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tamen

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈta.mɛn][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtaː.men][1]

Forms

tamen (not comparable)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from tam (“so”) with a particle ⟨-em⟩, as in īdem: ⟨*tam-em⟩.[2][1][3] The parallel ⟨*tam-dem⟩ gave tandem.[2][1] The adverb ⟨tam⟩ goes back to Proto-Indo-European *teh₂m.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Livius Andronicus on.[2]

Semantic evolution

Tamen means “all the same, nevertheless”: it stands alone, after a concessive clause (quamquam … tamen “although … yet”), after et, sed or at, or anticipates a concession.[3][4] In a clause of limitation with ut or nē it means “at least”, and in a conditional clause “if only, provided that”.[3][1]

It usually comes second in its clause but can also stand first or last.[1]

Timeline

  • c. 280–200 BC – First found in Livius Andronicus.[2]
  • c. 235–200 BC – Naevius uses at tamen.[3][5]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: quamquam ego sum sordidātus, frūgī tamen sum.[3][5]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. nevertheless, however, all the same.[3][4]
  2. (after a concessive clause) Yet, still: quamquam … tamen, although … yet.[3][4]
  3. Just the same (in spite of appearances).[3][1]
  4. (with ut or nē) At least;[3][1] (in a conditional clause) if only.[3][1]

Word family

  • attamen
  • vērumtamen
  • tamenetsī

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de