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autem

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈau̯.tẽː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈaːu̯.tem][1]

Forms

autem [1]

Etymology

It is formed from the base of aut with a particle ⟨-em⟩, as in item and quidem: ⟨*auti⟩ + ⟨-m⟩.[2][3][1] De Vaan considers the ⟨-em⟩ either the particle of īdem and “item” or the regular outcome of PIE ⟨*-im⟩.[3] The base goes back to Proto-Indo-European *h₂eu (“away”).[3]

Compare Oscan avt (“but”) and Ancient Greek αὖ (aû, “again”).[4][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Livius Andronicus on.[3][5]

Semantic evolution

Autem sets one thing beside another (“on the other hand, while”), opposes it (“but”), adds to it (“moreover, also”), explains it (“and in fact”), or moves to a new point (“now”).[2][6] In questions and exclamations it expresses surprise or indignation (quid tū autem? “and what about you?”).[2]

It is never placed first in its clause; it normally stands second.[6][2] Scribes wrote it with special abbreviations, studied by Traube.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 280–200 BC – First found in Livius Andronicus.[3][5]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: quī autem auscultāre nōlet exsurgat forās “but whoever won't listen, let him get up and go out”.[2][5]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it to bring in a new point about the merchant.[2][5]

Meanings

Conjunction

  1. On the other hand, while, however.[2][6]
  2. but.[2][1]
  3. Moreover, also, furthermore.[2][1]
  4. And in fact, and indeed (explaining).[2]
  5. Now (introducing a new point).[2]
  6. (in questions) And, then, indeed.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press