solutus Latin · revision 9380

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la solvō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [sɔˈɫuː.tʊs]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [soˈluː.tus]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''solūtus''' (feminine solūta, neuter solūtum, comparative solutior, superlative solutissimus); first/second-declension adjective^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the perfect participle of [[solvō]] “to loosen, release, dissolve”, used as an adjective.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline) Etymonline traces ⟨solvō⟩ to ⟨*se-lu-⟩, from the reflexive ⟨*s(w)e-⟩ and [[ine-pro|*lewH-|t=to loosen, cut apart]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of being free from bonds.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It meant unbound, unfettered; loose, detached, as in Tacitus; loose in texture, as in Ovid; dissolved, fluid, as in Apuleius; and of people limp, weak, as in Petronius.^(OLD 2012) Of conduct it meant lax, careless, as in Livy; relaxed, free from care, as in Varro; ready or fluent in speech, as in Cicero; of prose, free from metre, ''ōrātiō solūta''; clear of an encumbrance; free to act as one pleases; and of feelings unrestrained, as in Virgil.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ In Medieval Latin it meant free of charges, not burdened with obligations.^(Niermeyer 1976) It survives in Italian ''soluto'' and Spanish ''suelto'' “loose”.^(Wiktionary) [[en|solute]] (1890, “dissolved”) is from it.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of fluent speech and prose.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of laxity.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 1890 – English ''solute'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Unbound, free; loose, detached.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Loose in texture; [[m|en|dissolve|alt=dissolved]], fluid.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Limp, weak.^(OLD 2012)

+ # [[m|en|lax|alt=Lax]], careless; relaxed, carefree.^(OLD 2012)

+ # Fluent, (of style) free from metre: ''ōrātiō solūta'' [[m|en|prose]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # Free (of an encumbrance); free to act; unrestrained.^(OLD 2012)

+ # ''(Medieval Latin)'' Free of charges.^(Niermeyer 1976)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[solvō]]

+ * [[solūtiō]]

+ * [[en|solute]]

+ * [[en|solution]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}