31.07.26; Level 3+; Subjunctive [78] dependent uses [8] concessive clauses (3) etsī, etiamsī, tametsī

Some brief notes (at this stage) on other conjunctions that introduce concessive clauses.

[1] etsī, etiamsī, tametsī

These conjunctions are concessive in meaning, but their choice of mood follows the same pattern as conditional clauses. Conditional clauses are an extensive topic and so, for the moment, the focus should simply be on what these three conjunctions mean and how mood affects their use.

[i] With the indicative

The indicative is used when the speaker presents the concessive clause as a fact, something accepted as true and asserts that it does not affect the action. It is most often translated as ‘although’ or 'even if':.

Etsī id ipsum scīre cupiō, … (Cicero)

• Although I want to know one thing …

Nam ista vēritās, etiamsī iūcunda nōn est, mihi tamen grāta est (Cicero)

• For that truth, even if it is not pleasant, is nevertheless pleasing to me.

Etsī abest mātūritās, tamen nōn est inūtile (Cicero)

• Though ripeness of age is wanting, yet it is not useless

Tametsī iactat ille quidem illud suum arbitrium … (Cicero)

• Although he does indeed boast of that judgment of his ...

Tametsī hīs novīs amīcitiīs implicātī sumus (Cicero)

• Although we are [ = I am] involved in these new friendships

quam tibi, etiamsī nōn dēsīderās, tamen mittam cito (Cicero)

• and I will send it to you very soon, whether you want it or not [literally: even if you do not want (it)].

Etsī mōns Cevennā iter impediēbat, tamen ad fīnēs Arvernōrum pervēnit (Caesar).

• Although the Cevennes were blocking the route of the march, nevertheless (Caesar) arrived at the frontier of the Arverni.

Itaque, etsī nē anteā quidem dubitāvī, … (Cicero)

• And so, even if I had no doubt [ = did not even doubt] before …

Etsī numquam dubium fuit, tamen perspiciō … (Cicero)

• Although it has never been doubtful, I nevertheless perceive …

Etsī nōndum stipulātiōnēs lēgeram ... (Cicero)

• Even if I had not yet read the agreements …

Etsī incrēdibilī et singulārī calamitāte adflīctus sum, … (Cicero)

• Though I have been crushed by an incredible and unparalleled misfortune …

[2] With the subjunctive

The subjunctive is used when the speaker introduces a hypothetical or imagined concession and asserts that it does not affect the outcome expressed in the main clause. It is most often translated as ‘even if’.

Etiamsī nōn adiuvēs, haec facere possim.

• Even if you were not to help, I would (nevertheless) be able to do this.

This is a hypothetical concessive statement.

Quārē ita parātus est, ut, etiamsī vincere nōn possit, ... (Cicero)

• And therefore he is so equipped that, even if he should not be able to win …

Pol etsī taceās, palam id quidem est (Plautus)

• By Pollux, even if you were to keep silent, that is indeed common knowledge.

Etsī illī improbī sint atque aliter nōbīs faciant quam aequomst (Plautus)

• Even if those men are / should be dishonest and (would) act toward us otherwise than is fair, …

...etiamsī vērum esset... (Cicero)

• Even if it were true…

etiamsī ā lībrāriō admonitus esset (Cicero)

• even if he had been advised by the clerk

[3] Note: Latin often uses different verb forms to show how the speaker views a situation (as a fact or as something uncertain or imagined). As has been mentioned many times in previous discussions on the subjunctive, English does not always show this clearly, and the difference often has to be understood from the wording rather than from the verb alone.

In the examples above, however, you can see a subtle difference which is similarly expressed in English:

[i] Although you’re going / even if you go, you won’t meet him.

Here the speaker presents the action of going as fact or more likely.

[ii] Even if you went / were to go, you wouldn’t meet him.

Here the speaker presents the action of going as hypothetical or less likely.

It is worth bearing that distinction in mind when the topic of conditional clauses in Latin is dealt with in depth.