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diligo

Etymology and origin of the Latin word diligo

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Confidence
Probable
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (legō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈdiː.lɪ.ɡoː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdiː.li.ɡo][1]

Forms

dīligō (present infinitive dīligere, perfect active dīlēxī, supine dīlēctum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from dis- (“apart”) and legō “to choose”: to single out, value.[2][1][3] Wiktionary also mentions the prefix in the sense “exceedingly” with an unrelated Proto-Italic *legō “to care”.[1] Inscriptions spell it ⟨deilexit⟩.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citation is Plautus, of loving.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to love, hold dear, as in Plautus, and, as a milder feeling than amō, to esteem, value, have a special regard for, as in Cicero.[2][3] Gaffiot explains it as love based on choice and reflection.[5] Döderlein says dīligere is love arising from esteem, amāre love arising from inclination.[6]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to love, prize, esteem.[7] English diligent comes from its participle dīligēns “attentive, careful” in the mid-14th century.[8]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of loving.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of esteem.[2][4]
  • mid-14th century – English diligent is recorded.[8]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To love, hold dear.[2]
  2. To esteem, value.[2]

Word family

  • dīlēctiō
  • dīlector
  • dīligentia
  • diligibilis
  • indīligēns
  • perdīligens
  • dīligenter
  • dīlēctus
  • dīligēns
  • praedīligō

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b 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. ^ Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  6. ^ 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
Cite this entry

“Diligo.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/diligo. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·