quamprimum Latin · revision 35731

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=la quam, la prīmus}}

+

+ ==Forms==

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

+ It is also written as two words, ''quam prīmum''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|quam|prīmum|t1=as, how|t2=first]],^(Bianchi & Lelli 2014)^(Köbler 2010) an instance of [[m|la|quam]] with a superlative, meaning “as … as possible”.^(OLD 2012) [[m|la|prīmum]] is the adverbial neuter of [[m|la|prīmus|t=first]].^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Plautus has it with a form of ''possum'': in the ''Captivi'' a character is told to come back as soon as he can, and in the ''Trinummus'' a speaker wishes to see a woman dead as soon as possible.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Used alone it means “forthwith, as soon as possible”, and is classical:^(Lewis & Short 1879) Terence uses it in the ''Adelphoe'', Caesar in the ''Gallic War'' of someone told to return to him at once, and Cicero in his letters.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010) Virgil has it of seeking to end a hated life as soon as possible, and Propertius of leaving corrupt Baiae.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) The phrase with ''possum'' (''quam prīmum potes'') remained in use beside it.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913) In Ecclesiastical Latin it keeps the same sense,^(Stelten 1995) and Köbler records it in medieval charters.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it with ''possum'', “as soon as one can”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it alone, “as soon as possible”.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it in his letters.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it in the ''Aeneid''.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 57/46–12 BC – Propertius urges leaving Baiae as soon as possible.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # As soon as possible, [[m|en|forthwith]], at once.^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Georges 1913)^(Conte 2010)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[quam]]

+ * [[prīmus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}