propemodum Latin · revision 32210

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *própro}}

+

+ ==Forms==

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

+ It is also written separately, ''prope modum''.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|prope|modus|t1=near|t2=measure]], with the noun in the accusative, near the measure.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan, after Dunkel, derives [[m|la|prope]] from an iterative preverb [[ine-pro|*própro|t=on and on, ever further]], with the second /r/ lost by dissimilation.^(de Vaan 2008) Cognate with [[grc|πρόπρο|tr=própro|t=before; on and on]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Plautus,^(Köbler 2010) whose ''Menaechmi'' has “I almost know already what the matter is”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It means virtually, near enough or pretty well, nearly or almost.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Cicero says that drawing lots is almost the same as playing at odds and evens or throwing dice, and speaks of almost counting the syllables.^(Lewis & Short 1879) Church Latin glosses it almost, nearly, in like manner.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus in the sense almost.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of lots compared with dice.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Virtually, near enough, [[m|en|almost]], nearly.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}