iam

Forms

iam (not comparable)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed on the base of the pronoun is, as tam and quam are on theirs.^[2] De Vaan reconstructs ⟨*iām⟩, an accusative singular feminine; since adverbs in ⟨-ām⟩ meant “as far as, with respect to”, ⟨*iām⟩ would have meant “as far as this is concerned”, hence “now”.^[3] He also considers a remodelling of the old accusative ⟨*īm⟩ “him, her” after pronouns such as ⟨quam⟩; in the pronoun itself the form was later replaced by eam.^[3] Wiktionary instead derives it from Proto-Indo-European *Hyā́m, the feminine accusative of the relative *Hyós (“who, which”).^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found in the Twelve Tables and in Livius Andronicus.^[3][4]

Semantic evolution

Iam marks a point in time seen against what comes before or after: “now (and no longer as before)”, “by now, already”, and with negatives “no longer” (nōn iam).^[2][5] Iam … iam means “now … now”, iam iam “at any moment”, and quid iam? “why so?”.^[2] It also marks a stage in a series or argument (“next, moreover”) and, with inde ab, continuity from a past point.^[2][1]

It combines with other adverbs: iam diū, iam dūdum, iam prīdem “long since”, and etiam is et + iam.^[2][1]

Timeline

• c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it for the next term of a series.^[2][4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses quid iam? and iam iam.^[2][4]
• 234–149 BC – Cato: sērō est, iam rescīvēre “it is too late, they have found out by now”.^[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. now (as opposed to before); nōn iam, no longer.^[2][5]
2. By now, by then, already;^[2][1] (in negative clauses) yet.^[2][1]
3. iam … iam, now … now;^[2][1] iam iam, at any moment now.^[2][1]
4. Soon, presently.^[1][5]
5. Now, moreover (introducing the next point).^[2][1]

Word family

• etiam
• iamdūdum
• iamprīdem
• nunciam
• quoniam

Related words

• nam
• quam
• tam
• is

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c 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 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