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quippe

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈkʷɪp.pɛ][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkʷip.pe][1]

Forms

quippe [1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin quid (“what?”) + -pe, with the corroborating particle also found in nempe.[2][1] The OLD thinks it was at first a question, “why so?”.[2] quid, the neuter of quis (“who?”), goes back to Proto-Italic *kʷid and Proto-Indo-European *kʷid (“what”).[3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Plautus.[4] It introduces the reason for something just said, “the reason is that, for”, often expecting the listener's agreement.[2][1]

Semantic evolution

Quippe explains an assertion already made, “for, the reason is that”, and standing alone as an answer it means “of course, naturally”, usually followed by a sentence with enim.[2][1] With a relative clause, quippe quī means “as is to be expected of one who, as being”; with ubi, cum, quandō, quoniam or quod it is “seeing that, inasmuch as”.[2][1] With an adjective or participle it is “as being”, as in Cicero's quippe hominī ērudītō, “as being a learned man”, like Greek ἅτε.[2] It also confirms a statement, “indeed, why”, and explains a word just used, “for, namely”.[2][1]

L&S call it a particle of corroboration, “surely, certainly”.[5] Church Latin glosses it “for, certainly, indeed, since”, and quippe quī “since he, inasmuch as he”.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.[4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero: quippe hominī ērudītō.[2][4]

Meanings

Particle

  1. For, the reason is that (explaining what has been said).[2][1][6]
  2. Of course, naturally (as an answer).[2][1]
  3. quippe quī (with a relative clause): as is to be expected of one who, as being.[2][1][6]
  4. quippe cum, quippe quod etc.: seeing that, inasmuch as.[2][1]
  5. As being (with an adjective or participle).[2]
  6. indeed, why (confirming a statement).[2][1][5]
  7. For, namely (explaining a word).[2][1]

Word family

  • quippinī

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o 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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson