luo

Pronunciation

• IPA (Classical): [ˈɫu.oː]^[1]
• IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈluː.o]^[1]

Forms

luō (present infinitive luere, perfect active luī); third conjugation, no passive, no supine stem^[1] Varro gives the perfect as lūī, but verse always has luī.^[2][3]

Etymology

It is inherited from Proto-Italic *luwe/o-, inherited from Proto-Indo-European *l(é)uH- (“to cut loose”), with a thematic present that is probably secondary to the root aorist.^[3] Cognate with Ancient Greek λύω (lúō, “to loosen, release”), Sanskrit लुनाति (lunā́ti, “cuts off”) and Old Irish as·loí (“flees”).^[3][2] Its compound solvō “to loosen” is from the same root.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Accius uses it of paying a penalty.^[2][3] Köbler dates Accius 170–c. 90 BC.^[4]

Semantic evolution

In Classical Latin it was to suffer a punishment, especially poenās luere “to pay the penalty”, as Cicero's paying for his own fault.^[2] It was to atone or make amends for an offence, to avert dangers by expiation, to fulfil a promise or discharge a debt, and to set persons free.^[2][5]

Its noun luēs “plague, affliction” is from Cicero on.^[3] It was borrowed as learned Spanish luir.^[1]

Timeline

• 230/220–168 BC – Caecilius uses reluere “to redeem”.^[3][4]
• 170–c. 90 BC – Accius uses it.^[2][4]
• 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of paying the penalty for his fault.^[2][4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To suffer (a punishment) by way of expiation, poenās luere, to pay the penalty.^[2][6]
2. To atone for, expiate.^[2][1]
3. To avert (troubles) by expiation.^[2]
4. To discharge (a debt); to fulfil (a promise).^[2][5]
5. To set free.^[2][1]

Word family

• solvō

Related words

• luēs
• lūstrum

Usage notes

A rare homograph luere “to wash” is a back-formation from compounds of lavō, such as abluō.^[2][1]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f g 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 e f de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
6. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press