nunc

Forms

nunc (not comparable)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin num + -ce, the old ⟨num⟩ “now” (kept in ⟨etiamnum⟩) with the deictic particle ⟨-ce⟩ “here”.^[2][3][1] The base goes back to Proto-Indo-European *nu (“now”), extended as ⟨*nu-n⟩; the final ⟨-m⟩ of ⟨num⟩ may be a remodelling of ⟨*nun⟩ after nam.^[3]

Cognate with Ancient Greek νῦν (nûn), Sanskrit नूनम् (nūnám), Hittite kinun (“now”), Gothic 𐌽𐌿 (nu) and English now.^[3][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Naevius on.^[3][4]

Semantic evolution

Nunc means “now, at present”, in contrast with the past (tum) or the future; it can also mean “just now” and “in the time to come”.^[2][5] Of the state of affairs it means “as things are, in view of this”, and nunc … nunc “at one time … at another”.^[1][6]

With the question particle it forms nuncine.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 235–200 BC – First found in Naevius.^[3][4]
• 204–169 BC – Ennius: vīta … corpus meum nunc dēserit “life is leaving my body now”.^[2][4]
• 190–159 BC – Terence uses nuncine.^[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. now, at present.^[2][5]
2. Just now; in the time to come.^[2]
3. As things are, in view of this.^[1]
4. nunc … nunc, at one time … at another.^[6]

Word family

• nunciam
• nūdius
• nuncine

Related words

• num
• nūper
• iam
• English now

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e 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
5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson