depleo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈdeː.pɫe.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdɛː.ple.o]^[1]

Forms

dēpleō (present infinitive dēplēre, perfect active dēplēvī, supine dēplētum); second conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from dē- and pleō “to fill”, so “to unfill, empty”.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lewis & Short cite Cato, of drawing off oil.^[3] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to drain, draw off, empty out, and to let blood, as in Cato and Columella.^[2][3] Figuratively it meant to relieve of something, as in “empty life of complaints”, and in an inscription apparently to subtract.^[2] Lewis & Short call it very rare.^[3]

English deplete (1807) was formed from depletion, first in medicine of blood-letting and purgatives.^[5]

Timeline

• 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of drawing off oil.^[3][4]
• 1st century AD – Columella uses it.^[3][4]
• 1807 – English deplete is recorded.^[5]

Meanings

Verb

1. To drain, empty; to let (blood).^[2]
2. To relieve of.^[2]
3. To subtract.^[2]

Word family

• depletura

Related words

• pleō
• compleō
• impleō
• English deplete

References

1. ^ a b c d 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 e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com