paene Latin · revision 3840

+ {{infobox|confidence=unknown|attested=Plautus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈpae̯.nɛ]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpɛː.ne]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''paene''' (superlative paenissimē)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) De Vaan takes the basic meaning of a stem *paen- to be “missing, lacking”, shared with [[paeniteo|alt=paenitēre]] “to cause regret” and [[paenuria|alt=paenūria]] “want”.^(de Vaan 2008) Pokorny's connection with [[sa|पीयति|tr=pī́yati|t=scorns]] would require a root *ph₂-i-, but the root is usually set up as *ph₁-i-, which does not explain Latin -ae-.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards.^(de Vaan 2008) In Plautus a man says “you nearly broke the door off its hinges, you fool”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant almost, all but, and was used to soften an exaggeration, “practically, one might say”, as an inscription praising a woman as learned almost by the hand of the Muses.^(OLD 2012) With a negative it meant scarcely.^(Wiktionary) Plautus made a joking superlative ''paenissume''.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Döderlein contrasts ''paene'', “almost”, opposed to [[plane|alt=plānē]], with [[prope]], “nearly”.^(Döderlein 1874) It forms [[paeninsula|alt=paenīnsula]] “almost an island”, the source of English ''peninsula''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of nearly ruining a daughter's life.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1530s – English ''peninsula'' comes from ''paenīnsula''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|Almost]], nearly, all but.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Practically, one might say (softening an [[m|en|exaggeration]]).^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(with a negative)'' Scarcely, hardly.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[paenīnsula]]

+ * [[paenultimus]]

+ * [[paenumbra]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[paenūria]]

+ * [[en|peninsula]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein says ''paene'' and ''prope'' soften an expression that is too strong, while ''fere'' and ''ferme'' guard only the accuracy of a statement.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}