Etymologically
Log in

laxo

Etymology and origin of the Latin word laxo

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Lucretius
Ultimate origin
Latin (laxus)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈɫak.soː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlak.so][1]

Forms

laxō (present infinitive laxāre, perfect active laxāvī, supine laxātum); first conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from laxus “wide, loose” with the verbal suffix -ō.[2][1][3] Laxus is reconstructed from Proto-Indo-European *lag-so- (“slack”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's first citation is Lucretius, of loosening bonds and bolts.[2] Köbler dates Lucretius 96–55 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to widen, extend, as Cicero's enlarging of the Forum, to spread out ranks, as Caesar's opening of the maniples, and to extend a period.[2][6] It meant to open up a passage, to clear, to undo bonds and bolts, to let go, unsheathe a sword, and to dissolve or loosen.[2] It meant to slacken, unstring a bow, to relax the body, and to relax the mind, take one's ease, as in Cicero.[2] It also meant to lessen, weaken, as of severity.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to relax, let drop, widen.[7] It survives in Italian lasciare, Old French laissier (French laisser), Spanish dejar and Portuguese deixar “to leave, let”.[1] English relax and English release come from its compound relaxāre.[4]

Timeline

  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of loosening bonds.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of enlarging the Forum and of relaxing the mind.[2][6][5]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of opening the ranks.[2][6][5]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To widen, extend; to spread out.[2]
  2. To open up; to clear.[2]
  3. To undo, loosen; to let go.[2]
  4. To slacken; to relax (the body or mind).[2]
  5. To lessen, weaken.[2]

Word family

  • collaxō
  • laxāmentum
  • laxātiō
  • laxatiuus
  • praelaxatus
  • relaxō
  • laxātus
  • laxē
  • laxitās
  • laxus
  • English relax
  • English release
  • English lax

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. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  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. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
Cite this entry

“Laxo.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/laxo. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·