nedum Latin · revision 32212

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=compound|attested=190–159 BC, Terence}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''nēdum''' ^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|nē|dum|t1=not|t2=while]], literally while not.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary) The TLL explains the second part as an accusative of a pronoun stem ⟨*do-⟩, as the feminine ⟨*dam⟩ in [[m|la|quīdam|t=a certain one]].^(TLL) De Vaan derives [[m|la|nē]] from [[itc-pro|*nē]] and [[ine-pro|*nē]], a stressed variant of the negation [[m|ine-pro|*ne|t=not]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler dates it from Terence,^(Köbler 2010) whose ''Heauton Timorumenos'' says that a satrap in love could never bear the expenses, much less you.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It shows that, as one thing is not so, another can be still less so.^(Lewis & Short 1879) With a verb in the subjunctive it means still less, as in Terence; without a verb it introduces a single word, not to speak of or let alone, as Cicero writes that a house in Rome suits his friend better than the whole Peloponnese, let alone Patrae.^(OLD 2012) The TLL notes that in poetry it occurs only once or twice each in Terence, Lucretius, Horace and Propertius.^(TLL) Church Latin glosses it to say nothing of, much less, by no means.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence of what a lover could not afford.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it once or twice.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero in the sense let alone.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # With a subjunctive, still less, much less.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Without a verb, not to speak of, [[m|en|let alone]].^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ne|alt=nē]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}