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distraho

Etymology and origin of the Latin word distraho

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Latin (trahō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈdɪs.tra.(ɦ)oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdis.tra.o][1]

Forms

distrahō (present infinitive distrahere, perfect active distrāxī, supine distractum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from dis- “apart” and trahō “to drag”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of pulling something to pieces.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to pull apart, to pieces, as in Plautus, and in Cicero to break up a group.[2] In Terence it meant to part people forcibly and to break up an association, and in Lucilius to sell off.[2] In Cicero it meant to separate ideas and to pull someone in several directions, to distract, and in Livy to divide into parties, estrange.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to divide forcibly, distract, perplex.[5] It survives in Italian distrarre, French distraire and Spanish distraer, and its participle distractus gave English distract in the late 14th century.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of pulling apart.[2][4]
  • c. 180–102 BC – Lucilius uses it of selling off.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of distracting.[2][4]
  • late 14th century – English distract is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To pull apart; to break up.[2]
  2. To part, separate.[2]
  3. To sell off.[2]
  4. To divide; to estrange.[2]
  5. To distract, torment with conflicting impulses.[2]

Word family

  • distractiō
  • distractor
  • distractus

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
Cite this entry

“Distraho.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/distraho. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·