diversifico

Forms

dīversificō (present infinitive dīversificāre, perfect active dīversificāvī, supine dīversificātum); first conjugation^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin dīversus (“different, various”) + -ficō.^[1][2] The DMLBS compares Late Latin dīversificus.^[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Among the MLW's earliest examples is one from the Hildesheim letters, where words about manners are said to vary as the manners vary.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It meant to make different, vary or change, and to distinguish or separate; in the passive it meant to differ, and of people to disagree.^[2][4] Albertus Magnus writes that the diversity of regions varies plants, trees and animals, and uses it to render Aristotle's word for “differ”.^[2] Thomas Aquinas has it in the sense of making different.^[5] In British sources it also means to embroider a story.^[3] English diversify came from Old French diversifier, which goes back to it.^[6]

Timeline

• 13th century – Albertus Magnus writes that different regions vary plants and animals.^[2][7]
• 1360 – A Polish document speaks of rights that exceed and vary the custom of the land.^[8]
• early 15th century – English diversifien comes from Old French diversifier.^[6]

Meanings

Verb

1. (Medieval Latin) To make different, vary, change.^[2][3][1][9]
2. (Medieval Latin) To distinguish, separate, differentiate.^[2][10][3]
3. (Medieval Latin, intransitive or passive) To differ.^[2][3][9]
4. (Medieval Latin, passive, of people) To disagree, be of different opinions.^[2][4][8]
5. (Medieval Latin) To embellish (a story).^[3]

Related words

• dīversus
• English diversify

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mittellateinisches Wörterbuch bis zum ausgehenden 13. Jahrhundert (1967–), Munich: C. H. Beck; Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
3. ^ a b c d e f 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
4. ^ a b Bartal, Antal, et al. (1987–), Lexicon Latinitatis Medii Aevi Hungariae, Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó; online ed. ELTE
5. ^ Schütz, Ludwig (1895), Thomas-Lexikon, 2nd ed., Paderborn: F. Schöningh
6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
7. ^ Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
8. ^ a b Lexicon mediae et infimae Latinitatis Polonorum (1953–), Kraków: Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN; electronic ed. elexicon.scriptores.pl
9. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
10. ^ Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill