si

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsiː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsiː]^[1]

Forms

sī ^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *sei (“so, thus”), the locative of an old demonstrative *so- (“this, that”), the stem also seen in sīc.^[2][1] It was first used in loosely joined clauses (“in this case …”); the phrase meaning “if it please the gods” may keep a trace of that use.^[2][1] The older spelling is ⟨sei⟩, found in early inscriptions and in some passages of Plautus.^[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

It opens the first law of the Twelve Tables: sī in iūs vocat “if he summons him to court”.^[3][4]

Semantic evolution

Sī introduces open conditions with the indicative (“if”), remote conditions with the present or perfect subjunctive (“if … should”), and unfulfilled ones with the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive (“if … were, had been”).^[2][3] It also forms polite appeals and oaths (sī mē amās “please”, sī vīvō “as sure as I live”), and with verbs of trying or waiting it means “in case, whether”.^[2][1]

Negative conditions usually take nisi;^[2] sī quis, sī quandō and sīquidem are often written as single words.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 450 BC – sī in iūs vocat opens the Twelve Tables.^[3][4]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses sī with the present for a future condition.^[2][4]
• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it in a sceptical sense, “if indeed”.^[2][4]

Meanings

Conjunction

1. if, supposing that (with the indicative).^[2][3]
2. If … should, if … were (with the subjunctive, in remote or unfulfilled conditions).^[2][3]
3. If ever, whenever (in general statements).^[2]
4. (in appeals and oaths) sī mē amās, please;^[2] sī vīvō, as sure as I live;^[2] sī dīs placet, if you please (ironic).^[2]
5. If indeed (sceptical).^[2]
6. In case, whether (after verbs of trying or waiting).^[1][3]

Word family

• nisi
• sīn
• sīve
• seu
• etsī
• etiamsī
• quasi
• sīquidem
• sīcubi
• sīquandō
• quodsī

Related words

• sīc

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g 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 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