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enimvero

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ɛ.nɪnˈweː.roː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [e.nimˈvɛː.ro][1]

Forms

enimvērō (not comparable)[1] Also written separately as enim vērō.[2]

Etymology

It is from Latin enim (“indeed”) + vērō (“truly”).[2][1] De Vaan traces enim to Proto-Italic *enim, an accusative of the pronoun Proto-Italic *eno- (“that one”), and Proto-Indo-European *h₁e-no-, comparing Oscan íním (“and”) and Umbrian ene (“and”).[3] vērō belongs with vērus (“true”), from Proto-Indo-European *weh₁-ro- (“true”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus has it: a character exclaims that now, upon his word, he is done for.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

It introduces and stresses a remark, "well, upon my word!", and answers a question with "certainly".[2] In narrative it introduces a reaction: Cicero reports that when the words were passed on to a man, he simply laughed.[2] Terence uses it to confirm and add to what has been said, and Apuleius to contrast, "but on the other hand".[2] The comic poets scan the second syllable short; it usually stands first in its clause, and is also written separately.[2] Köbler dates it from Pacuvius.[4] Church Latin glosses it certainly, truly.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus in exclamations and answers.[2][4]
  • 220–130 BC – Pacuvius uses it.[4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence to confirm a statement.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero in narrative.[2][4]
  • c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius to mark a contrast.[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Introducing a remark, well, upon my word!; in answers, certainly, to be sure.[2][5][1]
  2. In narrative, introducing a reaction or consequence.[2]
  3. Confirming what precedes: and in fact, and what is more.[2]
  4. Contrasting: on the other hand, but.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b 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 d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson