solvo Latin · revision 3317

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=ine-pro *lewh₁-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

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

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

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''solvō''' (present infinitive solvere, perfect active solvī, supine solūtum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|sē-|luō|t1=apart, away|t2=to loosen]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Georges 1913) The verb [[luo|alt=luō]] goes back to [[ine-pro|*lewh₁-|t=to loosen, cut off]].^(Wiktionary) Catullus can scan its perfect as three syllables.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is found from Plautus onwards,^(de Vaan 2008) who has a man say ''solve zonam'', “untie your belt”.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==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.^(OLD 2012) Sailors “loosed” the cable to set sail, and Virgil's Aeneas orders the sails unfurled.^(OLD 2012) It meant to give free rein to the tongue or limbs, to relax the body or the face, and to loosen the bowels.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ It meant to break up or dissolve, as Penelope unpicking her web, to melt, to free someone from care, and to [[m|en|solve]] a problem, as Oedipus the riddle.^(OLD 2012) 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.^(OLD 2012) It survives as Italian ''solvere'', Spanish and Portuguese ''solver'', Romanian ''solvi'' and French ''soudre''.^(Wiktionary) English ''solve'' and ''solution'' date from the late 14th century, and ''absolve'' from the early 15th.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it for untying and for paying a toll.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81/79–52/50 BC – Catullus uses it for untying a bride's girdle.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it for paying debts and penalties.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 70–19 BC – Virgil uses it for unfurling sails.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * late 14th century – English ''solve'' and ''solution'' are first recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To loosen, untie; to undo, open.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # To release, set free.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To cast off (a ship); to unfurl (sails).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To relax, slacken.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To break up, [[m|en|dissolve]]; to melt.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To free (from care).^(OLD 2012)

+ # To [[m|en|solve]] (a problem).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+ # To cancel, annul.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

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

+ # To fulfil (a vow); to perform (rites).^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[absolvō]]

+ * [[dissolvō]]

+ * [[exsolvō]]

+ * [[persolvō]]

+ * [[resolvō]]

+ * [[solūtiō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[luō]]

+ * [[en|solve]]

+ * [[en|solution]]

+ * [[en|absolve]]

+ * [[en|dissolve]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}