quasi Latin · revision 18174

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=280/260–before 200 BC, Livius Andronicus|origins=la quam, la sī}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈkʷa.siː], [ˈkʷa.sɪ]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈkʷaː.s̬i]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''quasī̆''' ^(Wiktionary)

+ Inscriptions have ''quansei'' and ''quasei'', and Quintilian cites ''quase''.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ In verse it is usually two short syllables;^(OLD 2012) Lucretius has ''quasī''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|quam|sī|t1=how, as|t2=if]], run together as one word, with the vowels shortened.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Livius Andronicus.^(Köbler 2010) Plautus has ''ita adsimulāvit sē, quasi Amphitruō siet'', “he pretended to be Amphitryon”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a conjunction with the subjunctive ''quasi'' introduces a hypothetical comparison, “as if, as though”, often after verbs of pretending, and an ironic comment, “as if …!”; after a comparative it is “than if”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) With the indicative it makes a real comparison, “just as”, and before a single word “as, like” (Plautus: ''quasi piscis itidemst amātor lēnae'', “a lover is like a fish to a procuress”).^(OLD 2012) It gives a reason, true or pretended, “on the ground that”, and introduces what someone asserts or believes.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) Without a verb it is “in the capacity of, as”, and “for example, say”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ As an adverb it qualifies numbers, “as good as, practically, about”, and softens an unusual word or metaphor, “so to speak, as it were”.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) Church Latin glosses it “as it were, so to speak, about, almost” and “as if, as though”, and canon law forms terms with it such as ''quasi-domicilium'', a place of temporary residence, and ''quasi-paroecia'', a quasi parish.^(Stelten 1995) In Medieval Latin it can also mean “as being”, “that” introducing a doubtful statement, and “whether”.^(Niermeyer 1976) English has used [[m|en|quasi]] since the late 15th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

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

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''quasi Amphitruō siet''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius scans it ''quasī''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 15th century – Used in English as [[m|en|quasi]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # As if, as though (with the subjunctive).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Than if (after a comparative).^(OLD 2012)

+ # Just as; as, like (in a real comparison).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # On the ground that (giving a reason, true or pretended).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # In the capacity of, as; for example.^(OLD 2012)^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # As good as, practically, about, [[m|en|almost]].^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # So to speak, as it were (softening a [[m|en|metaphor]]).^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[quam]]

+ * [[sī]]

+ * [[tamquam]]

+ * [[velut]]

+ * [[en|quasi]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}