sed

Forms

sed ^[1]

Etymology

It is the old ablative ⟨sēd⟩ of the reflexive pronoun sē, with the vowel shortened.^[2][3] De Vaan explains that ⟨*sēd⟩ first meant “by itself, for itself”, which became “however, but” in the conjunction and “without, apart” in the preposition ⟨sē⟩ and the prefix ⟨sē-⟩.^[2][4] The pronoun goes back to Proto-Indo-European *se (“oneself”).^[2][1] Charisius and Marius Victorinus report an older form ⟨sedum⟩, which Lewis & Short doubt.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Livius Andronicus on; the spelling set is used by Cato.^[2][3][5]

Semantic evolution

Sed marks a turn in speech: it breaks in with a new point, dismisses a subject (sed quid ego haec memorō? “but why do I tell this?”), returns after a digression, and introduces a contrast (“but, however”).^[3] After a negative it gives the correct alternative (nōn … sed “not … but”).^[3][4] With tamen it means “but at any rate”, and sed enim “but in fact”.^[3]

It usually stands first in its clause, though poets sometimes put it later.^[3] Niermeyer records the medieval sense “because, for”.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 280–200 BC – First found in Livius Andronicus.^[2][5]
• 204–169 BC – Ennius: sed quid ego haec memorō?^[3][5]
• 234–149 BC – Cato writes set.^[3][2][5]
• c. 550–1150 – Medieval Latin also uses it for “because”.^[6]

Meanings

Conjunction

1. but, however (contrasting).^[3][4]
2. But (breaking off, or passing to a new point); but to return.^[3]
3. (after a negative) But, but rather: nōn … sed, not … but.^[3]
4. Yes, and what is more.^[3]
5. But only; but at any rate (sed tamen).^[3]
6. (Medieval Latin) Because, for.^[6]

Related words

• sē
• at
• autem
• vērum

Usage notes

Lewis & Short call sed a particle of limitation, exception or correction, and compare at and autem.^[4]

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
4. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill