nimium Latin · revision 18129

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la nimis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the neuter of [[m|la|nimius|t=excessive]], used as a noun and as an adverb.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan takes [[m|la|nimius]] for a recent adjective made from the adverb [[m|la|nimis|t=too much]]; following Meiser, he explains that word as ⟨*ne meis⟩ “not too little”, with an adverb of [[ine-pro|*m(e)ih₁-is-|t=less]], the root of [[m|la|minor]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus uses both the adverb, ''nimium iam tinnīs; tacē'', “you are jangling too much now; be quiet”, and the noun, ''habē centum minīs … nimiumst'', “take it for a hundred minae … that's too much”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As an adverb ''nimium'' is “too much, excessively”, with adjectives “too” (Plautus: ''nimium ferus es'', “you are too fierce”), and ''nōn nimium'' “not greatly”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Without any idea of excess it is “very much, extremely”, as in Plautus' ''homō nimium sapit'', “the man is very wise”;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''nimium quantum'' is “to an inordinate degree”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ As a noun ''nimium'' is “an excess, too much”, with a genitive, and in ''plūs nimiō'', “far too much”, and ''satis et nimium'', “enough and to spare”;^(OLD 2012) Plautus also has it as “an abundance”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''nimium iam tinnīs'';^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010) ''nimiumst''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it in his work on agriculture.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero: ''nōn nimium probō'', “I do not much approve”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Too much, [[m|en|excessively]];^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) too (with adjectives).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''nōn nimium'': not greatly.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Very much, [[m|en|extremely]];^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) ''nimium quantum'': to an inordinate degree.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # An [[m|en|excess]], too much;^(OLD 2012) ''plūs nimiō'': far too much;^(OLD 2012) ''satis et nimium'': enough and to spare.^(OLD 2012)

+ # An [[m|en|abundance]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nimius]]

+ * [[nimis]]

+ * [[minor]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}