Etymologically
Log in

solvo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 15 October 2026 at 19:39. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈsɔɫ.woː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsɔl.vo][1]

Forms

solvō (present infinitive solvere, perfect active solvī, supine solūtum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin sē- (“apart, away”) + luō (“to loosen”).[2][3][4] The verb luō goes back to Proto-Indo-European *lewh₁- (“to loosen, cut off”).[1] Catullus can scan its perfect as three syllables.[3][5]

Earliest recorded meaning

It is found from Plautus onwards,[2] who has a man say solve zonam, “untie your belt”.[3]

Semantic evolution

It meant to loosen or untie a knot or fastening, as Catullus' bride's girdle and Virgil's ploughman unyoking his oxen, to undo or open, as Cicero opening a packet of letters, and to release from chains.[3] Sailors “loosed” the cable to set sail, and Virgil's Aeneas orders the sails unfurled.[3] It meant to give free rein to the tongue or limbs, to relax the body or the face, and to loosen the bowels.[3]

It meant to break up or dissolve, as Penelope unpicking her web, to melt, to free someone from care, and to solve a problem, as Oedipus the riddle.[3] It meant to cancel a treaty or custom, to pay a debt or a fee, to fulfil a vow, to perform funeral rites, and to pay a penalty, as in Cicero.[3] It survives as Italian solvere, Spanish and Portuguese solver, Romanian solvi and French soudre.[1] English solve and solution date from the late 14th century, and absolve from the early 15th.[6]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for untying and for paying a toll.[3][7]
  • 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it for untying a bride's girdle.[3][7]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for paying debts and penalties.[3][7]
  • 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it for unfurling sails.[3][7]
  • late 14th century – English solve and solution are first recorded.[6]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To loosen, untie; to undo, open.[3][5]
  2. To release, set free.[3][1]
  3. To cast off (a ship); to unfurl (sails).[3][1]
  4. To relax, slacken.[3][1]
  5. To break up, dissolve; to melt.[3][1]
  6. To free (from care).[3]
  7. To solve (a problem).[3][1]
  8. To cancel, annul.[3][1]
  9. To pay (a debt, a fee, a penalty).[3][1]
  10. To fulfil (a vow); to perform (rites).[3][1]

Word family

  • absolvō
  • dissolvō
  • exsolvō
  • persolvō
  • resolvō
  • solūtiō
  • luō
  • English solve
  • English solution
  • English absolve
  • English dissolve

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  4. ^ Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  5. ^ a b Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de