Etymologically
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quasi

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkʷa.siː], [ˈkʷa.sɪ][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkʷaː.s̬i][1]

Forms

quasī̆ [1] Inscriptions have quansei and quasei, and Quintilian cites quase.[2][3] In verse it is usually two short syllables;[2] Lucretius has quasī.[2]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin quam (“how, as”) + sī (“if”), run together as one word, with the vowels shortened.[2][3][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Livius Andronicus.[4] Plautus has ita adsimulāvit sē, quasi Amphitruō siet, “he pretended to be Amphitryon”.[2]

Semantic evolution

As a conjunction with the subjunctive quasi introduces a hypothetical comparison, “as if, as though”, often after verbs of pretending, and an ironic comment, “as if …!”; after a comparative it is “than if”.[2][3] With the indicative it makes a real comparison, “just as”, and before a single word “as, like” (Plautus: quasi piscis itidemst amātor lēnae, “a lover is like a fish to a procuress”).[2] It gives a reason, true or pretended, “on the ground that”, and introduces what someone asserts or believes.[2][1] Without a verb it is “in the capacity of, as”, and “for example, say”.[2]

As an adverb it qualifies numbers, “as good as, practically, about”, and softens an unusual word or metaphor, “so to speak, as it were”.[2][3][1] Church Latin glosses it “as it were, so to speak, about, almost” and “as if, as though”, and canon law forms terms with it such as quasi-domicilium, a place of temporary residence, and quasi-paroecia, a quasi parish.[5] In Medieval Latin it can also mean “as being”, “that” introducing a doubtful statement, and “whether”.[6] English has used quasi since the late 15th century.[7]

Timeline

  • 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it.[4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: quasi Amphitruō siet.[2][4]
  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius scans it quasī.[2][4]
  • late 15th century – Used in English as quasi.[7]

Meanings

Conjunction

  1. As if, as though (with the subjunctive).[2][3][1][5]
  2. Than if (after a comparative).[2]
  3. Just as; as, like (in a real comparison).[2][3][5]
  4. On the ground that (giving a reason, true or pretended).[2][1]
  5. In the capacity of, as; for example.[2][6]

Adverb

  1. As good as, practically, about, almost.[2][5]
  2. So to speak, as it were (softening a metaphor).[2][3][1][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  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 e Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  6. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com