Etymologically
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tam

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈtãː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈtam][1]

Forms

tam (not comparable)[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *tām (“so”), inherited from Proto-Indo-European *teh₂m.[2] The OLD and Lewis & Short explain it as the accusative feminine singular of the demonstrative stem seen in iste, the counterpart of quam.[3][4] De Vaan notes that ⟨*tām⟩ might also be an Italic creation, like quam and -dam.[2]

Its derivative tantus (“so great”) has Sabellic cognates in Oscan etanto and Umbrian etantu, both “so great”, from ⟨*e-tanto-⟩.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Naevius on,[2][5] and Plautus already uses it with verbs, adjectives and adverbs to mean “so much, to such a degree”.[3]

Semantic evolution

Its main use is as a correlative with quam in comparisons of equal degree, “so … as”, tam … quam, which can also join two terms without stressing one over the other; it is also followed by a clause of result, with ut or qui.[3][4] With diu it is sometimes written as one word, and Afranius has tanne for tamne.[3] Early poets such as Ennius and Naevius also used tam in the sense of tamen “nevertheless”.[6][3]

In Ecclesiastical Latin tam … quam is “both … and” or “whether … or”.[7] The word stayed in use through medieval Latin.[8][5]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses it.[2][5]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it with verbs and adjectives and in comparisons with quam.[3][5]
  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses tam for “nevertheless”.[6][5]
  • 1334 – A letter from Canterbury uses it in a medieval document.[8]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. So, to such a degree, so much.[3][4]
  2. (with quam) As … as, so … as, in comparisons of equal degree.[3][4]
  3. (followed by ut or qui) So much that, to such a degree that.[3]
  4. (early Latin) Nevertheless, all the same.[3][6]
  5. (Ecclesiastical Latin, tam … quam) Both … and; whether … or.[7]

Word family

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e 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 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 e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ a b 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