Etymologically
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diluo

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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

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