nempe Latin · revision 30797

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈnɛm.pɛ]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈnɛm.pe]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

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

+ Plautus and Terence often scan it ''nĕmpĕ'', with both syllables short.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It ends in the particle [[m|la|-pe]] found in [[m|la|quippe]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) The OLD takes the first part as ⟨*nem⟩, from the pronoun root of [[m|la|nam|t=for]], and Wiktionary and Lewis & Short derive it from [[m|la|nam]];^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) the TLL, following Dunkel, starts instead from [[m|la|nē|t=truly]] with an adverbial ⟨*-m⟩ and a particle ⟨*-pe⟩ “but”.^(TLL) The OLD compares [[lt|kaip|t=how, as]].^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Plautus,^(Köbler 2010) who uses it in questions that expect agreement: ''nempe tū nōvistī mīlitem meum erum?'', “you know my master the soldier, of course?”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Nempe'' backs up a statement with something the other person cannot deny: “of course, to be sure, without doubt”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) In questions it assumes the answer (“so I take it that …?”), in answers it confirms and spells out the other's meaning (“why, clearly; that is to say”), and it concedes a fact: “admittedly” (Cicero: ''scīmus nempe; haerēmus nihilō minus'').^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) It is also used ironically, “forsooth”.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “truly, to be sure, namely, certainly”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: ''nempe tū nōvistī mīlitem meum erum?''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero: ''scīmus nempe''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Particle===

+ # Of course, to be sure, [[m|en|certainly]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(in questions)'' So I take it that …?^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(in answers)'' Why, clearly; [[m|en|namely]], that is to say.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # Admittedly, it is true.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(ironic)'' [[m|en|forsooth|alt=Forsooth]].^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[nam]]

+ * [[quippe]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}