tam magnus

From tam (“so”) + magnus (“large”).

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /tam ˈmaɡ.nus/, [t̪ä̃ˑ ˈmäŋnʊs̠]
• (Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /tam ˈmaɲ.ɲus/, [t̪äm ˈmäɲːus]

tam magnus (feminine tam magna, neuter tam magnum); indeclinable portion with a first/second-declension adjective

1. (This entry is a descendant hub.) so large, so great
   • Cicero, Verr. 5.26

     tam magna ac turbulenta tempestate

     such a large and turbulent storm

   • Plautus, Cas. 430

     opere tam magno

     so greatly

Standard in earlier Latin when tam was needed to coordinate multiple adjectives (cf. quote 1), when magnus was part of a set expression such as magnopere (cf. quote 2), and in some other specific contexts.[1] Saw an increasingly generalized usage in Late Latin, competing with the adjective tantus.

• Joan Coromines; José A. Pascual (1983), “tamaño”, in Diccionario crítico etimológico castellano e hispánico (in Spanish), volume V (Ri–X), Madrid: Gredos, →ISBN, page 394
• “tamany” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.
• Walther von Wartburg (1928–2002), “magnus”, in Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch (in German), volume 6/1: Mabile–Mephitis, page 49