Etymologically

repleo

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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈrɛ.pɫe.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈrɛː.ple.o][1]

Forms

repleō (present infinitive replēre, perfect active replēvī, supine replētum); second conjugation[1] Plautus has the spelling reppl-.[2]

Etymology

It is from re- “again” and ⟨pleō⟩ “to fill”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation for filling up is from Lucretius, whom Köbler dates 96–55 BC.[2][4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to refill, replenish, as in Cicero, and in Livy to bring up to full strength.[2] In Lucretius it meant to fill up a space, and to fill a place with sound or light, in Virgil to sate with food, in Celsus to make swell, and in law to complete.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to fill, satisfy, refill, complete, replenish.[5] It was borrowed into Italian replere.[1] Its participle replētus gave English replete in the late 14th century.[3]

Timeline

  • 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of filling.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of refilling.[2][4]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of bringing up to strength.[2][4]
  • late 14th century – English replete is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To refill, replenish.[2]
  2. To bring up to strength; to make up.[2]
  3. To fill up; to fill (with sound or light).[2]
  4. To sate.[2]
  5. To make swell.[2]

Word family

  • irrepletus
  • replētiō
  • replētus

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson