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resolutio

Etymology and origin of the Latin word resolutio

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Celsus
Ultimate origin
Latin (solvō)

Forms

resolūtiō f (genitive resolūtiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from resolvō “to untie, loosen” with the suffix -tiō.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Celsus, of paralysis.[2] Köbler dates Celsus 14–37 AD.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant a slack or relaxed state of a part of the body, paralysis, as in Celsus, and in Gellius an untying and the solution of a puzzle.[2][5] In Ulpian it meant cancellation, annulment.[2] Lewis & Short note it is not ante-Augustan.[6]

In Medieval Latin it meant death.[7] British Medieval Latin used it for dissolution into elements, and for melting.[8] Through Old French resolution it gave English resolution in the late 14th century, first “a breaking into parts, dissolution”.[3]

Timeline

  • 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it of paralysis.[2][4]
  • c. 165 AD – Gellius uses it of a solution.[2][4]
  • late 14th century – English resolution is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. An untying; a solution.[2]
  2. Slackness; paralysis.[2]
  3. Cancellation.[2]
  4. (Medieval Latin) Death; dissolution.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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 Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ 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
  7. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  8. ^ a b Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
Cite this entry

“Resolutio.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/resolutio. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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