Etymologically
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donec

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈdoː.nɛk][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈdɔː.nek][1]

Forms

dōnec [1] Dōnicum is found in Livius Andronicus, Cato and Plautus.[2] Vitruvius writes dōneque, and an inscription has dōnique.[3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old Latin dōnicum (also ⟨dōnique⟩), shortened.[1][2] The OLD analyses it as ⟨*do-ne-que⟩, comparing Umbrian arnipo (“until”): ⟨do-⟩ “to” as in quandō (compare Ancient Greek -δε (-de) and Russian до (do, “until”)), ⟨-ne⟩ an affirmative particle as in ⟨quandōne⟩.[3] Wiktionary traces the first part to Proto-Indo-European *de, the source also of dum.[1] L&S derived the old form from an old dative ⟨doni⟩ “day” and cum, “at the time of day when”.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from the Twelve Tables (about 450 BC).[4] Plautus has nē … exsurgātis, dōnec … erit signum datum, “do not get up until the signal is given”.[3]

Semantic evolution

Dōnec is “until”, with the indicative of an actual limit, and of the culmination of a process (Lucretius: the arts grew dōnec they reached the summit); it also links successive events loosely, “whereupon”.[3][1] With the subjunctive it is “until such time as”, of an intended limit, and fīnis est dōnec “the limit is reached when”.[3] It is used of space, “up to the point where”, and of duration, “as long as, while” (Lucretius: one should wish to stay alive dōnec retinēbit … voluptās, “as long as pleasure keeps him”).[3][1]

Church Latin glosses it “until, while, as long as”.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 450 BC – In the Twelve Tables.[4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: dōnec … erit signum datum.[3][4]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato and Plautus have the older form dōnicum.[2][4]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of a culmination and of duration.[3][4]

Meanings

Conjunction

  1. until, up to the time when.[3][2][1][5]
  2. Whereupon (linking successive events).[3]
  3. Until such time as (with the subjunctive).[3]
  4. Up to the point where (in space).[3]
  5. As long as, while.[3][1][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson