Etymologically
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sine

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈsɪ.nɛ][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈsiː.ne][1]

Forms

sine (+ ablative)[1]

Etymology

De Vaan derives it from *sn(H)i, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *sn̥h₁-i, perhaps an old locative, with Celtic and Indo-Iranian cognates: Old Irish sain- (“especially, different”), Sanskrit सनुतर् (sanutár, “away, aside”) and Ancient Greek ἄνευ (áneu, “without”).[2] The OLD also compares ἄτερ (áter, “without”) and Old English sundor (“apart”).[3]

An older view, given by Lewis & Short, analyses it as ⟨si⟩ + the negative ⟨ne⟩;[4][1] Wiktionary notes that the meaning “without” was earlier expressed by sē, ⟨sēd⟩, and that some connect the ⟨si-⟩ with that word.[4][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Plautus on: sine dolōre peperit “she gave birth without pain”.[2][3][5]

Semantic evolution

Sine means “without”, of things (sine perīculō “safely”), persons (“in the absence of”), aid or use (sine pinnīs volāre “to fly without wings”), and things one fails to bring.[3][4] In verse it is sometimes put after its noun.[3] Terence writes sine Cerere et Līberō friget Venus “without food and wine love grows cold”.[3]

Sine quā nōn “without which nothing” names an indispensable condition.[6] Medieval Latin also used sine for “besides, not counting”.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: sine dolōre peperit.[3][5]
  • 204–169 BC – Ennius: ōrātor sine pāce redit, the envoy comes back without peace.[3][5]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence: sine Cerere et Līberō friget Venus.[3][5]
  • c. 550–1150 – Medieval Latin uses it for “besides”.[7]

Meanings

Preposition

  1. (with ablative) without.[3][4]
  2. Without the presence of, in the absence of (a person).[3]
  3. Without the help or use of.[3]
  4. (Medieval Latin) Besides, not counting.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ 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
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill