tandem

Forms

tandem (not comparable)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from tam “so” with the particle -dem (as in īdem), “just so far”.^[2][3][1] De Vaan derives it from ⟨*tam-dem⟩, with the secondary particle ⟨-dim⟩, and traces tam to Proto-Indo-European *teh₂m.^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Ennius uses it in protest: Iuppiter tibi summe tandem male rē gestā grātulor, “highest Jupiter, I congratulate you, after all, on a deed badly done”.^[2] De Vaan and Köbler date it from Plautus.^[4][5]

Semantic evolution

In early Latin tandem often stresses protest or impatience, “really, I ask you”, and in questions “pray”.^[2][3][1] Its other sense is “after some time, at length, at last”, and vix tandem “only just, after much effort”.^[2][3] Nonius reports that Titinius used it for tamen.^[2]

Church Latin glosses it “finally, at length”.^[6] English tandem began in 1785 as a joke on “at length”, for a carriage with the horses harnessed one behind the other.^[7]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius: Iuppiter tibi summe tandem male rē gestā grātulor.^[2][5]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: proelium id tandem dirēmit nox, “at last night ended that battle”.^[2][5]
• 1785 – English tandem, of a carriage.^[7]

Meanings

Adverb

1. (in questions and protests) Pray, really, I ask you, after all.^[2][3][1]
2. At length, at last, finally.^[2][3][1][6]
3. vix tandem, only just, after much time or effort.^[2]

Related words

• tam
• tamen
• dēmum

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g 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. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ 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
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com