Etymologically
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dissolute

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Forms

dissolūtē (adverb)[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin dissolūtus (“loose, lax”) + -ē.[1] The adjective is the past participle of dissolvō (“to loosen, dissolve”), which de Vaan lists from Plautus on among the compounds of solvō (“to loosen”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler finds it from Cicero on.[4] In the Orator Cicero uses it of saying several things without conjunctions, dēmptīs coniūnctiōnibus.[1][5]

Semantic evolution

Its first sense is grammatical and rhetorical: without connecting words, disjointedly.[1][6] More often it means without strictness, laxly or negligently: in the Verrines Cicero asks whether tithes were sold so carelessly.[1][5] Conte also gives the sense weakly.[6] Augustine uses it of unrestrained joy, dissolūtē hilaris.[5][6]

In British medieval Latin it means dissolutely, without restraint: a register of 1300 forbids someone to wander about so loosely outside his house.[7]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of speech without conjunctions and of careless conduct.[1][5][4]
  • 354–430 AD – Augustine speaks of unrestrained gaiety.[5][4]
  • 1300 – A British register uses it of wandering about without restraint.[7]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. (rhetoric) Without connecting words, asyndetically, disjointedly.[1][6]
  2. Without strictness, laxly, negligently.[1][2]
  3. Immoderately, without restraint.[5][6]
  4. (Medieval Latin) Dissolutely.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  2. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  3. ^ 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. ^ a b c d e f Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  6. ^ a b c d e Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  7. ^ a b c Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press