Etymologically
Log in

destino

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 14:35. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈdeːs.tɪ.noː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdɛs.ti.no][1]

Forms

dēstinō (present infinitive dēstināre, perfect active dēstināvī, supine dēstinātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from dē- and an unattested ⟨*stanō⟩, from Proto-Italic *stanō, from Proto-Indo-European *stn̥h₂-, a nasal present of the root of stō “to stand”, as also in obstinō.[2][1][3] The OLD compares Old Armenian ստանամ (stanam, “to acquire”) and Sanskrit स्थान (sthā́na, “place”).[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of arranging a purchase.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to fix in place, fasten, as Caesar's yards made fast to the masts.[2][5] In Tacitus it meant to fix one's mind on something, and in Cicero to resolve on, intend, and to set aside for an end, destine.[2] In Plautus it meant to settle the terms for buying something.[2] From Sallust it meant to designate for a post, and in Horace a woman as a wife.[2] In the Rhetorica ad Herennium it meant to fix on as a target.[2] Döderlein explains that dēstināre and obstināre denote forming a resolution as an act of the mind, while dēcernere and statuere are political acts.[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to define, fix, design, determine, bind.[7] It survives in Italian destinare and French destiner, and Old French destiner gave English destine in the mid-14th century, and English destiny and English destination come from the same verb.[1][8]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of arranging a purchase.[2][4]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of fastening.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of intending.[2][4]
  • mid-14th century – English destine is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To fix in place, fasten.[2]
  2. To fix one's mind; to resolve, intend.[2]
  3. To set aside, destine.[2]
  4. To arrange the purchase of.[2]
  5. To designate (for a post); to betroth.[2]
  6. To fix on as a target.[2]

Word family

  • destina
  • dēstinātiō
  • destinator
  • destinātum
  • praedestinō

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it as a resolve of the mind from dēcernō and statuō.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com