ja mais

See also: jamais

Old French

Alternative forms

• ja més, ja mes, james

Etymology

From ja +‎ mais. Cf. Old Occitan ja mais.

Adverb

ja mais

1. any more, ever again
2. (later) ever

Usage notes

Until the thirteenth century, it was only used to refer to the future.

Descendants

• French: jamais (“ever, never”)
• Norman: janmais
• Walloon: djamåy

References

• Walther von Wartburg (1928–2002) “jam”, in Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, volume 5: J L, page 28

Old Occitan

Alternative forms

• ja may

Etymology

Cf. Old French ja mais.

Adverb

ja mais

1. ever(?)

Descendants

• Occitan: jamai, jamei, jamés
• → Old Galician-Portuguese: jamais
  • Galician: xamais
  • Portuguese: jamais
• → Old Spanish: jamás
  • Spanish: jamás

References

• Joan Coromines, José A. Pascual (1991) “ya”, in Diccionario crítico etimológico castellano e hispánico (in Spanish), volumes VI (Y–Z), Madrid: Gredos, →ISBN, page 10
• Walther von Wartburg (1928–2002) “jam”, in Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, volume 5: J L, page 26