solubilis

Forms

solūbilis (neuter solūbile); third-declension two-termination adjective^[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin solvō (“to loosen, dissolve”), with the suffix -bilis.^[2][3][4] Conte calls it a Late Latin word, the source of Italian solubile.^[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Minucius Felix, in the Octavius, calls the world dissoluble, liable to break up.^[5][2][4]

Semantic evolution

In Late Latin the passive sense, “that can be loosened or taken apart”, was used of a bridge that could be dismantled (Ammianus) and of the perishable flesh (Prudentius).^[2][5] Caelius Aurelianus has an active sense, of air that loosens or relaxes.^[2][3]

In British medieval Latin it was used of metals and other substances that can be dissolved, of a compound word that can be split into its parts, of a marriage that can be dissolved, and of souls that may be set free.^[6]

Timeline

• 3rd century AD – Minucius Felix calls the world dissoluble.^[5][2][4]
• c. 250–317 AD – Lactantius uses it.^[3][4]
• c. 390 AD – Ammianus describes a bridge that can be taken apart.^[2][5][4]
• 5th century AD – Caelius Aurelianus uses it actively, of relaxing air.^[2][3][4]
• first third of 8th century AD – Bede uses it of a metal statue that could melt.^[6][4]

Meanings

Adjective

1. That can be loosened or taken apart; dissoluble, perishable.^[2][3][5]
2. Loosening, relaxing.^[2][3]
3. (Medieval Latin) That can be dissolved, of a substance, a compound word or a marriage.^[6]
4. (Medieval Latin) That may be released or set free.^[6]

Word family

• īnsolūbilis

Related words

• solvō

References

1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
3. ^ a b c d e f Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
4. ^ a b c d e f g Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b c d e f Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
6. ^ a b c d 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