Etymologically
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expedio

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɛkˈspɛ.di.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ekˈspɛː.di.o][1]

Forms

expediō (present infinitive expedīre, perfect active expedīvī or expediī, supine expedītum); fourth conjugation[1] Ennius, Plautus, Pacuvius and Accius have the future expedībō.[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from ex- (“out”) and pēs (“foot”) with the verb suffix ⟨-iō⟩, “to free the feet”, the opposite of impediō (“to hinder”).[2][3][1] De Vaan derives pēs from Proto-Italic *pōd-, from Proto-Indo-European *pṓds (“foot”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Ennius has the archaic future expedībō.[2] Plautus thanks Neptune quom mē ex suīs locīs … expedīvit, “for letting me out of his domain”.[2][5]

Semantic evolution

Expedīre is “to free from fastenings, untie, unwrap” (Cicero of opening a box of poison), and “to extricate, release” a person.[2][3][1] It is to clear up difficulties (Terence: īram expediēs, “you will settle the quarrel”), and to set out a matter, “to explain” (Plautus: capita rērum expedīte, “give me the main points”).[2][1] It also means “to make ready” (reflexively “to get ready”), “to supply, provide” (Livy: ad commeātūs expediendōs), and “to accomplish, work out”.[2][1] Intransitively and impersonally it is “to be useful, expedient” (Cato: nihil est quod magis expediat quam bovēs bene cūrāre, “nothing pays better than taking good care of the oxen”).[2][1]

Church Latin glosses it “to deliver, free, prepare, arrange, hasten”, and impersonally “it is advantageous”.[6] English expedite comes from its participle in the 1610s.[7]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius has the future expedībō.[2][5]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: capita rērum expedīte.[2][5]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato: nihil est quod magis expediat.[2][5]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence: īram expediēs.[2][5]
  • 1610s – English expedite.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To untie, unwrap, free from fastenings.[2][3][1]
  2. To extricate, release, set free.[2][3][1][6]
  3. To clear up, settle (difficulties).[2][1]
  4. To explain, set out.[2][1]
  5. To make ready, prepare;[2][1][6] (reflexive) to get ready.[2][1][6]
  6. To supply, provide.[2][1]
  7. To accomplish, carry out.[2][1]
  8. (intransitive, often impersonal) To be useful, expedient.[2][1][6]

Word family

  • expedientia
  • expedītiō
  • inexpedītus
  • perexpedītus

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  6. ^ a b c d e Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com