nuper

Forms

nūper (comparative nūperius, superlative nūperrimē)^[1] A superlative nūperrimē is found.^[2][1]

Etymology

The OLD analyses it as ⟨nu-⟩, the stem of nunc, with the ending -per of semper;^[2][1] Köbler compares Proto-Indo-European *nū- (“now”).^[3] L&S explained it as standing for ⟨*novum-per⟩, from novus (“new”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Plautus,^[3] who has remīsit nūper ad mē epistulam, “he sent me a letter in reply not long ago”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Nūper is “not long ago, recently”, and nunc nūper “just now” (Terence: māter … mortuast nūper, “her mother died lately”).^[2][4][1] It also means “in recent years, in our own time”.^[2]

Church Latin glosses it “recently, newly, lately”, and nūper admodum “very recently”.^[5]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: remīsit nūper ad mē epistulam.^[2][3]
• 190–159 BC – Terence: māter … mortuast nūper.^[2][3]

Meanings

Adverb

1. recently, lately, not long ago.^[2][4][1][5]
2. In recent years, in our own time.^[2]

Word family

• nūperus
• prōnūper

Related words

• nunc
• semper

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 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