Etymograph

English

solidus

Solidus comes from Latin solidus ‘solid’, from Proto-Indo-European *solh₂-i-dʰ-o-s ‘entire’, and ultimately from *solh₂- ‘integrate, whole’.

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*solh₂-‘integrate, whole’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*solh₂-i-dʰ-o-s‘entire’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*soliðosreconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsolidus‘solid’
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
  6. Englishtodaysame form

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*solh₂-‘integrate, whole’reconstructed
  2. Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*solh₂-i-dʰ-o-s‘entire’reconstructed
  3. Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*soliðosreconstructed
  4. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEsolidus‘solid’
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
  6. Englishtodaysame form

The story

In numismatic and weight senses, via medieval Latin solidus (‘various coins’), from Late Latin solidus (‘a gold coin of the Roman Empire’). In chemical sense, via German Solidus, coined by H.W.B. In typography, from the shilling mark originally being an abbreviation (a long s ⟨ſ⟩), of Medieval Latin solidus meaning shilling.

Linked words

through Proto-Indo-European *solh₂- ‘integrate, whole’

save, safe, sold, salvation, sage, salute, savior, salvage, holocaust, salvo, salve, salvia, salutation, salutary, salubrious, 27 more

through Latin solidus ‘solid’

soldier, xu, sol, consolidate, sou, soldado, 10 more

Today it means

noun A Roman ~23k gold coin introduced by Diocletian in AD 301 and called by that name, but reissued at a slightly lower weight by Constantine I.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *solh₂- / solidus

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