dispono

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [dɪsˈpoː.noː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [disˈpɔː.no]^[1]

Forms

dispōnō (present infinitive dispōnere, perfect active disposuī or disposīvī, supine dispositum or dispostum); third conjugation^[1] Lucretius has dispostus for dispositus.^[2]

Etymology

It is from dis- “apart” and pōnō “to put”.^[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cicero, of distributing and arranging.^[2] Köbler dates Cicero 81–43 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to place here and there, distribute, plant out, to arrange in order, and to allot, as in Cicero, and in Caesar to post troops.^[2] In Seneca it meant to manage, and to arrange, prescribe.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to order, dispose, arrange.^[5] It survives in Italian disporre, French disposer and Spanish disponer, and through Old French it is behind English dispose, first recorded in the late 14th century.^[1][3]

Timeline

• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of arranging.^[2][4]
• c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of posting troops.^[2][4]
• 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of managing.^[2][4]
• late 14th century – English dispose is recorded.^[3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To distribute; to plant out.^[2]
2. To arrange, lay out.^[2]
3. To allot.^[2]
4. To post, station.^[2]
5. To manage; to prescribe.^[2]

Word family

• dispositiō
• dispositor
• dispositūra
• dispositus
• indispositus
• praedispositus

Related words

• pōnō
• English dispose

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 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