utinam

Forms

utinam (not comparable)^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin ut (“how, as”) + nam (“for”), with the older form ⟨utī⟩.^[2][1][3] De Vaan derives the first part from Proto-Italic *kʷutV(s) (“how”), from the pronoun stem Proto-Indo-European *kʷu- (“where, how”), cognate with Oscan puz (“that”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Plautus.^[4] Ennius has utinam nē in nemore Pēliō secūribus caesa accidisset abiegna ad terram trabēs!, “if only the fir timbers had never fallen to the ground, felled by axes in the grove of Pelion!”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Utinam strengthens a wish expressed by the subjunctive, “if only, would that”.^[2][5][1] It is often joined with quod or atque (Cicero: quod utinam minus vītae cupidī fuissēmus!, “if only we had been less eager to live!”), with nē or nōn for a negative wish, and it can qualify a single word.^[2] Alone it answers “I hope so!” (Terence: iam hīc suōs parentēs repperit? – utinam!, “has she found her parents? – I hope so!”).^[2]

Church Latin glosses it “would that, oh that”.^[6]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^[4][3]
• 204–169 BC – Ennius: utinam nē in nemore Pēliō.^[2][3]
• 170–c. 90 BC – Accius uses quod utinam.^[2][3]
• 190–159 BC – Terence: utinam!, “I hope so!”.^[2][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero: quod utinam minus vītae cupidī fuissēmus!.^[2][3]

Meanings

Particle

1. if only, would that, oh that (with the subjunctive).^[2][5][1][6]
2. utinam nē, utinam nōn: if only … not.^[2]
3. (alone, in answers) I hope so!^[2]

Related words

• ut
• nam
• ō

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ 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
3. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c 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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson