maxime Latin · revision 17818

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈmak.sɪ.meː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈmak.si.me]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''maximē''' (also ''maxumē''; superlative adverb of ''[[magis]]'')^(OLD 2012)

+ Inscriptions have the spelling ''maxsume''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|maximus|-ē]], the adverb of the superlative “greatest”, and serves as the superlative of [[magis]] “more”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan derives [[m|la|maximus]] from ⟨*magisVmo-⟩, built on the comparative stem of [[magnus]] “great”, from [[ine-pro|*mǵ-no-|t=great]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus on:^(Köbler 2010) ''illud … mīror maximē'', “that is what I wonder at most”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Maximē'' means “most, to the greatest extent”, and with adjectives it forms superlatives (''maximē pius'' “most pious”).^(OLD 2012) It singles out a point, “especially, in particular, chiefly”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Several phrases use it: ''ut cum maximē'' “as much as ever”;^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995) ''cum maximē'' “just when, at the very moment”;^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995) ''nunc maximē'' “at this very moment” and ''tum maximē'' “just then”;^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995) ''quam maximē'' “as much as possible”.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995) In conversation ''maximē'' is a reply, “by all means, certainly”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – First found in Plautus, also as a reply: ''iace, pater, tālōs … — maximē'' “throw the dice, father … — by all means”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it to form a superlative: ''maximē … pius quaestus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero: ''haec cum maximē loquerētur'', “just as he was saying this”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|most]], to the greatest extent, very much.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(with adjectives and adverbs)'' Most (forming the superlative).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Most of all, [[m|en|especially]], chiefly.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''ut cum maximē'', as much as ever.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''cum maximē'', just when;^(OLD 2012) ''nunc maximē'', at this very moment.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''quam maximē'', as much as possible.^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(as a reply)'' By all means, [[m|en|certainly]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[maximus]]

+ * [[magis]]

+ * [[magnopere]]

+ * [[magnus]]

+ * [[en|maximum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}