Etymologically
Log in

igitur

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 18:48. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɪ.ɡɪ.tʊr][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈiː.d͡ʒi.tur][1]

Forms

igitur [1]

Etymology

It is probably a weakened, unstressed form of agitur (“it is done”), the passive of agō (“to do”), from *agetor, first used in phrases such as ⟨quid igitur?⟩ “what is to be done, then?”.[2][3][1] Hartmann proposed this derivation, which the TLL thinks may be right.[4] Lewis & Short gave an older explanation from the pronominal stem of is.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found in the Twelve Tables and in Livius Andronicus.[2][6] Festus records that the ancients used it for inde, posteā and tum, “then, afterwards”.[3]

Semantic evolution

Igitur means “in that case, then” and, drawing an inference, “therefore, consequently, so”.[3][5] It also introduces a topic promised earlier (“so then”) and resumes after a digression (“well then”).[3] Classical prose usually puts it second in the sentence, a position Quintilian discusses.[3][1]

A 7th-century inscription spells it egetur.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 450 BC – Used in the Twelve Tables.[2][6]
  • c. 280–200 BC – Used by Livius Andronicus.[2]
  • c. 35–95 AD – Quintilian discusses its position in the sentence.[3][6]
  • 7th century – An inscription writes egetur.[4]

Meanings

Conjunction

  1. In that case, then.[3]
  2. therefore, consequently, so.[3][5]
  3. So then, well then (introducing or resuming a topic).[3]
  4. (archaic, according to Festus) Then, afterwards.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d 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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de