poliō

poliō uit.-lat.

Of uncertain origin.

Possibly from a Proto-Indo-European *pelh₁- (“to swing”), from the notion of fulling cloth by swinging and beating it. In this case, cognate with Ancient Greek πάλλω (pállō, “to swing, shake loose”). See also interpolō.

Another theory derives the word from an unattested adjective *polis, from Proto-Indo-European *polh₂-i, from *pelh₂- (“flat”), taking the word's original meaning as "to make flat and smooth".

Verb

poliō (present infinitive polīre, perfect active polīvī or poliī, supine polītum); fourth conjugation

1. to polish, to smooth

Pronunciation

• (Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /ˈpo.li.oː/, [ˈpɔlʲioː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /ˈpo.li.o/, [ˈpɔːlio]