A strange word for which, seemingly, there is no account

[Lumen_et_umbra]

[face=SPIonic]<br />SI QVA SIGNIFICATIO VIRTVTIS ELVCEAT AD QVAM SE SIMILIS ANIMVS ADPLICET ET ADIVNGAT.<br />[/face]<br /><br />If any sign of virtue should shine forth, to which a similar disposition may attach itself.<br /><br /><br />I have never ecountered the word "QVA" (without a macron). Can anyone help?<br /><br />Note: underlined letters signify letters with macrons - that should have been pretty obvious.

[benissimus]

According to the Words dictionary, QVA can mean "anything/anyone." In this case it would mean "If any sign..." just as you put. In poetic senses, sometimes letters which should be long are shortened as well, but I don't know the context, and it seems to make sense the way you put.

[Lumen_et_umbra]

I was unable to find the word in my dictionary. What is the title of yours? Mine now seems a bit inadequate.

[benissimus]

http://lysy2.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/words.exe<br />It doesn't show the macrons, but I was able to tell it was the same, since it recorded it as being in the nominative.

[Lumen_et_umbra]

Thanks for your help!

[Magistra]

There's an old saying (from way before my time!):<br /><br />After si, nisi, num & ne<br />all the ali-'s fall away.<br /><br />Here qua represents aliqua (nom. sing. f.) (= any) to agree with significatio.<br /><br /><br />SI QVA SIGNIFICATIO VIRTVTIS ELVCEAT AD QVAM SE SIMILIS ANIMVS ADPLICET ET ADIVNGAT.<br /><br />Magistra<br /><br /><br />Quote:<br />If any sign of virtue should shine forth, to which a similar disposition may attach itself.<br /><br /><br />I have never ecountered the word "QVA" (without a macron). Can anyone help?<br />

[Skylax]

[quote author=Lumen_et_umbra link=board=3;threadid=535;start=0#4721 date=1061593272]<br />I was unable to find the word in my dictionary. What is the title of yours? Mine now seems a bit inadequate.<br />[/quote]<br /><br />Check aliqui, aliqua, aliquod. Here, qua is a short form of aliqua found before si, nisi, ne, num (thus the Latin said si qua, nisi qua, ne qua, num qua instead of *si aliqua, etc. You find also quis, quid in the same cases instead of aliquis, aliquid.