paulum Latin · revision 30859

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

+

+ ==Forms==

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

+ It is also spelled ''paullum''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the neuter of [[m|la|paulus|t=little, small]], used as a noun, and its accusative used as an adverb.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The origin of ⟨paulus⟩ is disputed: Walde–Hofmann derive it from ⟨*pauk-slo-⟩, beside [[m|la|paucus|t=few]], but de Vaan objects that this suffix only made instrument nouns;^(de Vaan 2008) Thurneysen took it as ⟨*pau-re-lo-⟩, a diminutive of [[m|la|parvus|t=small]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus, ''Curculio'': ''dē paulō paulum hīc tibi dabō'', “I'll give you a tiny bit here out of the little I have”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a noun it is a little, a small amount (Plautus: Philolaches owes him a little).^(OLD 2012) As an adverb it is “a little, slightly, somewhat”, for a short distance (Plautus: I went off a little from them) and for a short while (Cicero: when I had rested a little).^(OLD 2012) With ''sī'' it means “by only a little”: in Terence, if he had stayed a little longer he would not have found her at home.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus, as a noun and as an adverb.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence: “only a little”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of resting a little.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A little, a small amount, a [[m|en|trifle]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # A little, [[m|en|slightly]], somewhat.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # For a short distance; for a short while.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Only a little, by a small amount.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[paululum]]

+ * [[pauxillum]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[paulus]]

+ * [[paucus]]

+ * [[parvus]]

+ * [[paulātim]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}