Etymologically
Log in

digestivus

History Permalink

Etymology and origin of the Latin word digestivus

Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
1035–1065 Odo Magdunensis More words from the 11th century
Ultimate origin
Latin dīgerō
Etymology tree
inherited borrowed derived
Latin dīgestīvus
English digestive

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [diː.ɡɛsˈtiː.wʊs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [di.d͡ʒesˈtiː.vus][1]

Forms

dīgestīvus (feminine dīgestīva, neuter dīgestīvum); first/second-declension adjective[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin dīgestus + -īvus, on the past participle of dīgerō (“to distribute; to digest”).[1][2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Lewis & Short cite it from the medical poem they quote as Macer, and the MLW from the herbal of Odo Magdunensis, which speaks of the digestive power (vis digestiva) that a drink of lovage helps.[4][5]

Semantic evolution

Actively it meant digesting or purging, as of the heat of stomach and liver that cumin stirs up; passively, easily digested.[5][2] As a noun, the feminine (with virtus understood) named the power of digestion, and the neuter a digestive remedy.[5][6] British writers also used it of what causes ripening or fermentation, and Alexander Neckam says that gold taken in food helps the digestive power.[6]

English digestive comes from it, partly through Old French.[3]

Timeline

  • 1035–1065 – Odo Magdunensis speaks of the digestive power.[5][2]
  • before 1200 – It is recorded in British medieval Latin.[2]
  • 1177–1217 – Alexander Neckam writes of gold aiding the digestive power.[6]
  • early 15th century – English has digestive.[3]

Meanings

Adjective

  1. (Medieval Latin) Digestive, promoting digestion; purgative.[4][5][6]
  2. (Medieval Latin) Easily digested.[5][2]
  3. (Medieval Latin) Causing ripening or fermentation.[6]
  4. (Medieval Latin, as a noun) dīgestīva (feminine): the power of digestion;[5][6] dīgestīvum (neuter): a digestive remedy.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  6. ^ a b c d e f g 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
Cite this entry

“Digestivus.” Etymologically, 7 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/la/digestivus. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

Last edited on . ·