Etymologically
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cumque

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈkʊŋ.kʷɛ][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈkum.kʷe][1]

Forms

cumque (not comparable)[1] Also spelled quomque and cunque.[2][3]

Etymology

It is from Latin cum2 + -que,[3][1] that is, the old relative form ⟨quom⟩ “when” with the particle ⟨-que⟩, which after pronouns and adverbs has a generalising sense.[4] Umbrian has the same formation in Umbrian pumpe (“whenever”), from *kʷom-kʷe,[4] as in pisi-pumpe, the equivalent of quīcumque.[3]

The first part goes back to Proto-Italic *kʷom (“when”) and Proto-Indo-European *kʷom, an accusative of the relative pronoun;[4] the second to Proto-Italic *-kʷe and Proto-Indo-European *-kʷe (“and, -ever”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is regularly attached to relative pronouns and adverbs (quīcumque, ubicumque), giving them the sense “-ever, -soever”.[3][2] Standing alone it is very rare;[2] Lewis and Short cite Lucretius, quae demant cumque dolorem, “which take away any pain”.[2]

Semantic evolution

Horace uses it on its own in an ode to the lyre, mihi cumque salve rite vocanti, which the OLD takes to mean “at any time” and the scholiast explains as “whenever I call on you”.[3][2] A law in the Theodosian Code has it alone as well.[2] Lachmann denied that it was ever used except with relatives.[2]

Timeline

  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it on its own.[2][5]
  • 65–8 BC – Horace uses it on its own in the Odes.[3][2][5]
  • 438 AD – The Theodosian Code uses it on its own.[2][5]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Attached to relative pronouns and adverbs to make them general or indefinite: “-ever”, “-soever” (quīcumque, utcumque).[3][2]
  2. Alone: in any way, at any time, whenever.[3][2]

Word family

References

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