quantuscumque

Forms

quantuscumque (feminine quantacumque, neuter quantumcumque); first/second-declension adjective with an indeclinable portion^[1] It is also spelled quantuscunque.^[2]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin quantus (“how great”) + -cumque (“-ever”).^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler gives Cicero as its first author,^[3] who says “I, such as I am, however fit to judge, judge without any doubt” in the De oratore.^[2][4]

Semantic evolution

It is of whatever size, amount or degree, however great or small, as Cicero's money, however much it is, of a kind that seems saved rather than seized, and of persons in ability or character.^[2][4][1] The neuter quantumcumque is “however much, whatever”, as in the Culex, and adverbially “to whatever degree”, as Ovid's “as far as my praises can avail”; the genitive quanticumque is “at whatever price”, as Juvenal's “whatever the house cost, someone will come to lay the dishes skilfully”.^[2]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero of judging and of money.^[2][3]
• 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid of praises.^[2][3]
• c. 67–c. 127 AD – Juvenal: quanticumque.^[2][3]

Meanings

Adjective

1. However great (or small), of whatever size or degree.^[2][4][1]
2. (neuter) However much, whatever;^[2] (adverbial) to whatever degree.^[2]
3. quanticumque, at whatever price.^[2]

Related words

• quantus
• quīcumque
• quālis
• quantuslibet

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 i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e 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