polio Latin · revision 6737

+ {{infobox|confidence=uncertain|formation=inherited|attested=Twelve Tables}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ˈpɔ.li.oː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [ˈpɔː.li.o]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''poliō''' (present infinitive polīre, perfect active polīvī or poliī, supine polītum); fourth conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The origin is uncertain.^(Wiktionary)^(de Vaan 2008) Vendryes thought it belonged to the jargon of fullers and connected it with a root *pel- “to beat”, as in [[en|felt]].^(de Vaan 2008) It could also come from [[ine-pro|*pelh₁-|t=to swing]], as in [[grc|πάλλω|tr=pállō|t=to swing, shake]], since fullers beat cloth to clean it.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) De Vaan also allows a verb from an adjective *poli-, [[ine-pro|*polh₂-i-|t=flat]], if the first meaning was “to make flat, smooth”.^(de Vaan 2008)^(Wiktionary) The old derivation from the perfect [[m|la|polīvī]] of [[polinō]] “to besmear” is rejected by Walde and Hofmann and by Ernout and Meillet, though Seldeslachts revived it.^(de Vaan 2008)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's first citation is the Twelve Tables, which forbid the wood of a pyre to be smoothed with an axe.^(OLD 2012)^(Lewis & Short 1879)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant to give a smooth or glossy surface, smooth, polish, also to dress cloth to a smooth finish, as Pliny the Elder's linen, and apparently to hull grain.^(OLD 2012) In farming it meant to clear ground by weeding, as in Ennius and Varro.^(OLD 2012) Figuratively it meant to bring to a refined state, of persons, as Cicero's orator not yet polished enough, and of literary works, as Ovid's question why he should polish his poems with anxious care.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ It survives in French and Spanish ''polir'' and Italian ''pulire'' “to clean”.^(Wiktionary) Through Old French ''poliss-'' it is the source of [[en|polish]], recorded in the early 14th century.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 204–169 BC – Ennius uses it of weeding a field.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of polishing an orator and a speech.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 23/24–79 AD – Pliny the Elder uses it of finishing linen.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * early 14th century – English ''polish'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To smooth, [[m|en|polish]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # To dress (cloth) to a smooth finish.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To clear (ground) by weeding.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To refine (a person or a literary work), give [[m|en|finish]] to.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[dēpoliō]]

+ * [[expoliō]]

+ * [[impolītus]]

+ * [[interpolus]]

+ * [[perpoliō]]

+ * [[polīmen]]

+ * [[polītiō]]

+ * [[polītor]]

+ * [[polītūra]]

+ * [[Polliō]]

+ * [[repoliō]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[plānus]]

+ * [[pulcher]]

+ * [[interpolō]]

+ * [[en|polish]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}