propediem

Forms

propediem (not comparable)^[1] It is also written as two words, prope diem.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin prope (“near”) + diēs (“day”).^[1][4][3] The OLD takes it to come apparently from the phrase ⟨prope diēs⟩, with the accusative ending by false analogy with other adverbial expressions.^[2] The TLL, following Leumann, thinks it most likely arose from ⟨prope diēs⟩ (“the day is near”) used as a parenthesis, the ending ⟨-diem⟩ being brought in by the preposition's construction with the accusative.^[5] The first part goes back to Proto-Indo-European *própro (“on and on, ever further”).^[6]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Plautus,^[4][3] meaning before long, very soon.^[2][3]

Semantic evolution

The meaning “shortly, any day now” stayed the same through Classical Latin:^[2][3] Cicero tells a correspondent to expect his work soon and says he will see someone shortly,^[3] and Sallust also uses it.^[3]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it in the Persa.^[3][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it in his letters.^[3][4]
• 86–34 BC – Sallust uses it in the Catiline.^[3][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Before long, very soon, any day now.^[2][3]

Related words

• prope
• diēs

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
6. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill