diluo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈdiː.ɫu.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdiː.lu.o]^[1]

Forms

dīluō (present infinitive dīluere, perfect active dīluī, supine dīlūtum); third conjugation, third person-only in the passive^[1]

Etymology

It is from dis- “apart” and the root of lavō “to wash”, as in alluō.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

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

Semantic evolution

It meant to dissolve and carry away, wash away, as in Caesar, and in Catullus to moisten, bathe.^[2] From Plautus it meant to dilute with water, and in Cicero to refute, explain away a charge.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to wash, efface.^[5] It was borrowed into Italian diluire and Spanish diluir, and its participle dīlūtus gave English dilute in the 1550s; its derivative dīluvium “flood” gave English deluge.^[1][3]

Timeline

• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of diluting.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of refuting.^[2][4]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of washing away.^[2][4]
• 1550s – English dilute is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To wash away.^[2]
2. To moisten, bathe.^[2]
3. To dilute.^[2]
4. To refute.^[2]

Word family

• dīlūtum
• dīluviēs
• dīluviō
• dīluvium

Related words

• lavō
• English dilute

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson