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. 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.

• Adams, James Noel. 2007. The regional diversification of Latin, 200 BC–AD 600. Cambridge University Press.

• Coromines, Joan; Pascual, José A. (1983), “tamaño”, in Diccionario crítico etimológico castellano e hispánico (in Spanish), volume Ri-X, Madrid: Gredos, →ISBN, page 394
• “tamany” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.
• von Wartburg, Walther (1928–2002), “magnus”, in Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch (in German), volume 61, page 49