Etymologically
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solubilis

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [sɔˈɫuː.bɪ.lɪs][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [soˈluː.bi.lis][1]

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

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