Etymologically
Log in

verum

This is an old revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 18 October 2026 at 19:18. 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): [ˈweː.rũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈvɛː.rum][1]

Forms

vērum (not comparable)[1]

Etymology

It is the neuter of vērus “true”, used as a noun (“the truth”) and as an adverb; the conjunction grew out of ⟨vērum est⟩ “it is true” used in replies.[2][1] De Vaan derives ⟨vērus⟩ from Proto-Italic *wēro- (“true”), from Proto-Indo-European *weh₁-ro- (“true”).[3]

Compare Old Irish fír (“true”), Welsh gwir (“true”), Old High German wār (“true”) and Old Church Slavonic вѣра (věra, “faith”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The noun is found from Naevius on;[4] Plautus uses the conjunction: nēquam homōst, vērum hercle amīcus est tibi, “he is a rascal, but, by Hercules, he is your friend”.[2]

Semantic evolution

As a noun vērum is the truth, reality, fact.[1][5] As a conjunction it first adds a qualification to what has been granted, “but at the same time”, and then means “but, however”; after a negative it is “but on the contrary”.[2] Nōn sōlum … vērum etiam is “not only … but also”, and vērum also breaks off a subject (“but enough of that”).[2][6] As an adverb it means “truly, even so, still”.[1][6]

In Medieval Latin in vērum mittere meant “to establish on oath”.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 235–200 BC – The noun is found in Naevius.[4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses the conjunction.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it to move on: vērum haec lūdōrum atque pompae, “but that is for show and parade”.[2][4]

Meanings

Conjunction

  1. But at the same time.[2]
  2. but, however;[2][1] (after a negative) but on the contrary.[2]
  3. nōn sōlum … vērum etiam, not only … but also.[2][6]

Adverb

  1. truly, indeed; even so, still.[1][6]

Noun

  1. The truth, reality, fact.[1][5]
  2. (Medieval Latin) in vērum mittere, to establish on oath.[7]

Usage notes

The OLD and Köbler list a neuter verum with short e in Plautus, a form of verū “spit, javelin”.[2][4][1]

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 f g h i j k Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c d Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill