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modo

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈmɔ.doː], [ˈmɔ.dɔ][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈmɔː.do][1]

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

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