fluō

Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlewH- (“to overflow”), possibly an extension of *bʰleh₁- (“to swell, blow”). The Latin form may have developed from earlier *flowō via vowel reduction (which was regular only in non-initial syllables, but may have been introduced to the simple verb by analogy with its compounds) from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleuH-(e/o). Alternatively, it may go back to Proto-Italic *flūō, from earlier *flūjō, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰluH-yé-ti. Cognate with Ancient Greek φλέω (phléō, “to abound”), φλύω (phlúō, “to boil over”).

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈflu.oː/, [ˈfɫ̪uoː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈflu.o/, [ˈfluːo]

Verb

fluō (present infinitive fluere, perfect active flūxī, supine flūxum); third conjugation, no passive

1. to flow, stream, pour [ synonyms ▲][ quotations ▼]

   Synonyms: fluitō, affluō, cōnfluō, īnfluō, praefluō, dēfluō, mānō

2. to be soaked in

Conjugation

• The fourth principal part may also be flūctum.