312.
Quivis or quilibet
(any one you will), quisquam, and the corresponding
adjective ullus, any at all, are general
indefinites.
Quivis and quilibet are used chiefly in
affirmative clauses, quisquam and ullus
in clauses where a universal negative is expressed or suggested:---
- non cuivis homini contingit adire Corinthum
(Hor. Ep. i. 17. 36), it is not every man's luck to go to Corinth.
[non cuiquam would mean not any man's.]
- quemlibet modo aliquem
(Acad. ii. 132), anybody you will, provided it be somebody.
- si quisquam est timidus, is ego sum (Fam. vi. 14.1),
if any man is timorous, I am he.
- si tempus est ullum iure hominis necandi (Mil. 9),
if there is any occasion whatever when homicide is
justifiable.
NOTE: The use of the indefinites is very various, and must be
learned from the Lexicon and from practice. The choice among them may
depend merely on the point of view of the speaker, so that they are often
practically interchangeable. The differences are (with few exceptions)
those of logic, not of syntax.
Contents
Section 311
Section 313
Allen and Greenough's New Latin Grammar, section 312