Today’s lesson in Word Power is to understand the etymology and history behind the word resolution.

Resolution (Noun): [res-o-lu-tion]

1. The state or quality of being resolute; firm determination.
2. A course of action determined or decided on.
3. A formal statement of a decision or expression of opinion put before or adopted by an assembly such as the US Congress.  (American Heritage Dictionary)

Etymology

With the New Year just ringing in, I thought it only appropriate to explain the etymology of the word resolution.  Similar to other words that we use today, this word has its roots firmly planted in the Latin language.  The word resolution is directly derived from the Latin verb resolvere, which means to untie, unfasten, loosen, unbind, etc.  However, over the years the meaning of resolution has shifted from one thing to another.  Allow me to explain . . .

Solvo, solvere, solvi, solutus

Solvo means to loosen, untie, unbind, etc.  Each one of the forms of this verb (listed above) is considered a principal part.  You use one of these forms when using certain voices, such as an active or passive voice.  Usually, a noun or adjective is formed from the fourth principal part.  We see this as the case with the word soluto, from which we get words like solution, absolution, and of course resolution.  We also see forms of the first principal part in our language today, in verbs, such as solve or dissolve.

Re-

The prefix re- was then added to solvo by the Romans to further strengthen the meaning of loosening or unbinding.  The prefix re- has two distinct meanings.  On the one hand the prefix re- means “again”, on the other hand it implies “backward” or “back”.  We see elements of the prefix re- at work implying the meaning “again” in words, such as return, rerun, or  the famous re-re-re-release.

Synopsis

When the Romans affixed re- to the front of the verb solvo and developed the verb resolvo, they simply intensified the word itself.  Instead of having a basic meaning of to loosen, now the word meant to loosen “again and again”.  Resolutio is a Latin noun that of course is derived from the fourth principle part of resolutus.  In Latin times this word was usually used in mathematical terms, such as “breaking down elements into simpler parts” (i.e. unbinding again and again).  It wasn’t until 1533 that the resolutio implied “firm determination” and it wasn’t until 1604 that it was used to indicate a “decision of a meeting”.  When you add the suffix -ion onto this word, it instantly makes it a noun.  Perhaps you can see where the -ion comes from when you see that the accusative form of resolutio is resolutionem.  Take off the -em and wa-la you have the word which we use today, resolution.

It’s interesting to see how the meaning of resolution has changed over centuries.  Originally meant to intensify the act of unbinding or loosening, it now means the complete opposite.  For the last 500 years, it has implied holding firm in determination.  This is why I find it funny that every New Years Eve, we people go out there and make resolutions.  The literal meaning of resolution is to unbind, definitely not implying making a firm stance on anything.  However, here we society are is centuries later, making resolutions to change something with firm determination and will.

Check out Word Power next Thursday for the breakdown of the word Inauguration.

Image used in this Post

2009 New Years Eve photo courtesy of Flickr user Michelle Richmond published under the CC license.