ferme Latin · revision 31429

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 235–200 BC, Naevius|origins=ine-pro *dʰer-o-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈfɛr.meː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈfɛr.me]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''fermē''' (superlative)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ De Vaan takes it as an ablative in ⟨-ē⟩ of an unrecorded superlative ⟨*ferimus⟩ of the adjective behind [[m|la|ferē|t=almost, about]], since it has the same meaning as ⟨ferē⟩, rather than as a variant of [[m|la|firmus|t=firm, strong]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012) He traces ⟨ferē⟩ to [[itc-pro|*fero-|t=close by]], with the superlative [[m|itc-pro|*feramo-|t=very close by, near]], and [[ine-pro|*dʰer-o-|t=holding, tight]]; if the first meaning was “holding” or “fixed”, the change to “nearly” is a weakening of “certainly”.^(de Vaan 2008) Lindsay also took it as a superlative of ⟨ferē⟩, while the TLL wondered whether ⟨ferē⟩ is rather shortened from ⟨fermē⟩, which is closer to ⟨firmus⟩.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLL finds it from Naevius onwards,^(TLL) as does Köbler.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means the same as ''ferē'': approximately, about or more or less, especially with numbers, and nearly or practically, as with ''idem'' in Terence's “almost the same things” and often in Livy and Tacitus.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Introducing a generalisation it is usually or as a rule, and with a negation hardly ever.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) The final vowel is long in verse from Plautus and Lucretius to Juvenal, and short only in a Christian inscription.^(TLL) De Vaan calls it the more archaic of the two forms.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “almost”.^(Stelten 1995) Döderlein says that ''ferē'' and ''fermē'' only guard the accuracy of a statement, “about”, while ''paene'' and ''prope'' soften an exaggeration, “almost” and “nearly”.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence of things almost the same.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it often with ''īdem''.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|approximately|alt=Approximately]], about, more or less.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # [[m|en|nearly|alt=Nearly]], almost, practically.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # As a rule, usually, generally;^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) (with a negation) hardly ever.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ferē]]

+ * [[firmus]]

+ * [[paene]]

+ * [[prope]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}