For as long as I can remember, I've only used the word 'delete' in a technological context. I'm fairly certain, most kids--or the generation before them--know exactly what the word means.
Did this word get much use in other literary works?
3
-
2You might try looking at Google Ngrams (books.google.com/ngrams).– zpletanApr 2, 2012 at 21:32
-
1@zpletan: books.google.com/ngrams/…– FrustratedWithFormsDesignerApr 2, 2012 at 21:35
-
1Another potentially misleading ngram there. Many of the pre-computing hits come from errata, not normal usage of the word.– z7sg ѪApr 2, 2012 at 22:24
Add a comment
|
2 Answers
Etymology online offers the following:
delete
late 15c., "destroy, eradicate," from L. deletus, pp. of delere "destroy, blot out, efface," from delevi, originally perf. tense of delinere "to daub, erase by smudging" (as of the wax on a writing table), from de- "from, away" (see de-) + linere "to smear, wipe" (see lime (1)). In English, specifically of written matter, from c.1600. Related: Deleted; deleting.
(and related)
dele
typographer's direction to blot out a letter, from L. dele, imperative singular of delere (see delete).
answered Apr 2, 2012 at 21:37
-
2I think it was particularly used in relation to deleted text in the publishing and literary spheres before it really took off in the computing context. Apr 2, 2012 at 21:59
-
2The word delete may have been around for centuries, but I believe the expression control-alt-delete is relatively new. :^)– J.R.Apr 3, 2012 at 10:23
It seems to me that the ultimate origin of the word goes back to the Greek word "deleterion" (see current English word "deleterious" the meaning of which is disastrous, poisonous, eradicating).
-
Can you provide a reference for this please, just as the other answerer has indicated his source? We like to have substantiated answers rather than just answers that could be no more than mere opinion. Thanks.– TrevorDJul 17, 2013 at 23:59