ni Latin · revision 18119

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 450 BC, Law of the Twelve Tables|origins=ine-pro *nei}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈniː]^(Wiktionary)

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

+

+ ==Forms==

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

+ The old spelling ''nei'' is frequent in archaic inscriptions and is read in some passages of Plautus.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|itc-pro|*nei]], [[inh|ine-pro|*nei]], the negation [[m|la|ne]] combined with a deictic particle ⟨*-i⟩.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with Oscan [[m|osc|nei|t=except]],^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) [[ae|naē-|t=not]], [[peo|naiy|t=not]] and [[lt|neĩ|t=nor, than]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from the oldest Latin inscriptions, among them the Duenos inscription and the Senatus consultum de Bacchanalibus (''nei'').^(de Vaan 2008) The Law of the Twelve Tables has ''sī in iūs vocat, ītō. nī it, antestāminō'', “if he summons him to court, let him go; if he does not go, let him call a witness”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a simple negative ''nī'' corresponds to ''nē'': it forbids, in laws (''nei petitō'', “let him not seek”), introduces indirect prohibitions (Cato: ''caveat nī lābet columella'', “let him take care that the post does not slip”), and means “for fear that, lest”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) It also means “if … not”, like ''sī nōn'', and “unless”, like ''nisi'', often with ''forte'' (Plautus: ''meus hic est homō, nī omnēs dī … dēserunt'', “this man is mine, unless all the gods desert me”).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “if not, unless, that not”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 450 BC – The Law of the Twelve Tables: ''nī it, antestāminō''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''nī omnēs dī … dēserunt''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato: ''caveat nī lābet columella''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # [[m|en|not]] (in prohibitions, like ''nē'').^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # That … not (introducing indirect prohibitions).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # For fear that, [[m|en|lest]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # If … not.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # [[m|en|unless]], except if;^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995) ''nī forte'': unless perhaps.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[quippinī]]

+ * [[nīmīrum]]

+ * [[quidnī]]

+ * [[nisi]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ne]]

+ * [[nīve]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The OLD also lists a doubtful exclamation of triumph, ''nī nōbīs''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}