dum

Forms

dum ^[1]

Etymology

The conjunction comes from an older adverb ⟨dum⟩ “now, yet”, still used after imperatives and negatives (⟨agedum⟩, ⟨nōndum⟩).^[2][1] The OLD reconstructs ⟨*dom⟩, with the element ⟨-do-⟩ of dōnec and quandō, and perhaps related to Ancient Greek δή (dḗ).^[2] Wiktionary derives it from *dūm, from Proto-Indo-European *dweh₂- (“long”), as in dūdum;^[1][3] Lewis & Short explained it as ⟨*dium⟩, an accusative related to diū (“for a long time”).^[1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Ennius on.^[4]

Semantic evolution

As a conjunction dum means “while, as long as” (with the same tense in both clauses), “while, during the time that”, and “until” (with the subjunctive when there is an idea of purpose or expectation).^[2][3][1] With the subjunctive it also means “provided that” (dum nē “provided that not”, dummodo).^[2][1]

As an adverb it is enclitic: agedum “come now!”, nōndum “not yet”, interdum “sometimes”.^[1] Servius complains that cum and dum were wrongly confused.^[5]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – First found in Ennius.^[4]
• c. 400 AD – Servius notes that cum and dum were confused.^[5][4]

Meanings

Conjunction

1. while, as long as.^[2][3]
2. While, during the time that.^[2]
3. until.^[2][1]
4. (with subjunctive) Provided that, so long as: dum nē, provided that not.^[2][1]

Adverb

1. (enclitic) Now, yet: agedum, come now;^[1] nōndum, not yet.^[1]

Word family

• dummodo
• interdum
• nōndum
• agedum
• dūdum

Related words

• dōnec
• quandō
• cum

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften