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suppleo

Etymology and origin of the Latin word suppleo

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Confidence
Established
Formation
Derivation
First attested
Cato
Ultimate origin
Latin (pleō)

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ˈsʊp.pɫe.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈsup.ple.o][1]

Forms

suppleō (present infinitive supplēre, perfect active supplēvī, supine supplētum); second conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from sub- and pleō “to fill”, and is also spelled ⟨subpleō⟩.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citations are from Cato, of filling up a vessel.[2] Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to fill up a vessel, make up a quantity of liquid, as Cato's basket, and in Cicero to make up a whole, as his bibliothēcam supplēre “to complete a library”, and to bring troops or a crew to full strength.[2][5] It meant to complete an unfinished work, as in Tacitus, to make good a loss, supply what is missing, as in Cicero, and in Pliny to replace or take another's place.[2] Gellius uses it of doing full justice to something.[2]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to supply, make full, complete.[6] English supply came in the late 14th century through Old French soupplier, first meaning to fill up, complete.[7] It survives in Italian supplire and Spanish suplir.[1]

Timeline

  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of filling up.[2][4]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of completing and making good.[2][4]
  • 98–115 AD – Tacitus uses it of completing a work.[2][4]
  • late 14th century – English supply is recorded.[7]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To fill up.[2]
  2. To make up to full strength; to complete.[2]
  3. To make good, supply what is missing.[2]
  4. To replace; to take the place of.[2]
  5. To do justice to.[2]

Word family

  • supplēmentum
  • supplētōrium
  • supplētus

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 k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d 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. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  7. ^ a b Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
Cite this entry

“Suppleo.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/la/suppleo. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·