enim

Forms

enim ^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *enim, the accusative singular of *eno- (“that one”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₁e-no-.^[2][1] The OLD likewise sees a pronominal stem ⟨*(e)no-⟩, as in nam and nunc, with the ending ⟨-im⟩.^[3] Pokorny derived it from the stem of Lithuanian anàs (“that”) and Old Church Slavonic онъ (onŭ, “he”), but de Vaan reconstructs that pronoun as *h₂en- and assumes that the initial /e/ was taken from the pronoun of is.^[2]

Cognate with Oscan ínim (“and”) and Umbrian enem (“and”), which in Umbrian joins only sentences.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Naevius on;^[2] Plautus uses it often in dialogue.^[3][4]

Semantic evolution

In early dialogue enim is an affirming particle: “well!”, “why!”, “of course!” at the start of a reply.^[3] Its classical use is causal and explanatory: “for”, “namely”, neque enim “for … not”, giving the reason for what has just been said.^[3][5] It normally stands second in its sentence.^[3]

Medieval Latin also used it for “but, now”.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – First found in Naevius.^[2]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it to underline an answer: quia enim mē adflīctat amor.^[3][4]
• 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it to stress the preceding word.^[3][4]
• c. 550–1150 – Medieval Latin uses it for “but, now”.^[6]

Meanings

Conjunction

1. for, because (giving a reason); neque enim, for … not.^[3][5]
2. Namely, that is to say.^[3]
3. (in dialogue) Well! why! of course! indeed.^[3][1]
4. (Medieval Latin) But, now.^[6]

Word family

• etenim
• enimvērō
• atenim

Related words

• nam
• nunc

References

1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill