commodum Latin · revision 17998

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkɔm.mɔ.dũː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkɔm.mo.dum]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''commodum''' ''n'' (genitive commodī); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the neuter of [[m|la|commodus|t=suitable, convenient]], used as a noun and, in the accusative, as an adverb.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) [[m|la|commodus]] is formed from [[m|la|com-]] and [[m|la|modus|t=measure]];^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) de Vaan derives [[m|la|modus]] from [[itc-pro|*medo-|t=measure, judgement]], from [[ine-pro|*med-o-|t=measure]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus uses both: the noun in ''nē umquam eōrum quisquam invideat prōrsus commodīs'', “that none of them should ever envy another's good fortune”, and the adverb in ''ad aquam praebendam commodum advēnī domum'', “I have just come home to fetch water”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a noun ''commodum'' is “an advantage, benefit”, usually in the plural, and “profit, interest” (Terence: ''sī ex eā rē plūs malī est quam commodī'', “if more harm than good comes of it”).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) With a possessive it is “convenience”, ''commodō meō'' “at my convenience”, and it also means “a reward, bounty, salary”, as of soldiers' benefits in Cicero.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ As an adverb ''commodum'' is “just, this very minute”, of something just done, and “just then, at that moment” (Plautus: ''ecce autem commodum aperītur foris'', “but look, just now the door is opening”).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Church Latin glosses the noun “blessing, favor, convenience”,^(Stelten 1995) and in Medieval Latin it can mean “a bribe”.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses the noun and the adverb.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence: ''plūs malī … quam commodī''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of soldiers' rewards.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|advantage]], benefit;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995) profit, interest.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|convenience]];^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995) ''commodō meō'': at my convenience.^(OLD 2012)

+ # A reward, bounty, [[m|en|salary]]; a privilege.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' A [[m|en|bribe]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Just, a moment ago.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Just then, at this very moment;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) in the nick of time.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[commodulum]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[commodus]]

+ * [[modus]]

+ * [[commodō]]

+ * [[incommodum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}