si Latin · revision 17769

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sī''' ^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*sei|t=so, thus]], the locative of an old demonstrative [[m|ine-pro|*so-|t=this, that]], the stem also seen in [[sīc]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It was first used in loosely joined clauses (“in this case …”); the phrase meaning “if it please the gods” may keep a trace of that use.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The older spelling is ⟨sei⟩, found in early inscriptions and in some passages of Plautus.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It opens the first law of the Twelve Tables: ''sī in iūs vocat'' “if he summons him to court”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Sī'' introduces open conditions with the indicative (“if”), remote conditions with the present or perfect subjunctive (“if … should”), and unfulfilled ones with the imperfect or pluperfect subjunctive (“if … were, had been”).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It also forms polite appeals and oaths (''sī mē amās'' “please”, ''sī vīvō'' “as sure as I live”), and with verbs of trying or waiting it means “in case, whether”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Negative conditions usually take ''[[nisi]]'';^(OLD 2012) ''sī quis'', ''sī quandō'' and ''sīquidem'' are often written as single words.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 450 BC – ''sī in iūs vocat'' opens the Twelve Tables.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses ''sī'' with the present for a future condition.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it in a sceptical sense, “if indeed”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # [[m|en|if]], supposing that (with the indicative).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # If … should, if … were (with the subjunctive, in remote or unfulfilled conditions).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # If ever, whenever (in general statements).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(in appeals and oaths)'' ''sī mē amās'', please;^(OLD 2012) ''sī vīvō'', as sure as I live;^(OLD 2012) ''sī dīs placet'', if you please (ironic).^(OLD 2012)

+ # If indeed (sceptical).^(OLD 2012)

+ # In case, whether (after verbs of trying or waiting).^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nisi]]

+ * [[sīn]]

+ * [[sīve]]

+ * [[seu]]

+ * [[etsī]]

+ * [[etiamsī]]

+ * [[quasi]]

+ * [[sīquidem]]

+ * [[sīcubi]]

+ * [[sīquandō]]

+ * [[quodsī]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sīc]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}