Etymologically
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dimitto

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [diːˈmɪt.toː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [diˈmit.to][1]

Forms

dīmittō (present infinitive dīmittere, perfect active dīmīsī, supine dīmissum); third conjugation[1] Plautus has dīmīssero for dīmīsero.[2]

Etymology

It is from dis- “apart, away” and mittō “to send”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Cato, of giving up an activity.[2] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to send away, let go, dismiss, as in Afranius, and in Terence to disband an army or discharge someone from service.[2] In Cicero it meant to divorce a wife, to send in different directions, and to give up possession of something, and in Varro to dispatch.[2] In Caesar it meant to set free and to let slip, and in Cato to give up an activity.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to send away, dismiss, forgive, allow, leave.[5] It survives in Italian dimettere and Spanish dimitir “to resign”, and its participle dīmissus is behind English dismiss, first recorded in the early 15th century.[1][3]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of giving up.[2][4]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence uses it of discharging.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of divorcing.[2][4]
  • early 15th century – English dismiss is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To send away, dismiss; to disband.[2]
  2. To divorce.[2]
  3. To dispatch.[2]
  4. To set free; to let slip.[2]
  5. To give up.[2]
  6. (Ecclesiastical Latin) To forgive.[5]

Word family

  • dīmissiō
  • dimissor
  • dimissus
  • indimissus

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 l m n 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. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson