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resideo

Etymology and origin of the Latin word resideo

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
Plautus
Ultimate origin
Proto-Indo-European (*sed-)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [rɛˈsɪ.de.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [reˈs̬iː.de.o][1]

Forms

resideō (present infinitive residēre, perfect active resēdī, supine resessum); second conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from re- and sedeō “to sit”.[2][1][3] De Vaan traces ⟨sedeō⟩ to the stative Proto-Indo-European *sed-eh₁- (“to be seated”).[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of something left over from the past.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[5]

Semantic evolution

It meant to remain seated, sit, as in Propertius; to stay in a place as a visitor or settler, and of soldiers to be encamped, as in Cicero; to be left over, persist, as in Plautus; and to squat down or fall back, as in Pliny the Elder.[2] The OLD notes that many forms may belong either to it or to resīdō.[2]

It survives in Italian risiedere and Spanish residir, and gave English reside in the late 15th century, “to remain at a place”.[1][3] Its present participle gave English resident and English residence.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of what persists.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of staying in a place.[2][5]
  • late 15th century – English reside is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To remain seated.[2]
  2. To stay, reside; to be encamped.[2]
  3. To remain, persist.[2]
  4. To sink back, subside.[2]

Word family

  • reses
  • residuus

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 Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
Cite this entry

“Resideo.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/resideo. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·