dilectus Latin · revision 30696

+ Latin has two words spelled ''dīlēctus'', both from [[dīligō]]: the participle “beloved” and the fourth-declension noun “levy, choice”.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

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+ {{homograph|1|beloved}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=65–8 BC, Horace|origins=ine-pro *leǵ-}}

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+ ==Forms==

+ '''dīlēctus''' (feminine dīlēcta, neuter dīlēctum, superlative dīlēctissimus); first and second declension^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)

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+ ==Etymology==

+ The adjective is the participle of [[m|la|dīligō|t=to love, esteem]], used as an adjective.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) De Vaan derives ⟨dīligō⟩ from [[m|la|dis-|t=apart]] and [[m|la|legō|t=to gather, pick]], which he traces to [[ine-pro|*leǵ-e/o-|t=to collect]], cognate with [[grc|λέγω|tr=légō|t=to gather, count; speak]].^(de Vaan 2008)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler records it from Ovid on;^(Köbler 2010)^(Georges 1913) Georges quotes Horace, ''dīlēctī tibi poētae'', “poets dear to you”, and ''Lātōna suprēmō dīlēcta penitus Iovī'', “Latona deeply loved by Jupiter most high”.^(Köbler 2010)^(Georges 1913)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Dīlēctus'' is beloved, dear, of persons and things;^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Statius has the superlative ''dīlēctissimus''.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Used as a noun, ''dīlēctī'' are favourites (Suetonius), and Augustine has the feminine ''dīlēcta'', “the beloved”.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010) Christian Latin uses it of the beloved disciple: Tertullian writes ''Iōannēs dīlēctissimus dominō''.^(Georges 1913) Church Latin glosses it “beloved, lovely”.^(Stelten 1995) In medieval Latin it also means trusted, confidential, faithful, and as a noun a faithful follower.^(Niermeyer 1976)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace: ''dīlēctī tibi poētae''.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 43 BC–18 AD – Ovid uses it.^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 75–c. 150 AD – Suetonius has ''dīlēctī'', “favourites”.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 160–220 AD – Tertullian: ''Iōannēs dīlēctissimus dominō''.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)

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+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # [[m|en|beloved]], dear.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Trusted, [[m|en|faithful]].^(Niermeyer 1976)

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+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(masculine and feminine)'' A favourite, a beloved one;^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)^(Niermeyer 1976) ''(Medieval Latin)'' a faithful follower.^(Georges 1913)^(Köbler 2010)^(Niermeyer 1976)

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+ {{homograph|2|levy}}

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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 250–184 BC, Plautus|origins=ine-pro *leǵ-}}

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+ ==Forms==

+ '''dīlēctus''' ''m'' (genitive dīlēctūs); fourth declension^(Wiktionary)

+ Livy has the dative ''dīlēctū''.^(OLD 2012)

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+ ==Etymology==

+ The noun is formed [[af|la|dīligō|-tus|t1=to pick out, select]], literally “a picking out”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan sees no need to connect ⟨dīligō⟩ with any verb but [[legō]] “to gather”.^(de Vaan 2008) Manuscripts often confuse it with [[dēlēctus]], from [[m|la|dēligō|t=to choose]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)

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+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Köbler records it from Plautus on, and the TLL, with a query, from Plautus and Varro.^(Köbler 2010)^(TLL) Varro explains [[legiō]] as named because soldiers are chosen (''leguntur'') ''in dīlēctū''.^(TLL)

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+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ ''Dīlēctus'' is the recruiting of troops, a levy (Cicero: ''habuit dīlēctum in Umbriā'', “he held a levy in Umbria”), and by metonymy the body of men enrolled.^(OLD 2012) More generally it is selection (Varro of choosing animals in a herd, Cicero of the choice of words, which he calls the source of eloquence), and choice or distinction: ''nūllō dīlēctū'', “without discrimination”.^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) Late Latin also used a fourth-declension ''dīlēctus'' for love (Chalcidius), and medieval Latin for affection, devotion and care.^(Georges 1913)^(Niermeyer 1976)

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+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(Köbler 2010)^(TLL)

+ * 116–27 BC – Varro on ''legiō'' and the levy.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of a levy in Umbria and of the choice of words.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

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+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|levy]], [[m|en|conscription]], recruitment; the troops raised.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Selection, [[m|en|choice]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Discrimination, distinction.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(Late and Medieval Latin)'' Love, affection; care.^(Georges 1913)^(Niermeyer 1976)

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+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dīligō]]

+ * [[dēlēctus]]

+ * [[legō]]

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+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}