modicum

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English modicum, from Latin modicum (“a little, a small amount”), a noun use of the neuter form of modicus (“moderate; restrained, temperate; reasonable”) + -cum (suffix forming neuter nouns). Modicus is derived from modus (“a measure; a bound, limit”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *med- (“to measure”)) + -icus (suffix meaning ‘of or pertaining to’ forming adjectives). The plural form modica is derived from Latin modica. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈmɒdɪkəm/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈmɑdɪkəm/, /-də-/ Hyphenation: mod‧i‧cum === Noun === modicum (plural modicums or (rare) modica) A modest, small, or trifling amount. Synonyms: iota, jot, tittle; see also Thesaurus:modicum Antonyms: see Thesaurus:lot [from the 1991 US Supreme Court decision in Feist Publications, Inc. v. Rural Tel. Serv. Co., 499 U.S. 340]. [[1]] ==== Translations ==== === References === == Latin == === Etymology === From modicus (“moderate, middling”). === Pronunciation === (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [ˈmɔ.dɪ.kũː] (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): [ˈmɔː.di.kum] === Noun === modicum n (genitive modicī); second declension a little, a small amount ==== Declension ==== Second-declension noun (neuter). ==== Descendants ==== English: modicum === Adjective === modicum inflection of modicus: nominative/accusative/vocative neuter singular accusative masculine singular === References === "modicum", 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)