paululum Latin · revision 32314

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *peh₂u-}}

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''paululum''' (noun, genitive paululī; adverb)^(OLD 2012)

+ It is also spelled ''paullulum'' and ''pollulum''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the neuter of [[m|la|paululus|t=very little]], used as a noun and an adverb.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) [[m|la|paululus]] is a diminutive of [[m|la|paulus|t=little]];^(Wiktionary) de Vaan places both with [[m|la|paucus|t=few]], from [[itc-pro|*pauko-]] and [[ine-pro|*peh₂u-]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Plautus,^(de Vaan 2008) whose ''Curculio'' has “Venus, out of my little I will give you a very little, and not gladly”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a noun it is only a little, a small amount, often with a genitive, as Plautus' “I made a little booty inside”.^(OLD 2012) As an adverb it means only a little, to a small extent, or somewhat, as Terence's “if you had given up a little of your right”.^(OLD 2012) It is also used of a short distance, as Plautus' “I turned a little off the road”, and of a short time, as Cicero of someone's madness checked for a little while.^(OLD 2012) Church Latin glosses it a short time, a little.^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus of a little gift and a short distance.^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence as an adverb, “somewhat”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of a short while.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # Only a little; a small amount, a little.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # Only to a small extent, [[m|en|little]]; to a small extent, [[m|en|somewhat]], slightly.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # For a short distance; for a short while.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[paululus]]

+ * [[paulum]]

+ * [[paucus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}