semper Latin · revision 17773

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *sem-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈsɛm.pɛr]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsɛm.per]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|sem-|-per]], from the stem [[m|ine-pro|*sem-|t=one]] of [[semel|t=once]] with the suffix of duration ⟨-per⟩ (as in [[nūper]] and [[paulīsper]]), literally “once for all”.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Compare [[grc|ἕν|tr=hén|t=one]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Naevius on;^(de Vaan 2008) Plautus writes ''genus nostrum semper siccoculum fuit'' “our family was always dry-eyed”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Semper'' means “always”, either throughout all time or a given period, or on every occasion, “invariably”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Döderlein contrasts ''semper'', “always” in an absolute sense, with ''[[usque]]'', “always” within a definite limit.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ English uses it as a word-forming element ''semper-'' “always”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''genus nostrum semper siccoculum fuit''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato: ''nēquiter factum illud apud vōs semper manēbit''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|always]], ever, at all times; forever.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # On every occasion, invariably.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[sempervīvus]]

+ * [[sempiternus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[semel]]

+ * [[per]]

+ * [[usque]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}