modo Latin · revision 17738

18 Oct 2026, 18:36 by bogdan “Latin la10k: at, an, pro, autem, sine, nihil, modo, quia, quidam, apud”
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=204–169 BC, Ennius|origins=la modus}}
+ 
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈmɔ.doː], [ˈmɔ.dɔ]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmɔː.do]^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Forms==
+ '''modō̆''' ^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is the ablative of [[modus|t=measure]], “by measure”, hence “only”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The final vowel was usually shortened by iambic shortening, as in [[ego]], though early writers sometimes scan “modō”.^(Wiktionary)^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ It is found from Ennius on, who writes ''quam semel modo parere'' “than give birth just once”.^(Köbler 2010)^(OLD 2012)
+ 
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ Its first sense is “no more than, just, only”;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) ''nōn modo … sed etiam'' means “not only … but also”, and ''modo ut'' (''modo nē'') “provided that (not)”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of time it means “just now, a moment ago” and also “presently”;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''modo … modo'' means “now … now, at one time … at another”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Döderlein notes that ''modo'' refers to a few moments ago, while ''[[nūper]]'' covers days, months or years.^(Döderlein 1874)
+ 
+ In Medieval Latin it meant “at once” and “now”.^(Niermeyer 1976) The adjective ''[[modernus]]'' is formed from it.^(Wiktionary)
+ 
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it for “only”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''cēnāvī modo'', “I've just had dinner”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 550–1150 – Medieval Latin uses it for “at once, now”.^(Niermeyer 1976)
+ 
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Adverb===
+ # [[m|en|only]], just, merely.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)
+ # ''nōn modo … sed etiam'', not only … but also.^(OLD 2012)
+ # ''modo ut'', ''modo nē'', provided that, provided that not.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)
+ # Just now, lately; presently.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # ''modo … modo'', now … now, at one time … at another.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)
+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' At once; now.^(Niermeyer 1976)
+ 
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[modernus]]
+ * [[tantummodo]]
+ * [[sōlummodo]]
+ 
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[modus]]
+ * [[nūper]]
+ 
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}