semel

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsɛ.mɛɫ]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsɛː.mel]^[1]

Forms

semel (not comparable)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Proto-Indo-European *sem- (“one”), the root of semper, simplex and singulī.^[2][3][4] De Vaan reconstructs Proto-Italic ⟨*semali⟩ “alike, together” for simul, and Sihler derives ⟨semel⟩ from ⟨*sm̥-meh₁lom⟩ “one measure”.^[5][1] Cognate with Sanskrit सकृत् (sakṛ́t, “once”), Ancient Greek ἅπαξ (hápax, “once”) and Gothic 𐍃𐌹𐌼𐌻𐌴 (simle, “once”).^[2][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Ennius, “once”.^[2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a single time, once, as in Ennius; in Cicero it began an enumeration (semel, iterum, tertiō) and meant once and for all.^[2] In Plautus it marked a single event with a lasting consequence, “once, ever”, and in Seneca it meant at one go.^[2]

British Medieval Latin used it for once, vel semel “just once”, and nōn semel “more than once”.^[6]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.^[2][4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of a single event.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it in enumerations.^[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Once, a single time.^[2]
2. Once, the first time.^[2]
3. Once and for all.^[2]
4. At one go.^[2]

Word family

• insemel
• sincinium

Related words

• bis
• semper
• simplex
• singulī
• simul

References

1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ 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. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
6. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press