laxo Latin · revision 6256
16 Oct 2026, 05:52 by bogdan “New Latin entry (sources: de Vaan, OLD, Lewis & Short, TLL...)” current version
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+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Lucretius|origins=la laxus}}
+
+ ==Pronunciation==
+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈɫak.soː]^(Wiktionary)
+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈlak.so]^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Forms==
+ '''laxō''' (present infinitive laxāre, perfect active laxāvī, supine laxātum); first conjugation^(Wiktionary)
+
+ ==Etymology==
+ It is from [[laxus]] “wide, loose” with the verbal suffix -ō.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Lewis & Short 1879) ''Laxus'' is reconstructed from [[ine-pro|*lag-so-|t=slack]].^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==
+ The OLD's first citation is Lucretius, of loosening bonds and bolts.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Lucretius 96–55 BC.^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Semantic evolution==
+ It meant to widen, extend, as Cicero's enlarging of the Forum, to spread out ranks, as Caesar's opening of the maniples, and to extend a period.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016) It meant to open up a passage, to clear, to undo bonds and bolts, to let go, unsheathe a sword, and to dissolve or loosen.^(OLD 2012) It meant to slacken, unstring a bow, to relax the body, and to relax the mind, take one's ease, as in Cicero.^(OLD 2012) It also meant to lessen, weaken, as of severity.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to relax, let drop, widen.^(Stelten 1995) It survives in Italian ''lasciare'', Old French ''laissier'' (French ''laisser''), Spanish ''dejar'' and Portuguese ''deixar'' “to leave, let”.^(Wiktionary) [[en|relax]] and [[en|release]] come from its compound ''relaxāre''.^(Etymonline)
+
+ ==Timeline==
+ * 96–55 BC – Lucretius uses it of loosening bonds.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of enlarging the Forum and of relaxing the mind.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of opening the ranks.^(OLD 2012)^(Gaffiot 2016)^(Köbler 2010)
+
+ ==Meanings==
+ ===Verb===
+ # To widen, extend; to spread out.^(OLD 2012)
+ # To open up; to clear.^(OLD 2012)
+ # To undo, [[m|en|loosen]]; to let go.^(OLD 2012)
+ # To slacken; to [[m|en|relax]] (the body or mind).^(OLD 2012)
+ # To lessen, weaken.^(OLD 2012)
+
+ ==Word family==
+ * [[collaxō]]
+ * [[laxāmentum]]
+ * [[laxātiō]]
+ * [[laxatiuus]]
+ * [[praelaxatus]]
+ * [[relaxō]]
+
+ ==Related words==
+ * [[laxātus]]
+ * [[laxē]]
+ * [[laxitās]]
+ * [[laxus]]
+ * [[en|relax]]
+ * [[en|release]]
+ * [[en|lax]]
+
+ ==References==
+ {{reflist}}