dissolvo Latin · revision 30873

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

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [dɪsˈsɔɫ.woː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [disˈsɔl.vo]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dissolvō''' (present infinitive dissolvere, perfect active dissolvī, supine dissolūtum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|la|dis-|solvō|t1=apart|t2=to loosen]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) De Vaan explains [[m|la|solvō]] as a compound of ⟨*se-⟩, “away”, and [[m|la|luō|t=to loosen]], which goes back to [[itc-pro|*luwe/o-]] and [[ine-pro|*lewH-|t=to cut loose]], cognate with [[grc|λύω|tr=lúō|t=to loosen]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan gives Plautus as its first author.^(de Vaan 2008) In Terence's ''Phormio'' a young man wants a little money ''quī dissolverem quae dēbeō'', “to pay what I owe”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It is to break something into its parts, to take to pieces, as Phidias' shield in Cicero, and to disband a group (Tacitus).^(OLD 2012) It is to melt or dissolve, as Lucretius' sun melting ice, to make darkness vanish, and of medicines to dispel an ailment.^(OLD 2012) It is to set free, release from an obligation, and to undo a knot or bond, and Seneca uses it of solving a problem.^(OLD 2012) It is to pay a debt, to weaken or wear out (Lucretius), and to put an end to agreements or institutions, as Sisenna's broken treaties; of arguments it is to refute, as Cicero says some charges are dispelled with a joke.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Church Latin glosses it “dissolve, loose, destroy, scatter, free, release”.^(Stelten 1995) English ''dissolve'' (late 14th century) comes from it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 190–159 BC – Terence of paying debts and freeing oneself.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius of melting ice.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of taking apart and of refuting.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English [[m|en|dissolve]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To break up, take to pieces; to [[m|en|disband]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To melt, [[m|en|dissolve]]; to dispel.^(OLD 2012)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To set free, release; to unfasten; to solve (a problem).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+ # To pay, discharge (a debt).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To weaken, wear out.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To put an end to, [[m|en|annul]]; to refute.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Stelten 1995)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dissolūbilis]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[solvō]]

+ * [[luō]]

+ * [[absolvō]]

+ * [[resolvō]]

+ * [[en|dissolve]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}