bis

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈbɪs]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈbis]^[1]

Forms

bis (not comparable)^[1] Cicero cites the old form duis; it is sometimes written as one word with sēnī.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is from Old Latin ⟨duis⟩, inherited from Proto-Italic *dwis, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *dwís (“twice”), an adverb from *dwóh₁ (“two”).^[3][1][2] Cognates include Sanskrit द्विस् (dvís), Avestan biš and Ancient Greek δίς (dís), all “twice”.^[3][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Plautus.^[3][2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant on two occasions, twice, as in Plautus and Cicero's bis in diē “twice a day”; with numerals two times, as in bis mīlle; in twofold degree, doubly; and perhaps for the second time, in Martial.^[2][5] The distributive bīnī “two each” is from it.^[3]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant twice.^[6] British Medieval Latin used it for twice and twice as many.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[3][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero cites the old form duis.^[3][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Twice, on two occasions.^[2]
2. (with numerals) Two times.^[2]
3. Doubly.^[2]

Word family

• bīnus
• bissēnus

Related words

• dis -
• duo
• bīnī
• bi-

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ 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
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ 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