jam-dūdum (or separat. jam dū-dum), adv., long since, long before, a long time ago.
- I. In gen.: dixi ego jamdudum tibi, Plaut. Trin. 4, 2, 78: jamdudum audivi, id. Merc. 5, 2, 112: jamdudum, si des, porrexi manum, id. Ps. 4, 7, 49: jamdudum est intus, id. As. 3, 3, 151; id. Am. 2, 1, 71: ego jamdudum hic adsum, Ter. Eun. 4, 6, 5: quem jamdudum et Cotta et Sulpicius exspectat, Cic. de Or. 2, 7, 26: quod te jamdudum hortor, id. Cat. 1, 5, 12; id. Clu. 23, 63; Ov. H. 16, 13: jamdudum tibi non imprudens adversabar, Plaut. Men. 2, 3, 65: jamdudum flebam, I had been a long time weeping, Ov. M. 3, 656: jamdudum vincula pugnat exuere, id. ib. 7, 772; cf. id. ib. 8, 867.
Corresp. with cum: jamdudum factum’st, quom abisti domo, Plaut. Trin. 4, 3, 3; so id. As. 5, 2, 40.
In tmesi: quia jam non dudum ante lucem ad Veneris aedem venimus, Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 105.
- II. In partic., i. q. jam modo, this very instant, without delay, forthwith, immediately, directly (poet.): jamdudum sumite poenas, Verg. A. 2, 103: ardua jamdudum demittite cornua, Ov. M. 11, 482: jamdudum dominae more venire jube, id. H. 20, 80; so id. M. 2, 843; 4, 405; 11, 483; 13, 457: candida jamdudum cingantur colla lacertis (i. q. statim), instantly, id. A. A. 2, 457: in medios ire furores, jamdudum moriture, paras? Luc. 2, 524: jamdudum incumbere aratris, Dum, sicca tellure, licet, Verg. G. 1, 213.