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.
I Affirmatively (class.).
A With a statement of the opposite: si illud non licet, Saltem hoc licebit, Ter. Eun. 640; 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. 494: impetrabo, ut aliquot saltem nuptiis prodat dies, id. ib. 313: 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.—
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,
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; Ap. Met. 7, 15, 18 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, Ap. Met. 7, 15, 18.—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.