([c.]) Massiliēnsēs quoad licēbat, circumvenīre nostrōs contendēbant, Caes. C. 1, 58, 1, as long as the Massilia people had a chance, they kept trying to surround our men. dum necesse erat, rēsque ipsa cōgēbat, ūnus omnia poterat, RA. 139, as long as it had to be, and circumstances demanded, one man controlled the world ([1733]). From Sallust on, the present of vivid narration ([1590]) is occasionally found with dum in this sense.
[2002.] In poetry and in late prose writers, beginning with Lucretius and Livy, dōnec is used in the sense of all the time while, usually with the indicative, but sometimes with the subjunctive of repeated past action: as, dōnec grātus eram tibī, Persārum viguī rēge beātior, H. 3, 9, 1, as long as I was loved of thee, I flourished happier than the Persians’ king. dōnec armātī cōnfertīque abībant, peditum labor in persequendō fuit, L. 6, 13, 4, as long as they were moving off under arms and in close array, the task of pursuit fell to the infantry. vulgus trucīdātum est dōnec īra et diēs permānsit, Ta. 1, 68, the rank and file were butchered as long as wrath and daylight held out. nihil trepidābant, dōnec continentī velut ponte agerentur, L. 21, 28, 10, the elephants were not a bit skittish as long as they were driven along what seemed a continuous bridge ([1730]). The future is rare: as, nātus enim dēbet quīcumque est velle manēre in vītā, dōnec retinēbit blanda voluptās, Lucr. 5, 177, whoe’er is born must wish in life to abide, so long as him fond pleasure shall detain. dōnec eris fēlīx, multōs numerābis amīcōs, O. Tr. 1, 9, 5, as long as fortune smiles, thou troops shalt count of friends.
(C.) dum, as long as, provided, so.
[2003.] The present and imperfect subjunctive are used in provisos introduced by dum, as long as, provided, so.
dum is sometimes accompanied by modo, only, or quidem, that is; or (from Terence on) modo is used without dum. The negative is nē (from Ovid on, sometimes nōn); nē sometimes has as correlative ita.
ōderint dum metuant, Poet. in Suet. Cal. 30, let them hate, so they fear. absit, dum modo laude partā domum recipiat sē, Pl. Am. 644, let him go, so only he come home with glory won. postulābant prō homine miserrimō, quī vel ipse sēsē in cruciātum darī cuperet, dum dē patris morte quaererētur, RA. 119, they made the request in behalf of a pitiable wretch, who would be only too glad to be put to the rack himself, so his father’s death might be investigated. itaque dum locus comminus pugnandī darētur, aequō animō singulās bīnīs nāvibus obiciēbant, Caes. C. 1, 58, 4, therefore, so a chance was given to fight hand to hand, they did not mind pitting one of their vessels against two of the enemy’s. sī ē̆ī permissum esset, ita id sacrum faceret, dum nē plūs quīnque sacrificiō interessent, L. 39, 18, 9, if he were allowed, he might perform the sacrifice far better, provided that not more than five people should have a part in the ceremonial. dum quidem nēquid percontēris quod nōn lubeat prōloquī, Pl. Aul. 211, provided at least you ask nothing that I may not like to disclose. volet, cīvis modo haec sit, T. Eu. 889, he’ll consent, only let her be a free born maid. magnō mē metū līberābis, dum modo inter mē atque tē mūrus intersit, C. 1, 10, you will relieve me of great fear, provided only there be a wall interposed between you and myself.
(D.) dum, quoad, dōnec, until.
[2004.] dum, quoad or dōnec, until, often has as correlative usque, usque eō, usque ad eum fīnem or tamdiū.
dum, until.