tantum Latin · revision 17812

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *teh₂-nt-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈtan.tũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈtan.tum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the neuter of [[tantus]] “so great”, used as a noun and as an adverbial accusative.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan derives ⟨tantus⟩ from [[itc-pro|*tānto-|t=so great]], from [[ine-pro|*teh₂-nt-o-]], a PIE type of adjective in ⟨*-nt-⟩ built on pronominal stems; it is related to [[tam]] “so”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Compare [[osc|etanto|t=so great]] and Umbrian [[m|xum|etantu]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus on:^(Köbler 2010) ''quanta istaec hominum summast? — septem mīlia. — tantum esse oportet'', “how many men is that? — seven thousand. — that is how many there should be”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a pronoun ''tantum'' means “so much”, also restrictively “so much and no more” (''tantum est'' “that is all”).^(OLD 2012) Its cases give phrases of price and degree: ''tantī'' “worth so much”, ''tantō'' “at such a price” and, with comparatives, “by so much” (''tantō magis'' “all the more”), and ''in tantum'' “to such a degree”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ As an adverb it means “so much, to such an extent” and “only, merely” (''nunc tantum disputō dē iūre'' “now I am only discussing the law”); ''tantum modo'' is “only”, ''nōn tantum … sed etiam'' “not only … but also”, ''tantum quod'' “only just”, and ''tantum nōn'' “all but, almost”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) In Medieval Latin it also meant “at most” and, as a conjunction, “provided that”.^(Niermeyer 1976) Grammar uses ''plūrāle tantum'' for a noun used only in the plural.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – First found in Plautus, also in ''tantō magis''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses ''tantummodo'', “only”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero: ''ars dēmōnstrat tantum ubi quaerās'', “the art only shows where to look”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses ''tantum nōn'', “all but”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Pronoun===

+ # So much, such a quantity;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) so much and no more.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''tantī'', worth so much;^(OLD 2012) ''tantō'', at such a price.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''tantō'' (with comparative), by so much;^(OLD 2012) ''in tantum'', to such a degree.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # So much, to such an extent.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # [[m|en|only]], [[m|en|merely]], just;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''tantum modo'', only;^(OLD 2012) ''nōn tantum … sed etiam'', not only … but also.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''tantum quod'', only just;^(OLD 2012) ''tantum nōn'', all but, almost.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' At most;^(Niermeyer 1976) ''(conjunction)'' provided that.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[tantus]]

+ * [[tam]]

+ * [[quantum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}