Etymologically
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diaeta

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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

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