Etymologically
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divortium

Etymology and origin of the Latin word divortium

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

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [diːˈwɔr.ti.ũː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [diˈvɔr.t͡si.um][1]

Forms

dīvortium n (genitive dīvortiī or dīvortī); second declension[1]

Etymology

It is from dīvertō “to turn aside, separate” with the suffix -ium.[2][1][3] The spelling ⟨dīvortium⟩ is the common one, but ⟨dīvertium⟩ is found at all periods.[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of a divorce.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant the severing of a marriage, divorce, dīvortium facere “to divorce”, as in Plautus, who plays on separation in general, and in Cicero.[2][4][6] In Cicero it meant a watershed, dīvortia aquārum, and in Virgil a fork of roads, a parting of the ways.[2][6] In Tacitus it meant an intervening strip, and in Columella a dividing line in time.[2] In Apuleius it meant the dissolution of a marriage however brought about, and incompatibility.[2] Döderlein explains that repudium is a one-sided putting away, while dīvortium is a dissolution by mutual consent.[7]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant divorce or division.[8] British Medieval Latin also used it for a by-road.[9] It survives in French divorce and Italian divorzio, and English divorce came in the late 14th century.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of divorce.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses dīvortia aquārum.[6][5]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it of a fork in a road.[2][5]
  • late 14th century – English divorce is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A fork, parting of the ways.[2]
  2. A watershed; a dividing line; a turning point.[2]
  3. An intervening strip.[2]
  4. Divorce, dīvortium facere, to divorce.[2]
  5. Incompatibility.[2]

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from repudium, a one-sided repudiation.[7]

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 n 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 Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  8. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  9. ^ 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
Cite this entry

“Divortium.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/divortium. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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