nequam Latin · revision 31755

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=compound|attested=c. 235–200 BC, Naevius|origins=la nē, la quam}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ˈneː.kʷãː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [ˈnɛː.kʷam]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''nēquam''' (indeclinable, comparative ''nēquior'', superlative ''nēquissimus'')^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|nē|quam|t1=not|t2=how]], a phrase “in no way” used as an adjective.^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) The comparative ⟨nēquior⟩ and the superlative ⟨nēquissimus⟩ were formed as if from a stem ⟨*nēquo-⟩.^(TLL) The older explanation, still in Lewis & Short, takes it from ⟨ne aequam⟩ “not fair”, from [[aequus]];^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) Wiktionary allows that this may have influenced it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan and Köbler date it from Naevius.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Of things it means worthless or useless, as Plautus' fish that is no good unless fresh.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Of people it is morally worthless, a scoundrel, and in early Latin it was often used of slaves;^(OLD 2012) ''dare nequam alicui'' is to make mischief for someone.^(OLD 2012) In a mild or playful use it means naughty or roguish, often in erotic contexts, as when a Plautine lover calls himself a rascal for having fallen in love that day.^(OLD 2012) The noun [[nēquitia]] and the adverb [[nēquiter]] were formed from it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “wicked, evil, worthless”.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 235–200 BC – Naevius.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of worthless fish and of scoundrels.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of things, [[m|en|worthless]], useless, bad.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Of persons, morally worthless, [[m|en|depraved]], [[m|en|vile]];^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) ''dare nequam alicui'', to make mischief for someone.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # In playful use, [[m|en|naughty]], roguish.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[nēquālia]]

+ * [[nēquiter]]

+ * [[nēquitiēs]]

+ * [[nēquitia]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}