26.11.25: Level 3; indefinites [9]: -piam

[1] quispiam [2] quis: these two indefinite pronouns work in the same way as aliquis. In this post we will look at quispiam

[1] quispiam, quaepiam, quidpiam (quippiam) / quodpiam: anyone / someone … (or other); anything / something … (or other)

Some Latin grammars interpret this as more general than aliquis hence “… or other” sometimes added as part of the basic meaning.

The first five examples, from Gellius’ Attic Nights, well illustrate that the basic meaning of an indefinite may not be specifically conveyed in English, but think about the ‘general’ idea that underpins them, almost a sense of ‘randomness’. English can convey a similar sense in statements such as: “Some receptionist or other told me the hotel was full.”

[i] Ē mīlitibus, quī in iūre apud eum stābant, interrogāvit quispiam ex mōre … │ Then one of the soldiers who were on trial before him asked in the usual way … [ = literally: from the soldiers … someone asked …]

[ii] Dīxit ibi quispiam nōbīscum sedēns amīcus meus …│ Then a friend of mine sitting with us …

[iii] Atque ibi adulēscēns quispiam … inquit … │ And thereupon a young man … said … [i.e. some young man or other, but who he is has no relevance]

[iv] Tum quispiam, quī cum eō erat, … │ Then one of those who were with him …

[v] Laudābat vēnditābatque sē nūper quispiam in lībrāriā sedēns homō ineptē glōriōsus … │ Lately a foolish, boastful fellow, sitting in a bookseller's shop, was praising and advertising himself, …

[vi] Habēn* tū amīcum aut familiārem quempiam …? (Plautus) │ Have you any friend or intimate acquaintance …?

*contraction: habēs + ne

[vii] Num mīrum aut novom [ = novum] quippiam facit? (Plautus) │ He doesn't do anything wonderful or strange, does he?

[viii] num tū pudīcae cuipiam īnsidiās locās aut quam pudīcam esse oportet?  (Plautus) │ You're not laying snares for some respectable woman, or one that ought to be respectable ?

Four examples from Cicero’s damning indictment of Verres.

[i] Verres has been accused of executing a Roman citizen, Cicero arguing that this action would now allow any other official at all to carry out a similar punishment:

tolle hanc spem, tolle hoc praesidium cīvibus Rōmānīs, cōnstitue nihil esse opis in hāc vōce, 'cīvis Rōmānus sum,' posse impūne praetōrem aut alium quempiam supplicium quod velit in eum cōnstituere quī sē cīvem Rōmānum esse dīcat …

Take away this hope, take away this protection from Roman citizens, establish the fact that there is no assistance to be found in the words “I am a Roman citizen;” that a praetor, or any other (officer), may with impunity order any punishment he pleases to be inflicted on a man who says that he is a Roman citizen …

Similarly, Cicero generalises in the following statements:

[ii] Verrēs … omnia domō eius abstulit quae paulō magis animum cuiuspiam aut oculōs possent commovēre │ Verres … took away from his house everything which could in any uncommon degree delight the mind or eyes of any one.

[iii] quī simul atque in oppidum quodpiam vēnerat │ for as soon as he ever came into any city …

[iv] Note the two indefinites; I have translated them differently although their meanings overlap:

Quis nōs magnō opere attendit umquam in hōc quidem genere causārum, ubi aliquid ēreptum aut ablātum ā quōpiam dīcitur?

In cases of this type, where something is alleged to have been stolen or appropriated by anyone who ever really pays attention to us?