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emitto

Etymology and origin of the Latin word emitto

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

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [eːˈmɪt.toː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [eˈmit.to][1]

Forms

ēmittō (present infinitive ēmittere, perfect active ēmīsī, supine ēmissum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from ex- “out” and mittō “to send”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of sending out and releasing.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to send out, dispatch, to release from custody, and to let loose for a race or battle, as in Plautus, and in Caesar to shoot missiles.[2] In Livy it meant to let out liquids, drain off, in Vitruvius to give off light or heat, in Columella of plants to put forth, and in Pliny the Elder to extend lines.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to send out, cast out, yield, release.[5] It survives in Italian emettere, French émettre and Spanish emitir, and gave English emit in the 1620s.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of sending out and releasing.[2][4]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of shooting missiles.[2][4]
  • c. 84–c. 25 BC – Vitruvius uses it of giving off heat.[2][4]
  • 1620s – English emit is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To send out, dispatch.[2]
  2. To release, set free; to let loose.[2]
  3. To shoot (missiles).[2]
  4. To let out, drain off.[2]
  5. To give off, emit.[2]
  6. Of plants, to put forth.[2]

Word family

  • ēmissārius
  • ēmissīcius
  • ēmissiō
  • ēmissor
  • ēmissus
  • ēmissīvus

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

“Emitto.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/emitto. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·