semel Latin · revision 8344

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=inherited|attested=Ennius|origins=ine-pro *sem-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈsɛ.mɛɫ]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsɛː.mel]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

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

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[ine-pro|*sem-|t=one]], the root of [[semper]], [[simplex]] and [[singulī]].^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010) De Vaan reconstructs Proto-Italic ⟨*semali⟩ “alike, together” for [[simul]], and Sihler derives ⟨semel⟩ from ⟨*sm̥-meh₁lom⟩ “one measure”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) Cognate with [[sa|सकृत्|tr=sakṛ́t|t=once]], [[grc|ἅπαξ|tr=hápax|t=once]] and [[got|𐍃𐌹𐌼𐌻𐌴|tr=simle|t=once]].^(OLD 2012)^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Ennius, “once”.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant a single time, once, as in Ennius; in Cicero it began an enumeration (''semel, iterum, tertiō'') and meant once and for all.^(OLD 2012) In Plautus it marked a single event with a lasting consequence, “once, ever”, and in Seneca it meant at one go.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ British Medieval Latin used it for once, ''vel semel'' “just once”, and ''nōn semel'' “more than once”.^(DMLBS)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it in enumerations.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adverb===

+ # [[m|en|Once]], a single time.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Once, the first time.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Once and for all.^(OLD 2012)

+ # At one go.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[insemel]]

+ * [[sincinium]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bis]]

+ * [[semper]]

+ * [[simplex]]

+ * [[singulī]]

+ * [[simul]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}