Etymologically
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dirigo

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈdiː.rɪ.ɡoː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdiː.ri.ɡo][1]

Forms

dīrigō (present infinitive dīrigere, perfect active dīrēxī, supine dīrēctum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin dis- (“apart”) + regō (“to direct, guide”), or rather with dē-, since the older form was ⟨dērigō⟩.[2][1] The OLD notes that no certain example of ⟨dīr-⟩ occurs in inscriptions before the 4th century AD.[2][3] The verb regō is inherited from Proto-Italic *reg-e/o-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ-e/o- (“to stretch, direct”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

De Vaan dates it from Livius Andronicus,[3] who has “direct the dogs to their proper lairs”.[2] Köbler dates his career to before 200 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to arrange along a line, to align (especially troops in battle order), and to make straight or level.[2][1] From this it meant to direct the movement of persons, animals and ships, to guide or steer, to aim weapons and blows, to turn or point a part of the body, and to direct an activity towards an end.[2] Lewis and Short report the view that dērigere and dīrigere were once different words.[5]

It survives in Romanian drege and was borrowed as Italian dirigere and French diriger.[1] Its participle dīrēctus gave English direct in the late 14th century, and a Vulgar Latin *dīrēctiāre gave Old French dresser and English dress, at first “make straight, direct”.[6]

Timeline

  • before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it of directing dogs.[2][3][4]
  • 116–27 BC – Varro uses it of rows aligned in pairs.[2][4]
  • 4th century AD – The spelling ⟨dīrigō⟩ appears in inscriptions.[2]
  • c. 1300 – English dress “make straight, direct” is recorded.[6]
  • late 14th century – English direct is recorded.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To arrange in a line, align.[2][1]
  2. To make straight; to level.[2]
  3. To direct, guide, steer.[2]
  4. To aim (weapons, blows).[2]
  5. To turn, point (a part of the body).[2]
  6. To direct (an activity) towards an end.[2]

Word family

  • dīrēctiō
  • dīrēctor
  • dīrēctōrium
  • dīrēctūra
  • dīrēctus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g 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 d de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  4. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com