Etymologically
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diversifico

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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]

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