Etymologically
Log in

nonne

This is an old revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 20:57. It may differ significantly from the current version. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Current version Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈnoːn.nɛ][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈnɔn.ne][1]

Forms

nōnne (not comparable)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin nōn (“not”) + -ne (“interrogative particle”).[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Plautus,[3] who has nōnne ego hīc stō?, “am I not standing here?”.[4]

Semantic evolution

Nōnne introduces a direct question that expects the answer “yes”, “is it not the case that …?” (Cicero: nōnne animadvertis?, “don't you notice?”).[2][4][1] In indirect questions it means “whether … not”.[4][1]

Church Latin describes it the same way, as the interrogative used when an affirmative answer is expected.[5]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: nōnne ego hīc stō?.[4][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero: nōnne animadvertis?.[4][3]

Meanings

Particle

  1. not? (introducing a direct question that expects the answer “yes”).[2][4][1][5]
  2. Whether … not (in indirect questions).[4][1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson