deflecto Latin · revision 32298

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=81–43 BC, Cicero|origins=la flectō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [deːˈfɫɛk.toː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [deˈflɛk.to]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dēflectō''' (present infinitive dēflectere, perfect active dēflexī, supine dēflexum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|dē-|flectō|t2=to bend]].^(OLD 2012)^(TLL)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan reconstructs [[m|la|flectō]] as [[itc-pro|*flek-t-]], perhaps with a suffix ⟨-t-⟩ on the model of [[m|la|plectō|t=to plait]], and finds no clear cognates elsewhere in Indo-European.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest examples are in Cicero, who uses it of rivers turned into another course and, in his translation of Aratus, of the bent bow of Sagittarius.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Literally it is to bend something down, as Columella bends an olive branch, or to turn it aside: rivers, eyes, a course.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Figuratively it is to divert a person from a purpose, as Cicero turns someone from canvassing for office, to modify the character of things, and to twist words.^(OLD 2012) Used intransitively it is to turn aside or deviate, and of speech to digress, as when Cicero brings his discourse back to where it turned off.^(OLD 2012) Quintilian uses it of a voice that changes pitch.^(OLD 2012) Isidore of Seville distinguishes [[flecto|alt=flectī]], to bend back and nearby, from deflectī, to turn further and off the way.^(TLL)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero of diverting rivers, a person and a discourse.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1st century AD – Columella of bending down a branch.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 35–95/96 AD – Quintilian of a voice changing pitch.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To bend something downwards; to bend a bow.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To turn aside, change the course of, [[m|en|deflect]]; to turn one's eyes.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)^(Stelten 1995)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To [[m|en|divert]] the attention of; to divert actions or feelings.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To change the character of, modify; to twist words.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Intransitive: to turn aside, deviate; of speech, to [[m|en|digress]].^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dēflexiō]]

+ * [[dēflexus]]

+ * [[indeflexus]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}