decido

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [deːˈkiː.doː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [deˈt͡ʃiː.do]^[1]

Forms

dēcīdō (present infinitive dēcīdere, perfect active dēcīdī, supine dēcīsum); third conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin dē- + caedō (“to cut”), with the vowel weakened in the compound.^[2][3][1] The verb is inherited from Proto-Italic *kaid-e/o-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *keh₂id- (“to strike, cut”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Plautus onwards,^[5] who uses it of cutting off a neck and, figuratively, of cutting short a trick.^[2][6]

Semantic evolution

It meant to cut off, as Cato's olive cuttings and Tacitus' ears, and to reduce by cutting, as Horace's “humbled with clipped wings”.^[2][3] It meant to mark out by notches, and in law to flog thoroughly.^[2]

Figuratively it meant to settle or decide a matter, and with cum to come to terms with someone, as Cicero's settlement with Chrysogonus, damnum decidere was to agree on the penalty.^[2] English decide came from it through Old French in the late 14th century, first “to settle a dispute”.^[7]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of cutting off.^[2][6][5]
• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of olive cuttings.^[2][5]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of coming to terms.^[2][5]
• late 14th century – English decide is recorded.^[7]

Meanings

Verb

1. To cut off, cut out.^[2][1]
2. To reduce by cutting, clip.^[2][1]
3. To mark out by notching.^[2]
4. To flog thoroughly.^[2][1]
5. To settle, decide, damnum decidere: to agree on a penalty.^[2][1]
6. (intransitive) To come to terms.^[2]

Word family

• dēcīsiō
• dēcīsus

Related words

• caedo
• English decide

Usage notes

A different verb dēcidō, dēcidere, with a short i, comes from cadō and means “to fall down”, as Plautus' “I fall headlong from the couch”.^[2][1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com