diaeta

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [diˈae̯.ta]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [diˈɛː.ta]^[1]

Forms

diaeta f (genitive diaetae); first declension^[1] Zaeta or zēta appear in the Historia Augusta and in many manuscripts, and Medieval Latin wrote diēta.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Ancient Greek δίαιτα (díaita, “way of living, regimen; dwelling”), from διαιτάω (diaitáō, “to treat; to arbitrate”).^[4][1][5][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cicero, of a course of medical treatment.^[4] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[5]

Semantic evolution

In Cicero it was a regimen, a course of medical treatment, and in Statius and Pliny the Younger a room of a house, and Petronius used it of a ship's cabin.^[4]

Medieval Latin, taking it for a derivative of diēs “day”, spelled it diēta and used it for a rule of life, a diet; a daily meal; a day's march; a day's work; the daily liturgy; and a day appointed for a meeting, an assembly.^[3][7] British Medieval Latin also had a book on diet, a monastic food allowance and the starvation diet of the peine forte et dure.^[7] English diet “regular food” (about 1200) came through Old French diete, and English diet “assembly” (mid-15th century) directly from Medieval Latin diēta.^[6]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of a regimen.^[4][5]
• c. 1200 – English diet “food” is recorded.^[6]
• mid-15th century – English diet “assembly” is recorded.^[6]

Meanings

Noun

1. A regimen, a course of medical treatment; diet.^[4][7]
2. A room; a ship's cabin.^[4]
3. (Medieval Latin) A daily meal; a food allowance.^[3][7]
4. (Medieval Latin) A day's march; a day's work.^[3]
5. (Medieval Latin) An appointed day, a meeting, an assembly.^[3]

Word family

• diaetārius
• diaetēticus

Related words

• diaetēticē
• diēs
• English diet

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d e Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
4. ^ a b c d e f Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
6. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ a b c d Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press