English
deliberate
Deliberate comes from Latin dēlīberātus ‘considered’, from lībrō ‘to weigh’, and ultimately from lībra ‘a balance’.
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElībra‘a balance’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CElībrō‘to weigh’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēlīberō‘to consider, weigh well’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēlīberātus‘considered’perfect passive participle of dēlīberō
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500deliberat
- Englishearliest quotation 1603deliberate
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Earlier history uncertain.
Lineage
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CElībra‘a balance’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CElībrō‘to weigh’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēlīberō‘to consider, weigh well’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEdēlīberātus‘considered’perfect passive participle of dēlīberō
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500deliberat
- Englishearliest quotation 1603deliberate
Earliest quotation: 1603, -4, William Shakespeare: “settled visage and deliberate word”.
Linked words
through Proto-Italic *līðrā ‘ingot’
through Latin lībra ‘a balance’
level, equilibrium, lira, libra, 10 more
Today it means
adj Done on purpose; intentional.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Latin lībra / deliberate