modo

Forms

modō̆ ^[1]

Etymology

It is the ablative of modus (“measure”), “by measure”, hence “only”.^[2][1][3] The final vowel was usually shortened by iambic shortening, as in ego, though early writers sometimes scan ⟨modō⟩.^[1][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Ennius on, who writes quam semel modo parere “than give birth just once”.^[4][2]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense is “no more than, just, only”;^[2][3] nōn modo … sed etiam means “not only … but also”, and modo ut (modo nē) “provided that (not)”.^[2][3] Of time it means “just now, a moment ago” and also “presently”;^[2][1] modo … modo means “now … now, at one time … at another”.^[2][1] Döderlein notes that modo refers to a few moments ago, while nūper covers days, months or years.^[5]

In Medieval Latin it meant “at once” and “now”.^[6] The adjective modernus is formed from it.^[1]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it for “only”.^[2][4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: cēnāvī modo, “I've just had dinner”.^[2][4]
• c. 550–1150 – Medieval Latin uses it for “at once, now”.^[6]

Meanings

Adverb

1. only, just, merely.^[2][3]
2. nōn modo … sed etiam, not only … but also.^[2]
3. modo ut, modo nē, provided that, provided that not.^[2][7]
4. Just now, lately; presently.^[2][1]
5. modo … modo, now … now, at one time … at another.^[2][1]
6. (Medieval Latin) At once; now.^[6]

Word family

• modernus
• tantummodo
• sōlummodo

Related words

• modus
• nūper

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
6. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson