Etymologically
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demolitio

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Forms

dēmōlītiō f (genitive dēmōlītiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin dēmōlior + -tiō,[2][1][3] the noun of action of dēmōlior (“to throw off, demolish”).[4] That verb is a compound of dē- and mōlior (“to labour, build up”), from mōlēs (“mass; effort”).[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is first found in Cicero's speeches against Verres, of the pulling down of statues.[2][4][3][6]

Semantic evolution

It was always rare.[4] Cicero also uses it of temple approaches removed by demolition, and Vitruvius of people who lacked iron tools for demolition.[2][3] Tertullian uses it figuratively, of an undermining of the truth.[4]

In medieval Latin it meant destruction and devastation, and the undermining of a wall; in the sense of mōlītiō it could also mean a plot or intrigue.[7] English demolition comes from it through French.[8]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of the pulling down of statues.[2][6]
  • c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it in his work on architecture.[2][6]
  • c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian uses it figuratively, of the truth.[4][6]
  • 1230 – An imperial act uses it of the destruction of a house.[7]
  • 1540s – English demolition appears, from French.[8]

Meanings

Noun

  1. The act of demolishing, pulling down.[2][4][3]
  2. (figurative) An undermining.[4]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Destruction, devastation.[7]
  4. (Medieval Latin) A plot, intrigue.[7]
  • English demolition

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  6. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  7. ^ a b c d Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com