donec

Latin

Etymology

From Old Latin dōnique, dōnicum, from Proto-Indo-European *de (see there for more). Compare dum from same source.

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): [ˈdoː.nɛk]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): [ˈdɔː.nek]

Conjunction

dōnec

1. while, as long as, until (denotes the relation of two actions at the same time)

   In forō mansī dōnec Caesar vēnit

   I waited in the forum until Caesar came.

   In forō mansī dōnec Caesar venīret

   I waited in the forum for Caesar to come.

   (literally, “...until Caesar should come.”)

   • 23 BCE – 13 BCE, Horatius, Carmina 3.9.1:

     Dōnec grātus eram tibī

     As long as I was pleasing to you

   • 8 CE – 12 CE, Ovidius, Tristia 1.8.5:

     dōnec eris sospes, multōs numerābis amīcōs

     Until you are happy, you will count many friends.

References

• “donec”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• “donec”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891), An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
• "donec", in Charles du Fresne du Cange, Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
• “donec”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
• donec in Ramminger, Johann (16 July 2016 (last accessed)), Neulateinische Wortliste: Ein Wörterbuch des Lateinischen von Petrarca bis 1700‎^[1], pre-publication website, 2005-2016
• Palmer, L.R. (1906) The Latin Language, London, Faber and Faber, p. 282