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What is the exact meaning of 'solummodo'? I take it is an adverb, perhaps? Encountered this in new Latin, more precisely in Spinoza's Ethics. It is translated as 'only', but it is not in my dictionary, so I would like to know what the exact meaning is. Thank you.
...quia assueti sunt eas solummodo res contemplari quæ a causis externis fiunt...
You can find it under the solus dictionary entry in Lewis and Short:
- Strengthened by modo, and joined with it in one word, sōlummŏdo (only late Lat., for the true reading, Plin. 34, 8, 19, § 92, is unam tantum, Jan. Detlef.; “whereas tantummodo is class.): de exercitore solummodo Praetor sentit,” Dig. 4, 9, 1, § 2: “pretii solummodo fieri aestimationem,” ib. 9, 2, 23, § 1; 11, 5, 1, § 3; 28, 5, 1, § 1; Quint. Decl. 247; Tert. Res. Carn. 26; Hier. Ep. 12.—
So it means "only", it's just a stronger version of it.
