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nimium

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Etymology and origin of the Latin word nimium

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
c. 250–184 BC, Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (nimis)

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈnɪ.mi.ũː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈniː.mi.um][1]

Forms

nimium (not comparable)[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of nimius (“excessive”), used as a noun and as an adverb.[2][1] De Vaan takes nimius for a recent adjective made from the adverb nimis (“too much”); following Meiser, he explains that word as ⟨*ne meis⟩ “not too little”, with an adverb of Proto-Indo-European *m(e)ih₁-is- (“less”), the root of minor.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus uses both the adverb, nimium iam tinnīs; tacē, “you are jangling too much now; be quiet”, and the noun, habē centum minīs … nimiumst, “take it for a hundred minae … that's too much”.[2]

Semantic evolution

As an adverb nimium is “too much, excessively”, with adjectives “too” (Plautus: nimium ferus es, “you are too fierce”), and nōn nimium “not greatly”.[2][1] Without any idea of excess it is “very much, extremely”, as in Plautus' homō nimium sapit, “the man is very wise”;[2][1] nimium quantum is “to an inordinate degree”.[2][1]

As a noun nimium is “an excess, too much”, with a genitive, and in plūs nimiō, “far too much”, and satis et nimium, “enough and to spare”;[2] Plautus also has it as “an abundance”.[2]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: nimium iam tinnīs;[2][4] nimiumst.[2][4]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it in his work on agriculture.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero: nōn nimium probō, “I do not much approve”.[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. Too much, excessively;[2][1] too (with adjectives).[2][1]
  2. nōn nimium: not greatly.[2]
  3. Very much, extremely;[2][1] nimium quantum: to an inordinate degree.[2]

Noun

  1. An excess, too much;[2] plūs nimiō: far too much;[2] satis et nimium: enough and to spare.[2]
  2. An abundance.[2]

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 o p q r s t 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 c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
Cite this entry

“Nimium.” Etymologically, 18 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/nimium. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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