же

Forms

же (že)^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Old East Slavic же (že), from Proto-Slavic *že.^[1][2] Shaposhnikov also gives the by-form *žь,^[2] and the East Slavic languages keep it: Ukrainian же (že) beside ж (ž), Belarusian жа (ža), Old Church Slavonic же (že).^[3][4] Chernykh says that Bulgarian, Serbo-Croatian and Slovene have lost it, and that the conjunction Czech že and Polish że “that” must be kept apart, since it comes from Proto-Slavic *ježe;^[3] Vasmer counts the Czech conjunction and the ⟨-ž⟩ of až (“until”), když (“when”) and jenž (“which”) among the same particle.^[4] The initial /ʒ/ is the Slavic palatalisation of /g/ before a front vowel, as in the verb meaning “to wait”.^[5] Another vowel grade of the particle is in Serbo-Croatian него (nego, “but, than”) and in нежели;^[4][6] ESRJa compares the alternation with ждать beside годить.^[6]

The particle goes back to Proto-Indo-European *gʰe, with a long-vowel variant,^[2] and Wiktionary gives the chain through Proto-Balto-Slavic *ge.^[1] Its cognates are the emphatic particles Ancient Greek γε (ge) and Sanskrit हि (hi),^[1][4] Lithuanian -ga in nėsanga (“for”) and betaiga (“but”) and, with another vowel grade, Old Prussian anga (“whether”).^[4] The ⟨-k⟩ of Old Norse mik (“me”) may belong here,^[3][4] and ESRJa adds Latin hic (“this”).^[6] Meillet also thought of the ⟨-θε⟩ of Ancient Greek εἴθε (eíthe, “if only”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The particle is in the colophon of the Ostromir Gospel of 1056–1057: „почахъ же писати” “and I began to write”.^[7] The Izbornik of 1076 has „і съмѣрениіе же” “and humility too”.^[7] Chernykh dates it in Old Russian from the 11th century, as a contrastive conjunction “but”, a joining conjunction “and”, and a particle added to pronouns (иже) and to the negations не and ни.^[3]

Semantic evolution

SDRJa counts about 55,000 uses of the emphatic particle in its texts, and a handful of a separate conditional use “if”, as in the Laurentian Chronicle under 1149.^[7][8] From the 13th century the reduced form жь appears in some positions, as in кто жь.^[3][2] Middle Russian texts also write ж, жа and жо; a record of 1626 from Ustyug has „проша ли ж”.^[9] Russian passed the particle on to Ingrian že and to Kildin Sami.^[1]

Timeline

• 1056–1057 – „почахъ же писати” in the colophon of the Ostromir Gospel.^[7]
• 1076 – the particle in the Izbornik of 1076.^[7]
• 13th century – the reduced form жь.^[3]
• 1626 – the short form ж in a record from Ustyug.^[9]

Meanings

Conjunction

1. And, but, whereas: sets one clause against another, like а.^[10][1]
2. Introduces a parenthetical clause: шёл же он пешком “he went, as it happens, on foot”.^[10]

Particle

1. Stresses what is said, with a touch of irritation at having to repeat the obvious: “after all”, “you know”.^[10][1]
2. Marks identity: the very, the same (тот же, такой же).^[10][1]
3. With words of time, marks promptness: сейчас же “right now”.^[1]
4. In questions and commands, adds insistence: где же? “where on earth?”.^[1]

Related words

• нежели
• Old East Slavic же (že)

Usage notes

After a vowel it is often shortened to ж.^[3][1] The indeclinable neuter noun же, the name of the letter Ж, is a separate word.^[1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Shaposhnikov, A. K. (2010), Ètimologičeskij slovar' sovremennogo russkogo jazyka [Этимологический словарь современного русского языка], 2 vols., Moskva: Flinta / Nauka, p. 1, 264
3. ^ a b c d e f g Chernykh, P. Ya. (1993), Istoriko-ètimologičeskij slovar' sovremennogo russkogo jazyka [Историко-этимологический словарь современного русского языка], 2 vols., Moskva: Russkij jazyk, p. 1, s.v. же
4. ^ a b c d e f g Vasmer, Max (1964–1973), Ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka, transl. and suppl. by O. N. Trubačev, 4 vols., Moskva: Progress, p. 2, 39
5. ^ Shansky, N. M.; Ivanov, V. V.; Shanskaya, T. V. (1975), Kratkij ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka [Краткий этимологический словарь русского языка], 3rd ed., Moskva: Prosveščenie, p. s.v. же
6. ^ a b c Shansky, N. M.; Zhuravlev, A. F. (eds.) (1963–2007), Ètimologičeskij slovar' russkogo jazyka [Этимологический словарь русского языка], vols. 1–10 (A–M), Moskva: Izdatel'stvo Moskovskogo universiteta, p. 5, s.v. же
7. ^ a b c d e Avanesov, R. I. et al. (eds.) (1988–), Slovar' drevnerusskogo jazyka (XI–XIV vv.) [Словарь древнерусского языка (XI–XIV вв.)], vols. 1–13, Moskva: Russkij jazyk / Azbukovnik, p. 3, 234
8. ^ Avanesov, R. I. et al. (eds.) (1988–), Slovar' drevnerusskogo jazyka (XI–XIV vv.) [Словарь древнерусского языка (XI–XIV вв.)], vols. 1–13, Moskva: Russkij jazyk / Azbukovnik, p. 3, 238
9. ^ a b Barkhudarov, S. G. et al. (eds.) (1975–), Slovar' russkogo jazyka XI–XVII vv. [Словарь русского языка XI–XVII вв.], vols. 1–31, Moskva: Nauka / Azbukovnik / Lexrus, p. 5, 78
10. ^ a b c d Ozhegov, S. I.; Shvedova, N. Yu. (1997), Tolkovyj slovar' russkogo jazyka [Толковый словарь русского языка], 4th ed., Moskva: Azbukovnik, p. s.v. же