expleo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈɛk.spɫe.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈɛk.sple.o]^[1]

Forms

expleō (present infinitive explēre, perfect active explēvī, supine explētum); second conjugation^[1] Festus reports an old explenunt for explent.^[2]

Etymology

It is from ex- “out, completely” and ⟨pleō⟩ “to fill”.^[2][1]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Plautus, of covering completely and of satisfying.^[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to fill up a vessel, as in Lucretius, and in Plautus to fill all the space, and to satisfy someone's appetites.^[2] In Cicero it meant to bring up to full measure, and to carry to completion.^[2] In Propertius it meant to complete a period, suprēmum diem explēre to die, and in Ennius apparently to disembark.^[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to fill, fulfil, finish, complete.^[4] Its derivative explētīvus “filling out” is behind English expletive.^[1]

Timeline

• 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of disembarking.^[2][3]
• c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of filling and satisfying.^[2][3]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of completing.^[2][3]

Meanings

Verb

1. To fill up; to cover completely.^[2]
2. To satisfy.^[2]
3. To make up (a number).^[2]
4. To complete, accomplish.^[2]
5. To complete (a period), suprēmum diem explēre, to die.^[2]

Word family

• explēmentum
• explētiō
• explētīvus
• expletor
• inexplētus
• explētrix
• explētus
• inexplēbilis

Related words

• compleō
• impleō
• English expletive

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 d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson