fortassis Latin · revision 34681

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la fors}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [fɔrˈtaːs.sɪs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [forˈtas.sis]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a by-form, [[der|la|fortasse|t=perhaps]];^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) compare [[m|la|magis]].^(Wiktionary) Priscian counted it among the adverbs derived from [[m|la|fors|t=chance]].^(TLL)

+

+ De Vaan thinks that adverb seems to come from a phrase [[m|la|forte|t=by chance]] + [[m|la|an]] + [[m|la|sum|alt=sīt]], “by chance whether it be”, but finds the sound changes, especially the short final vowel, unclear;^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler analyses it with ⟨sī vīs⟩, “if you will”, in place of the verb.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is recorded from Plautus on,^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010) meaning “perhaps”: ''fortassis tu auri dempsisti parum?'', “perhaps you took off too little gold?”^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is used with the indicative and the subjunctive, and with the verb left out.^(OLD 2012) Döderlein contrasts ''fortasse'' and ''fortassis'', which affirm a possibility approaching probability and take the indicative, with ''forsitan'', which takes the subjunctive.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ Charisius says that usage preferred ''fortasse'' because ''fortassis'' sounded harsh.^(TLL) It is uncertain whether Cicero used it, since the manuscripts disagree;^(TLL) Pliny the Elder, Ulpian, Rufinus and Augustine prefer it to ''fortasse''.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it in the ''Bacchides'' and the ''Asinaria''.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace uses it with the subjunctive.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder prefers it to ''fortasse''.^(TLL)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|perhaps|alt=Perhaps]], [[m|en|possibly]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[fortasse]]

+ * [[forsitan]]

+ * [[fors]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Metre never requires the form in ''-is'' in Plautus or Terence, while ''fortasse'' is often elided there before a vowel.^(TLL)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}