nisi Latin · revision 17745

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 235–200 BC, Naevius|origins=la nē, la sī}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈnɪ.siː], [ˈnɪ.sɪ]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈniː.s̬i]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''nisī̆''' ^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably the negative [[m|la|ne-]] with [[sī|t=if]]; the old forms are ⟨nesi⟩ (Plautus, cited by Festus), ⟨nesei⟩, ⟨nisei⟩ and ⟨noisi⟩ in early inscriptions.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008) Wiktionary analyses it as [[nī|t=not]] + “sī”.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Naevius on.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Nisi'' means “unless, if not, except if”; with the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive “if it were not (had not been) that”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) In oaths it means “if it is not true that” (''dī mē interficiant nisi …''), and after a negative, without a verb, “except, but” (''nōn nisi'' “only”).^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ Medieval Latin also used it for “but”, after a comparative for “than”, and as an adverb for “only”.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – First found in Naevius.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses the old form ''nesi'' and the oath ''dī … mē interficiant nisi''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 550–1150 – Medieval Latin uses it for “than” and “only”.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # [[m|en|unless]], if not, except if.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # Unless perhaps (suggesting another possibility).^(OLD 2012)

+ # If it were not (had not been) that.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(after a negative)'' Except, but: ''nōn nisi'', only.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' But; than; only.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nisī quod]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sī]]

+ * [[nī]]

+ * [[sīn]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}