nimis Latin · revision 17990

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=compound|attested=280/260–before 200 BC, Livius Andronicus|origins=ine-pro *meyh₁-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈnɪ.mɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈniː.mis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ De Vaan, following Meiser, explains it as ⟨*nimīs⟩, shortened by iambic shortening, from ⟨*ne meis⟩ “not too little, quite a lot”: the negation [[m|la|nē]] with an adverb [[itc-pro|*meis]] of an adjective “little, few”, from [[ine-pro|*m(e)ih₁-is-|t=less]], the root of [[m|la|minor]].^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler also derives it from [[m|la|nē]] and [[ine-pro|*meyh₁-|t=to lessen]].^(Köbler 2010) Wiktionary instead takes it from ⟨ne-⟩ and [[ine-pro|*meh₁-|t=to measure]], the root of [[m|la|mētior]], as L&S did.^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The OLD calls it doubtful.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Livius Andronicus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) Plautus has ''numquam … nimis cūrāre possunt suom parentem fīliae'', “daughters can never care too much for their father”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Nimis'' is “too much, excessively, unduly” (Terence: ''nimis mē indulgeō'', “I indulge myself too much”), and with a negative “not greatly, none too”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) In early Latin it often means simply “very much, exceedingly”, with no idea of excess.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It is also found as an indeclinable noun, “too much”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ The adjective [[nimius]] and the adverb [[nimium]] were made from it.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''numquam … nimis cūrāre possunt''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence: ''nimis mē indulgeō''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Too much, [[m|en|excessively]], unduly.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''nōn nimis'': not greatly, none too.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Very much, [[m|en|exceedingly]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(indeclinable)'' Too much, an [[m|en|excess]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nimius]]

+ * [[praenimis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[minor]]

+ * [[nimium]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}