Partitivi nel latino biblico

The paper discusses a number of partitive constructions with de or, less frequently, ex, attested in biblical Latin, which do not contain a quantifier, and fulfill the function of direct object, along with a small number of similar constructions which function as subject. As the Greek original also displays the same type of construction, it is worth inquiring whether the rise of the Latin construction is due to Greek influence, or whether it reflects an independent innovation. The de construction is commonly thought to be the source of the so-called partitive article found in some Romance varieties which, in spite of its name, no longer has a partitive meaning, but functions as an indefinite article. After a survey of different types of partitive constructions, the paper describes the grammaticalization process that led the partitive preposition de to undergo transcategorization when merged with the definite article, and become a determiner. It then discusses differences in the distribution of the two prepositions found in partitive constructions (de and ex). It is argued that the few occurrences of partitive subjects are indeed calques from the Greek original, while partitive objects reflect a construction which was on the rise, and already available to the speech community.