Lewis & Short

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saltem (sometimes in MSS. saltim; cf. Aus. Ep. 7, 23; and Prisc. p. 1013 P.), adv. [old acc. form, from salvus, salus]. prop., saved, reserved (salvā re; compare Engl. save, except). It serves to point out that which still remains or holds good, in spite of or by way of exception to something opposed to it; and accordingly is used (like certe, II.) as a restrictive particle, at least, at the least, at all events, anyhow.

  1. I. Affirmatively (class.).
    1. A. With a statement of the opposite: si illud non licet, Saltem hoc licebit, Ter. Eun. 4, 2, 12; Plaut. Capt. 3, 1, 26: semper tu hoc facito cogites, tute uti sis optimus: Si id nequeas, saltem ut optimis sis proximus, id. Trin. 2, 4, 86; cf. Quint. 10, 1, 127: saltem accurate, ut metui videar, si resciverim, Ter. And. 3, 2, 14: impetrabo, ut aliquot saltem nuptiis prodat dies, id. ib. 2, 1, 13: si alia membra vino madeant, cor sit saltem sobrium, Plaut. Truc. 4, 4, 2: etsi istuc mihi acerbum’st … saltem id volupe est, cum, etc., id. Mil. 4, 5, 12: quo provocati a me venire noluerunt, revocati saltem revertantur, Cic. Agr. 3, 1, 1: attrepidate saltem, nam vos approperare haud postulo, Plaut. Poen. 3, 1, 41; cf.: vere nihil potes dicere: finge aliquid saltem commode, Cic. Rosc. Am. 19, 54; id. Fl. 13, 35: eripe mihi hunc dolorem aut minue saltem, id. Att. 9, 6, 5: neque iis (militibus) posse persuaderi, ut eum defendant aut sequantur saltem, * Caes. B. C. 1, 6; Quint. 6, 5, 1; Plaut. Merc. 3, 4, 52: utinam quietis temporibus atque aliquo, si non bono, at saltem certo statu civitatis haec inter nos studia exercere possemus! Cic. Fam. 9, 8, 2; id. Pis. 11, 24.
      In a question: quis ego sum saltem, si non sum Sosia? tell me, at least, who I am; then who am I, pray? Plaut. Am. 1, 2, 282.
    2. B. Without mention of the opposite: istuc sapienter saltem fecit filius, Plaut. Bacch. 2, 3, 103: saltem aliquem velim, qui mihi ex his locis viam monstret, id. Rud. 1, 3, 29: saltem Pseudolum mihi dedas, id. Ps. 4, 7, 127: saltem aliquid de pondere detraxisset, Cic. Fin. 4, 20, 57: nunc saltem ad illos calculos revertamur, id. Att. 8, 12, 5: saltem tenet hoc nos, Hor. S. 1, 6, 44: ut opperiare hos sex dies saltem modo, Plaut. Ps. 1, 3, 87; cf.: triduom hoc saltem, id. Truc. 4, 4, 21: saltem tantisper, dum, etc., id. Rud. 4, 4, 146: antehac quidem sperare saltem licebat: nunc etiam id ereptum est, Cic. Fam. 12, 23, 3: at grammatici saltem omnes descendent, Quint. 1, 4, 7. This last mode of enunciation forms the transition to its use,
  2. II. With the negatives non, neque, to indicate that not even a single remaining thing specified holds good; and, consequently, = ne … quidem, not at least, not even, nor even (so perh. only since the Aug. per.): ibi tribuni militum non praemunito vallo, non deorum saltem, si non hominum, memores, nec auspicato, etc. … instruunt aciem, Liv. 5, 38; 2, 43, 8; 6, 2, 19; Quint. 10, 7, 20; Plin. Pan. 82, 1; App. M. 7, p. 194, 33 al.: neque enim mihi illud saltem placet, quod, etc., Quint. 1, 1, 24; cf.: nec vero saltem iis sufficiat, etc., id. 10, 2, 15: non fratrem, non patruum saltem porta tenus obvium, Tac. A. 3, 5 fin.: nec deformitate istā saltem flumina carebant atque amnes, Plin. Pan. 82, 3: ut ipsum iter neque impervium neque saltem durum putent, Quint. 12, 11, 11: nec mihi statuta saltem cibaria praestabantur, App. M. 7, p. 194, 33.
    Cf. with vix: illud vix saltem praecipiendum videtur, ne, etc., Quint. 6, 4, 15.
    After ne … quidem: ut ne a sententiis quidem ac verbis saltem singulis possit separari, Quint. 6, 5, 1.