4][10]
2. And indeed, and in fact (opening an emphatic sentence).^[4]
3. And now (introducing a new point).^[4]
4. And even;^[4] ac potius, or rather.^[4]
5. (after words of likeness or difference) As, than.^[1][6][7]
6. Yet, nevertheless.^[1]

Related words

• ac
• at
• et
• -que
• atquī

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
8. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
9. ^ 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
10. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press