instillo Latin · revision 36856

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=234–149 BC, Cato|origins=la stīlla}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * Classical: [ĩːˈstiːl.loː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * Ecclesiastical: [inˈstil.lo]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''īnstīllō''' (present infinitive īnstīllāre, perfect active īnstīllāvī, supine īnstīllātum); first conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[af|la|in-|stīllō|t2=to fall in drops, drip]],^(OLD 2012)^(Bianchi & Lelli 2014)^(TLL) and [[m|la|stīllō]] is formed from [[m|la|stīlla|t=drop]].^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) De Vaan takes [[m|la|stīlla]] as perhaps a diminutive of [[m|la|stīria|t=icicle]], from [[itc-pro|*stī/eir-(lā-)]], and finds the usual comparison with words for “stiff” unfounded.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan has it from Cato on,^(de Vaan 2008) who in his treatise on farming prescribes juice to be dripped warm into the ear.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Its basic sense is to pour in drop by drop:^(OLD 2012) Cicero uses it of oil dripped into a lamp, as an image of the mind kept alive in old age,^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Horace of oil on cabbages, and Ovid of wine poured on a fire.^(OLD 2012)^(Conte 2010) Medical writers such as Celsus and Pliny the Elder use it of drops for the ears and eyes.^(OLD 2012)^(TLL) In Cicero's verse translation of Aeschylus it means to drip on to: drops that drip steadily on the rocks of the Caucasus.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Figuratively it means to instil little by little: Cicero says a letter put a little life into him, and Horace advises dropping a precept into someone's ears.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879) Seneca uses it of instilling virtue in minds;^(OLD 2012) Christian writers use it of God instilling the beginning of mercy and of the devil instilling evil.^(TLL)^(Stelten 1995) Medieval texts use it of pharmacy and medicine, of giving to drink and of inspiring or whispering.^(MLW) English [[m|en|instill]] (early 15th century) comes from it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of dripping juice into the ear.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of oil in a lamp, of a letter that revives him, and of drops on a rock.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 65–8 BC – Horace uses it of a precept dropped into the ears.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 14–37 AD – Celsus uses it of medicine dropped in.^(TLL)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 15th century – English borrows it as [[m|en|instill]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To pour in drop by drop, drop in.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # ''(figurative)'' To introduce little by little, [[m|en|instill]], inspire.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+ # To [[m|en|drip]] on to.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[instillātiō]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}