proximus egomet mihi

Latin

Alternative forms
  • proximus sum egomet mihi

Etymology

From proximus (“closest, nearest”) and egomet (“myself, I”) and mihi (“to me”) the dative of ego (“I”). Literally meaning "the closest one to me is me myself", "I am the one who is closest to myself" or "I myself am closest to myself".[1]

Pronunciation
  • (Classical) IPA(key): /ˈprok.si.mus ˈe.ɡo.met ˈmi.hi/, [ˈprɔks̠ɪmʊs̠ ˈɛɡɔmɛt̪ ˈmi(ɦ)ɪ]
  • (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /ˈprok.si.mus ˈe.ɡo.met ˈmi.i/, [ˈprɔksimus ˈɛːɡomet̪ ˈmiːi]

Proverb

proximus egomet mihi

  1. (idiomatic) every man for himself; charity begins at home

References
  1. Publius Terentius Afer (166 BCE) “Actus IV”, in Andria: “quis tu es? quis mihi es? quor meam tibi? heus proxumus sum egomet mihi.”

Further reading
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