Discussione:or

“or” = “ago” (inglese)?

Please forgive a post in English: I have seen in Il Signore degli Anelli in the chapter Lothlórien a meaning/usage which appears to be missing here: “… vedemmo una frotta di Orchetti dirigersi a nord verso Moria, …, molti giorni or sono” and “Un forta compagnia di Orchetti è passate or ora.”, where it seems to mean “days ago” or “hours ago” respectively. PJTraill (disc.) 14:07, 19 feb 2016 (CET) English wiktionary gives “apocopic form of ora”. PJTraill (disc.) 14:10, 19 feb 2016 (CET)

[@ PJTraill] Thanks for your post! I've added the other meaning of "or". In the sentences you cited the meaning is - as rightly gives en.wiktionary - that of "ora" (en: now); "molti giorni or sono" could be literally translated "It has been many days to this moment/until now" = Many days ago. It sounds in modern Italian quite archaic/outdated and therefore is very often used in this meaning in fairy tales and stories which take place somewhere far away in time and place --Nastoshka (disc.) 20:12, 17 mar 2016 (CET)

[@ Nastoshka] Many thanks for your explanation, which has helped me to understand the turn of phrase better! I see that the article “ora” does not specifically mention this usage either; I don’t know if one can use “molti giorni ora sono”, but if so that should ideally be mentioned there, otherwise – ideally – here! PJTraill (disc.) 19:34, 18 mar 2016 (CET)

[@ PJTraill] you are right but as you see there is an incredible amount of work to do and many many entries are far away of being complete. The numbers of active editors is here 3 - 4 in the best periods. However, to answer your question “molti giorni ora sono” is not used in Italian. With the meaning "until now" , "ago" we always and only use the apocopated form or. --Nastoshka (disc.) 19:45, 18 mar 2016 (CET)

[@ Nastoshka] Thanks, I quite understand. Perhaps you could cast a quick glance at my addition of this usage and an example to the English article to check that I have said nothing wrong. PJTraill (disc.) 19:52, 18 mar 2016 (CET)

[@ PJTraill] you understood perfectly! ;) I just wanted to mention that we have also an entry or sono and so one has also en.wikt where that form is treated as an expression which makes more sense --Nastoshka (disc.) 20:01, 18 mar 2016 (CET)