em Latin · revision 31558

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=clipping|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *h₁em-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈẽː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈɛm]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''em''' ^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is probably a shortened imperative of [[emō|t=to take]], originally “take!”.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan derives the imperative ⟨*eme⟩ from [[ine-pro|*h₁em-e/o-|t=to take]], cognate with [[xum|emantur|t=may they be taken]] and [[lt|im̃ti|t=to take]].^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler calls the origin unclear.^(Köbler 2010) The TLL notes that it first went with the gesture of giving or holding out something and already in Plautus became a demonstrative particle, like [[ecce]] and [[ēn]].^(TLL)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is frequent in Plautus,^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010) offering something to someone's attention: “here's the bowl for you, there it is”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is used with an accusative, often with an ethic dative, as in “there's your man: go up and speak to him” and “there's the whole plot for you”.^(OLD 2012) It also introduces exclamations, “look whom you trust yourself to!”, statements (“if you say so, there, we'll go with you”) and commands.^(OLD 2012) Gaius Gracchus used it in a speech on the killing of his brother Tiberius.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) Manuscripts vary between ''em'' and ''hem''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 125–175 AD – Apuleius with a nominative.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # Offering something or drawing attention to it: here you are, there, look.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Introducing an exclamation, a statement or a command: see, there.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ecce]]

+ * [[ēn]]

+ * [[hem]]

+ * [[emō]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ A separate Old Latin ''em'' is an accusative of ''is'', for ''eum'',^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) found in the Twelve Tables.^(Köbler 2010) ''Em'' was also the name of the letter M.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}