item

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈɪ.tẽː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈiː.tem]^[1]

Forms

item (not comparable)^[1]

Etymology

It is related to ita “thus” and itidem “in the same way”.^[2][1][3] Lewis & Short analyse it as the pronoun stem i- of is with an accusative ending, as in tam, and compare Sanskrit इत्थम् (itthám, “thus”).^[4][2] Wiktionary suggests Proto-Indo-European *éy and *só, while Etymonline derives it from ita or id with an adverbial ending.^[1][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus, in the Curculio, has a character answer “I want the same”.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[6]

Semantic evolution

It meant in the same manner, similarly, as Terence says many good men had done the same, and Cato in his recipes says to cook a cake likewise.^[2] As a correlative, item … ut meant “just as … so”, as in Plautus' saying that a slave should be like his masters.^[2] It also meant in turn, for one's part, and in addition, likewise, also, introducing a further item in a list.^[2][7]

Etymonline notes that it introduced a new fact, and in French and English it was put before every article in an inventory or bill.^[5] English item is recorded in the late 14th century meaning “moreover”, and it became a noun, an article in a list, in the 1570s.^[5]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][6]
• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it in recipes.^[2][6]
• late 14th century – English item is recorded as an adverb.^[5]

Meanings

Adverb

1. In the same way, likewise, similarly.^[2][1]
2. item … ut, just as … so.^[2][1]
3. In turn, for one's part.^[2]
4. Also, further, in addition.^[2][1]

Word family

• itidem

Related words

• is
• ita
• English item

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 g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
7. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.