iam Latin · revision 17759

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=c. 450 BC, Twelve Tables|origins=ine-pro *h₁i-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈjãː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈjam]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''iam''' (not comparable)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed on the base of the pronoun [[is]], as [[tam]] and [[quam]] are on theirs.^(OLD 2012) De Vaan reconstructs ⟨*iām⟩, an accusative singular feminine; since adverbs in ⟨-ām⟩ meant “as far as, with respect to”, ⟨*iām⟩ would have meant “as far as this is concerned”, hence “now”.^(de Vaan 2008) He also considers a remodelling of the old accusative ⟨*īm⟩ “him, her” after pronouns such as “quam”; in the pronoun itself the form was later replaced by [[m|la|eam]].^(de Vaan 2008) Wiktionary instead derives it from [[ine-pro|*Hyā́m]], the feminine accusative of the relative [[m|ine-pro|*Hyós|t=who, which]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found in the Twelve Tables and in Livius Andronicus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Iam'' marks a point in time seen against what comes before or after: “now (and no longer as before)”, “by now, already”, and with negatives “no longer” (''nōn iam'').^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995) ''Iam … iam'' means “now … now”, ''iam iam'' “at any moment”, and ''quid iam?'' “why so?”.^(OLD 2012) It also marks a stage in a series or argument (“next, moreover”) and, with ''inde ab'', continuity from a past point.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ It combines with other adverbs: ''iam diū'', ''iam dūdum'', ''iam prīdem'' “long since”, and ''[[etiam]]'' is ''et'' + ''iam''.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 450 BC – The Twelve Tables use it for the next term of a series.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses ''quid iam?'' and ''iam iam''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato: ''sērō est, iam rescīvēre'' “it is too late, they have found out by now”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|now]] (as opposed to before); ''nōn iam'', no longer.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # By now, by then, [[m|en|already]];^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''(in negative clauses)'' yet.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''iam … iam'', now … now;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''iam iam'', at any moment now.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Soon, presently.^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Now, moreover (introducing the next point).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[etiam]]

+ * [[iamdūdum]]

+ * [[iamprīdem]]

+ * [[nunciam]]

+ * [[quoniam]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nam]]

+ * [[quam]]

+ * [[tam]]

+ * [[is]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}