ita

Forms

ita (not comparable)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *i-to-, built on the pronominal stem of is, as in ibi.^[2][3][4] The OLD derives it from ⟨*itā⟩ with the final vowel shortened as in bene; de Vaan objects that item and itidem cannot go back to ⟨*itā⟩.^[3][2] Comparing Sanskrit इति (íti, “in this manner”) and Lithuanian ìt (“just like”), he takes the ending ⟨-ta⟩ as the second element of iste, originally a neuter plural ⟨*teh₂⟩ “those” used as an accusative of extent (“in this respect”, hence “in this way”), so that the adverb would come from the PIE pronouns *h₁i (“it”) and *to- (“that”).^[2]

Compare Umbrian itek (“thus, as said”).^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found in the Twelve Tables;^[2][5] Plautus writes ut iusseris, mī gnāte, ita fīet “as you order, my son, so it shall be”.^[3]

Semantic evolution

Ita means “thus, so, in this way”: with ut it expresses likeness (ita … ut “in the same way as”), conformity, proportion and contrast, and alone it refers to a manner just described or sums up a narrative.^[3][6] It also means “in those circumstances, on those terms”, “accordingly, therefore”, and of degree “so (much)” (nōn ita “not very”).^[3]

In answers it means “yes, just so” (ita est, ita vērō), and itane? “really? is that so?”;^[3][1] quid ita? asks “why so?”.^[3][1] Ut ita dīcam “so to speak” apologizes for a bold expression.^[3] The final vowel is short, as Servius and Priscian state.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 450 BC – Used in the Twelve Tables.^[2][5]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses quid ita? and ita est in dialogue.^[3][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero: illa calamitās, sī ita est appellanda, “that disaster, if it should be called so”.^[3][5]

Meanings

Adverb

1. thus, so, in this way, in such a manner.^[3][6]
2. ita … ut, in the same way as; according as; in proportion as.^[3]
3. In those circumstances, on those terms; in that case.^[3]
4. Accordingly, therefore.^[3][1]
5. So, to that extent;^[3] nōn ita, not very.^[3]
6. (in answers) yes, just so;^[3][1] itane?, really?^[3][1]
7. quid ita?, why so?^[3]
8. ut ita dīcam, so to speak.^[3]

Word family

• itaque
• item
• itidem
• itātenus

Related words

• is
• sīc
• iste

References

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