sic

Forms

sīc (not comparable)^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin sī + -ce, the locative of an old demonstrative ⟨*so-⟩ (as in sī) with the deictic particle ⟨-ce⟩.^[2][3][1] The full form ⟨sīce⟩ occurs in Plautus and ⟨seic⟩ in early inscriptions;^[3][2][1] ⟨sīc⟩ arose by regular loss of the final vowel.^[3][2][1] The demonstrative goes back to Proto-Indo-European *só.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Plautus on.^[4]

Semantic evolution

Sīc means “thus, so, in this way”, pointing to a manner just shown, just described or about to be described (sīc memorant “they speak as follows”).^[2][3] It is the correlative of ut (ut … sīc “as … so”), restricts (“on these terms”), and in answers means “yes, just so”.^[2][1]

In Medieval Latin it also meant “then, thereupon” and “surely”.^[5] With the question particle it forms sīcine.^[2]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses both sīc and the full form sīce.^[2][3][4]
• 204–169 BC – Ennius: inter sēsē sīc memorant: “ō Rōmule, Rōmule …”^[2][4]
• c. 550–1150 – Medieval Latin uses it for “thereupon”.^[5]

Meanings

Adverb

1. thus, so, in this way.^[2][3]
2. As follows; to this effect.^[2][1]
3. (with ut) So, in the same way: ut … sīc, as … so.^[2][1]
4. On these terms, on condition.^[2][1]
5. (in answers) Yes, just so.^[1]
6. (Medieval Latin) Then, thereupon; surely.^[5]

Word family

• sīcut
• sīcine

Related words

• sī
• ita
• -ce

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 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. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill