Etymologically
Log in

ut

This is an old revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 18:36. It may differ significantly from the current version. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Current version Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈʊt][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈut][1]

Forms

ut (not comparable)[1]

Etymology

It goes back to *kʷutV(s) (“how”), from the PIE interrogative stem Proto-Indo-European *kʷu- (“where, how”), with loss of the labiovelar as in ubi.[2][3] The ending is uncertain.[3] De Vaan considers an original *kʷu-tos, with the suffix ⟨*-tos⟩ “from” seen in intus, or *kʷu-ti, with the ⟨*-ti⟩ of et and aut; the long ⟨ī⟩ of the older form ⟨utī⟩ may be analogical to the adverb quī “how”.[2]

Cognate with Oscan puz (“that, as”) and Umbrian puze.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The older form utī appears in the Twelve Tables, ut from Livius Andronicus on.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

As an adverb ut means “how?” and “how!”, then “as” (ut … ita “as … so”), “as for example”, and “like” in similes.[3][5] As a conjunction with the subjunctive it introduces purpose (“in order that”), result (“so that”), indirect commands and wishes, and concessions (“granted that, although”); with the indicative it also means “when, as soon as”.[5][1][6] After verbs of fearing it means “that not”.[6]

The full form utī grew rare after Cicero but was favoured by archaizing writers such as Sallust.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 450 BC – utī in the Twelve Tables.[2][4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses ut in questions and exclamations: ut miser est homo quī amat![3][4]
  • 86–34 BC – Sallust keeps the archaic utī.[3][4]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. (interrogative) how? in what way?[3][5]
  2. (exclamatory) How![3]
  3. as, just as;[3][5] ut … ita, as … so.[3][5]
  4. As for example; such as.[3]
  5. Like (in similes).[3]

Conjunction

  1. (with subjunctive) In order that, so that (purpose).[5][6]
  2. (with subjunctive) So that, with the result that.[5][1]
  3. (with subjunctive) That (after verbs of asking, ordering, happening).[5][1]
  4. (with subjunctive) Granted that, although.[1][5]
  5. (with indicative) When, as soon as.[1][6]
  6. (after verbs of fearing) That not.[6]

Word family

Usage notes

After a comparative in a clause of purpose quō takes the place of ut.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c d e Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson