Etymologically
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partim

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈpar.tĩː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpar.tim][1]

Forms

partim (not comparable)[1]

Etymology

It is an old accusative singular of pars (“part”), used as an adverb; the usual accusative is ⟨partem⟩.[2][1] Schrijver explains pars as a pre-Latin formation Proto-Italic *parti- from the stem of pariō (“to bring forth”), first “lot, portion”.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Livius Andronicus.[4] Plautus has quod partim faciunt argentāriī, “as some bankers do”, and Cato ulmōs sēritō et partim pōpulōs, “plant elms, and some poplars”.[2]

Semantic evolution

Partim is “in part, some”, often standing for a subject or object, “some of them” (sunt partim quī …, “there are some who …”).[2][1] It is also “partly”, and repeated partim … partim is “partly … partly” (Terence: his heart was won partim by pity for his wife, partim by this woman's wrongs).[2][1] Wiktionary adds pre-classical “for the most part” and Late Latin “sometimes”.[1]

Church Latin glosses it “partly, in part”.[5]

Timeline

  • 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it.[4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: quod partim faciunt argentāriī.[2][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence: partim … partim.[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. In part; some (of them).[2][1][5]
  2. partly;[2][1][5] partim … partim, partly … partly.[2][1][5]
  3. (pre-classical) For the most part.[1]
  4. (Late Latin) Sometimes.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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. ^ 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 c d Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson