Etymologically
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ita

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɪ.ta][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈiː.ta][1]

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

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