dum; dōnec; quoad
[1] All three are conjunctions meaning ‘until’ or ‘as long as’ and introduce a subordinate clause of time.
[2] The use and meaning of ‘dum’ extends beyond [1]; there will be additional information on ‘dum’ in the next section of dependent uses
dum
while
[i] 2 actions taking place simultaneously or overlapping in time e.g. While X was happening, I was doing Y / Y happened
Dum spīrō ¦ spērō (Latin phrase)
- While I breathe ¦ I hope.
Dum erō Lāodicēae (Cicero)
- While I am [shall be] at Laodicea …
Dum hī apud mē sunt (Cicero)
- While these people are around me …
Tū, sī quid dē Hispāniīs certius et sī quid aliud, dum adsumus, scrībēs (Cicero)
- If you get more certain news about Spain or any other matter, write and tell me while I am here
Ego, dum pānis et cētera in nāvem parantur, excurrō in Pompēiānum (Cicero)
- While bread and provisions are being put on board, I am going off to my estate at Pompeii.
Dum ades, quicquid prōvidērī poterit, prōvidē (Cicero)
- While you’re here, see to whatever arrangements can be made.
Ego, dum in prōvinciā omnibus rēbus Appium ōrnō, subitō sum factus accūsātōris eius socer (Cicero)
- While in my province I show Appius every honour, I’ve suddenly become father-in-law of his accuser.
Quamquam istōs ferre nōn possum, quī, dum sē pācem velle simulant, ācta nefāria dēfendunt (Cicero)
- However, I cannot put up with those people who, while they pretend that they want peace, defend criminal actions.
[ii] Unlike English, dum in this context is often with the present tense even if the verb in the main clause is in a past tense; this gives a more ‘immediate’ feel. However, past tenses may also be used:
Alexim … nisi forte dum ego absum [present], adulēscēns factus est … salvēre iubeās velim (Cicero)
- Please remember me to Alexis … unless perhaps while I have been away, he has become a man
Sed, dum redeō [present], Hortēnsius vēnerat (Cicero)
- But while I was returning, Hortensius had come.
Tamen, dum impendēre Parthī vidēbantur, statueram frātrem relinquere (Cicero)
- Still, while the Parthians seemed threatening, I had decided to leave my brother in charge.
(2) until
[i] In English translation the distinction between ‘while’ and ‘until’ may not always be clear.
Ēligās cēnseō aliquod oppidum vacuum ā bellō, dum haec dēcernuntur (Cicero)
- I think you should choose some town remote from the war, until these matters are settled.
Or: …while these matters are being settled
However, it is best to determine whether the writer is referring to an event in the future – an end point – as opposed to something that is taking place at the same time.
Ego in Arcānō opperior, dum ista cognōscō (Cicerō)
- I stay in Arcanum until I find out these things.
i.e. Cicero is waiting for information to arrive
[ii] Like antequam and priusquam, dum can be followed a verb in [A] the indicative, or [B] the subjunctive.
[A] Indicative: there is no sense of “expectancy” or “intention” i.e. the speaker considers the action to be factual even if it has not yet happened.
Dēlīberā hoc dum ego redeō (Terence)
Think about this until I get back.
Nōn putō tē exspectāre dum scrībam (Cicero)
I don’t think you are waiting until I write [ = for me to write].
Exspectā, amābō tē, dum Atticum conveniam (Cicero)
- Please wait until I meet Atticus.
Manēbō, dum spēs pācis erit (Cicero)
- I shall wait until there is [will be] hope of peace.
Dum anima est, spēs esse dīcitur (Cicero)
- It is said that as long as there is life, there is hope.
[B] Subjunctive: the action is intended, or expected, or not yet completed
Exspectās fortasse dum dīcat (Cicero)
- Perhaps you’re waiting for him to say [literally: … you are expecting that he may say]
Dum hic nōdus expediātur, nōn putet senātus nōs … oportēre dēcēdere (Cicero)
- Until this problem is unravelled, the Senate may not think it right for me to leave.
Lupus observāvit dum dormitārent canēs (Plautus)
- The wolf kept watch until the dogs were dozing.
Comitia dīlāta [sunt] dum lēx ferrētur (Cicero)
- The elections were delayed until a law could be passed.
Dum rēs cōnficerētur, procul in praesidiō fuit (Nepos)
- Until the matter could be completed, he was far away on guard duty.
Nōn exspectāvī, dum mihi ā tē litterae redderentur (Cicero)
- I did not wait until a letter was returned from you to me [ = I did not wait for your reply to my letter].
dōnec / quoad
[i] Both have the same meaning of dum as ‘until’ or ‘as long as’
[ii] Like dum, both can be followed by [A] the indicative or [B] the subjunctive
[A] The speaker considers the action to be factual even if it has not yet happened.
Haud dēsinam dōnec perfēcerō hoc (Terence)
- I will not stop until I (shall) have finished this.
Nē quōquam exsurgātis, dōnec ā mē erit signum datum (Plautus)
- Don’t get up (to go) anywhere until the signal has [will have] been given by me.
Dōnec grātus eram tibī ... Persārum viguī rēge beātior (Horace)
- As long as I was pleasing to you, I flourished more blessed than the king of the Persians.
Nōn faciam fīnem rogandī quoad nōbīs nūntiātum erit tē id fēcisse (Cicero)
- I shan't stop asking until I hear [literally: …until it will have been reported to us] that you have done it.
Milō ... in senātū fuisset eō diē quoad senātus est dīmissus (Cicero)
- Milo had been in the senate on that day until the senate was dismissed.
Quoad potuit, fortissimē restitit (Caesar)
- As long as he was able, he put up a very brave resistance.
Tulit haec cīvitās quoad potuit, quoad necesse fuit (Cicero)
- This state endured it as long as it could, as long as it was necessary.
[B] The action is intended, or expected, or not yet completed
Thrāces nihil sē movērunt, dōnec Rōmānī trānsīrent (Livy)
- The Thracians did not move at all, until the Romans had crossed.
Iubet [historical present] Sp. Larcium ad portam Collīnam stāre dōnec hostis praetereat (Livy)
- He ordered Spurius Larcius to stand at the Colline Gate until the enemy passed by.
An id exspectāmus, quoad nē vestīgium quidem Asiae cīvitātum atque urbium relinquātur? (Cicero)
- Shall we wait for this until not even a trace is left of the states and cities of Asia?
