Etymologically
Log in

relinquo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 15 October 2026 at 20:51. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [rɛˈlɪŋ.kʷoː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [reˈliŋ.kʷo][1]

Forms

relinquō (present infinitive relinquere, perfect active relīquī, supine relictum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin re- + linquō (“to leave”).[2][1] Linquō is *linkʷ-, from the PIE nasal present Proto-Indo-European *li-n-kʷ- (“to leave”).[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Ennius has “I left my kingdom, wrapped in a beggar's robe”.[2] Köbler dates Ennius 204–169 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to leave a person or a place, to desert, signa relinquere to desert the ranks, and to give up an occupation, as Plautus' “ask him to leave other matters and come here”.[2] Hope or strength could leave someone, and one could leave others behind in attainment.[2]

It meant to leave behind on departing, as Caesar's men left to guard the camp, to leave at death, to leave a state of affairs, as Cicero's speakers who leave a sting in their hearers' minds, to disregard, to let alone, to leave to another, and to leave as a remainder.[2][5] Döderlein says relinquere is leaving in a merely outward, local sense, deserere leaving someone one is bound to.[6] English relinquish was borrowed in the mid-15th century.[7]

Timeline

  • 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of leaving a kingdom.[2][4]
  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of leaving people and work.[2][4]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of leaving men to guard the camp.[5][4]
  • mid-15th century – English relinquish is borrowed.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To leave, abandon, desert.[2][1]
  2. To give up, relinquish.[2][1]
  3. To outstrip.[2]
  4. To leave behind (on departing; at death).[2][1]
  5. To leave (a result, a memory).[2]
  6. To disregard; to let alone.[2]
  7. To leave remaining, (passive) to remain.[2]

Word family

  • abrelictus
  • dērelinquō
  • relictiō
  • relictor
  • relictum
  • relictus
  • reliquus
  • reliquiae
  • English relinquish
  • English relic

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. ^ 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. ^ Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com