quam

quam lat.

Pronunciation

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /kʷam/, [kʷä̃ˑ]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /kwam/, [kwäm]

Etymology 1

From Proto-Italic *kʷis, *kʷoi, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₂m, accusative of *kʷeh₂, feminine of *kʷos, *kʷis. Compare its masculine form cum (as in tum-tam).

"In such a sentence as hic tam beatus est, quam ille the sense of tam beatus could equally be rendered by non beatior. It was presumably by the substitution of equivalent expressions ('contamination'), possibly first in negative expressions, that the illogical quam 'as' came to be used after comparatives."

Alternative forms

• quamde, quande

Adverb

quam

1. in what (which) way, to what (which) degree; how, how much, as much as, as far as (after superlative adjectives and adverbs)

   quam potuit.

1. In what way/ to what degree/ how/ how much/ as much as/ as far as he could.

1. quam primum ― as quickly as possible

   quam celerrime ― as quickly as possible

   quam maxime ― as far as possible

   quam serissime ― as late as possible

   quam saepissime ― much often

   Quam rogas!

1. How much you ask!

1. quam maximis potest itineribus ― by as long journeys as he can (Caesar, de Bello Gallico, VII, 9)

   Ipse, ut quam primum iter faceret ― He himself with the intention of marching as soon as possible (Caesar, de Bello Gallico, VII, 11)

   Equitibus imperat, ut quam latissime possint vagentur et quam maximum hostibus terrorem inferant ― He orders the cavalry to extend themselves as far as they could, and strike as great a panic as possible into the enemy (Caesar, de Bello Gallico, VII, 8)

   ut in omnes partes equites quam latissime pervagentur ― that the cavalry should range as extensively as possible in all directions (Caesar, de Bello Gallico, VII, 9)

2. (in comparisons) as

   Tam similis est, quam potest.

1. So similar it is, as it can.

1. (after comparative adjectives and adverbs) than [ quotations ▼]

   alius quam ― different than

   ante quam (+ subjunctive or infinitive) ― sooner than

   aliter quam voles ― in a different way than you want

   Hic maior est, quam ille.

1. This is bigger, than that.

1. offendēs dissignātiōnem Tyranniōnis mīrificam librōrum meōrum, quōrum reliquiae multō meliōrēs sunt quam putāram ― You will encounter Tyrannio's wonderful arrangement of my books, the remains of which are much better than I had thought. (Cicero, Epistulae ad Atticum, 4.4A)

1. Priusque omnes in unum locum cogit quam de eius adventu Arvernis nuntiari posset ― and gathers all legions into one place sooner than (before) the intelligence of his arrival could be announced to the Arverni (Caesar, de Bello Gallico, VII, 9)

   Praestare visum est tamen omnis difficultates perpeti quam tanta contumelia accepta ― However it seemed better to sustain any hardship than to accept such an insult (Caesar, de Bello Gallico, VII, 10)

2. (rare) rather than [ quotations ▼]

Etymology 2

See quī (relative pronoun and interrogative adjective).

Pronoun

quam

1. accusative singular feminine of quī

Adjective

quam

1. accusative singular feminine of quī

Etymology 3

See quis (pronoun).

Pronoun

quam

1. accusative singular feminine of quis