quid ni

== Latin == === Alternative forms === quidnī === Etymology === quid (“what, why”) +‎ nī (“unless, if not”), i.e. "what else if not?", "how else?". Compare Russian как же (не) (kak že (ne), “what else (if not)?, of course”) and а как же (a kak že). === Pronunciation === (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [ˈkʷɪd ˈniː] (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): [ˈkʷid ˈniː] === Adverb === quid nī? (not comparable) (with subjunctive, in rhetorical questions) why wouldn't one?, what else if not?, how ... not?, i.e. naturally, of course, sure one would (in tmesis) Quid egō nī ita cēnseam? ― Naturally I think so. Quid egō nī fleam! ― How couldn't I cry! (spelled together) Quidnī, inquit, meminerim. ― "No doubt", says he, "I remember." Quidnī possim? ― Sure I can. Quidnī nōn possit! ― Of course it can't. ==== Usage notes ==== A sentence clitic (unstressed word) can intervene between the two parts, called tmesis. Otherwise normally spelled together. Only used in rhetorical questions, whereas cūr nōn (“why not”) expects an answer. Is not used in suggestions or commands, for which see quīn (“how about?”). Whether to punctuate (and translate) this as a question, an exclamation or a statement is arbitrary. ==== See also ==== quippe quippinī (“emphatic form of quidnī”) nīmīrum