simul

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈsɪ.mʊɫ]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsiː.mul]^[1]

Forms

simul (not comparable)^[1] Plautus and inscriptions have the older form semul.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *semali (“alike, together”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *smh₂-el-i-, the old neuter of the word that became similis “like”.^[4][2][1] The older form was ⟨semul⟩, and ⟨simul⟩ took its /i/ from ⟨similis⟩.^[4] Cognate with Ancient Greek ὁμαλός (homalós, “even, level”), Old Irish samail (“like”) and Gothic 𐍃𐌹𐌼𐌻𐌴 (simle, “once”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, “together”.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant in company, together, as in Plautus and Cicero, jointly, as in Ennius, and at the same time, as well.^[2] With ut, as in Titinius, and as simul atque in Lucilius it became a conjunction, “as soon as”, and Ovid used it as a preposition with the ablative.^[2]

British Medieval Latin used it for together.^[6] Its compound īnsimul survives in French ensemble and gave English ensemble in 1703, and Medieval Latin simultāneus gave English simultaneous in the 1650s.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[2][5]
• c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius has simul atque.^[2][5]
• 1650s – English simultaneous is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Adverb

1. Together, in company.^[2]
2. At the same time, simultaneously.^[2]

Conjunction

1. simul (ac, atque, ut), as soon as.^[2]

Word family

• īnsimul
• simultās
• simultāneus

Related words

• hic
• is
• quisque
• quispiam
• alius
• eiusmodī
• eiusdemmodī
• cuiusmodī
• cuiusmodīcumque
• cuiusvīsmodī
• similis
• semel
• English simultaneous
• English ensemble

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 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 de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
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
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com