Etymologically
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nihilominus

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ni.(ɦ)ɪˈɫoː.mɪ.nʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ni.kiˈlɔː.mi.nus][1]

Forms

nihilōminus (not comparable)[1] It is also written nihilō minus and nīlōminus.[2][1] Caecilius has the parts reversed, minus nīlō.[2]

Etymology

It is from Latin nihilō (“by nothing”) + minus (“less”), the ablative of nihilum (“nothing”) with the comparative adverb, “less by nothing”.[2][1] De Vaan derives nihilum from *ne hīlom (“not a bit”), with hīlum (“a whit”), which has no etymology.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first examples are in Terence, “say it: I'll do this none the less”, and Cato, who writes that if nothing comes of it the expense will be incurred all the same.[2]

Semantic evolution

After a concessive clause it means none the less, notwithstanding, just the same, as in Cicero and Livy, and its parts are sometimes separated by tamen and other words.[2] The physician Scribonius Largus uses it in the sense likewise or as well.[2] Church Latin glosses it yet, nevertheless, notwithstanding.[4] In medieval Latin it can mean also, moreover, or namely.[5]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato in his work on farming.[2][6]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence in the sense none the less.[2][6]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it often.[2][6]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. None the less, nevertheless, notwithstanding, just the same.[2][4][1]
  2. Likewise, as well.[2]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Also; moreover; namely.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  5. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  6. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de