deleo Latin · revision 5328

+ {{infobox|confidence=disputed|formation=inherited|attested=Cato}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈdeː.ɫe.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈdɛː.le.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''dēleō''' (present infinitive dēlēre, perfect active dēlēvī, supine dēlētum); second conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is disputed.^(Wiktionary)^(TLL) Walde and Pokorny, followed by the OLD and Etymonline, take it as a back-formation from the perfect [[m|la|dēlēvī]] of *dēlinere “to wipe off”, from [[m|la|dē-]] and [[linō]] “to smear”, on the model of [[impleō]] and its perfect [[m|la|implēvī]].^(de Vaan 2008)^(OLD 2012)^(Etymonline) De Vaan doubts this and instead suggests [[itc-pro|*ol-eje/o-]], from [[ine-pro|*h₃elh₁-eie/o-|t=to destroy]], as in [[aboleō]], cognate with [[grc|ὄλλυμι|tr=óllumi|t=to destroy]].^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ De Vaan dates it from Cato.^(de Vaan 2008) Köbler dates Cato 234–149 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to wipe or scratch out writing, as on a wax tablet, to delete, then to destroy buildings or cities completely, as when Scipio destroyed Carthage, to wipe out an army or people, and to abolish laws, customs or memories.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ Döderlein contrasts [[aboleō]], annulling something and casting it into oblivion, with ''dēlēre'', destroying something by force.^(Döderlein 1874) [[en|delete]] (1530s) is from its participle ''dēlētus'', and the proofreader's mark [[en|dele]] probably from its imperative.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus has “wipe it out down to the wood”.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero speaks of destroying all wickedness.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1530s – English ''delete'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To wipe out, efface, [[m|en|delete]] (writing).^(OLD 2012)

+ # To destroy, [[m|en|demolish]] (a city, a building).^(OLD 2012)

+ # To wipe out, annihilate (an army, a people).^(OLD 2012)

+ # To abolish, put an end to.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dēlēbilis]]

+ * [[dēlētīcius]]

+ * [[dēlētilis]]

+ * [[dēlētiō]]

+ * [[dēlētrīx]]

+ * [[deletus]]

+ * [[perdeleo]]

+ * [[dēletōrium]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[aboleō]]

+ * [[linō]]

+ * [[en|delete]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}