Etymologically
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semper

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈsɛm.pɛr][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈsɛm.per][1]

Forms

semper (not comparable)[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin sem- + -per, from the stem *sem- (“one”) of semel (“once”) with the suffix of duration ⟨-per⟩ (as in nūper and paulīsper), literally “once for all”.[2][3][1][4] Compare Ancient Greek ἕν (hén, “one”).[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Naevius on;[3] Plautus writes genus nostrum semper siccoculum fuit “our family was always dry-eyed”.[2]

Semantic evolution

Semper means “always”, either throughout all time or a given period, or on every occasion, “invariably”.[2][5] Döderlein contrasts semper, “always” in an absolute sense, with usque, “always” within a definite limit.[6]

English uses it as a word-forming element semper- “always”.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – First found in Naevius.[3][7]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: genus nostrum semper siccoculum fuit.[2][7]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato: nēquiter factum illud apud vōs semper manēbit.[5][7]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. always, ever, at all times; forever.[2][5]
  2. On every occasion, invariably.[2]

Word family

  • sempervīvus
  • sempiternus

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c 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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de