Etymology of “Condolences” and More

Interesting etymology (but it’s not related to “redolent,” about which see below). Condolence. Prefixes. Hmm. Disdolence? Abdolence? Addolence? Redolence? Retrodolence? Obdolence? Sedolence? Indolence? Pendolence? Perdolence? 

From: https://www.etymonline.com/word/condolence

“c. 1600, ‘sympathetic grief, sorrowing with another’ (a sense now obsolete); 1610s, ‘expression of sympathy to one in distress, mourning, etc.,’ from Late Latin condolens, present participle of condolere ‘to suffer with another’ (from assimilated form of com ‘with, together’ + dolere ‘to grieve;’ see doleful) + -ence. Often in form condoleance 1600-1800. Condolent, ‘sympathizing, compassionate,’ is attested from c. 1500, from Latin condolentem.

“Condolences ‘formal declaration of sympathy’ is from 1670s; the reason for it being always plural is unclear, but the earliest references are to expressions from groups of persons (‘Foreign Princes addressed their Condolences to him’), so perhaps the habit stuck.”

“doleful (adj.)
late 13c., with -ful, from Middle English dole ’emotion of grief, sorrow, lamentation, mourning’ (early 13c., now archaic), from Old French doel (Modern French deuil), from Late Latin dolus ‘grief,’ from Latin dolere ‘suffer, grieve,’ which is of uncertain origin. De Vaan explains it as from PIE *dolh-eie- ‘to split’ (source also of Middle Welsh e-thyl ‘chooses’), a causative verb from root *delh- ‘to chop,’ ‘under the assumption than “pain” was expressed by the feeling of “being torn apart”.’ Related: Dolefully; dolefulness.”

Versus

From: https://www.etymonline.com/word/redolent

“redolent (adj.)
c. 1400, of flowers, food, etc., ‘having or diffusing a fresh and sweet scent,’ from Old French redolent ’emitting an odor’ and directly from Latin redolentem (nominative redolens), present participle of redolere ’emit a scent, diffuse odor,’ from red-, here perhaps an intensive prefix (see re-), + olere ‘give off a smell’ (see odor). The meaning ‘odorous or smelling’ of (or with) something is by 1700; figurative use of this is by 1828. Related: Redolently.”

but there is a relationship to 

From:  https://www.etymonline.com/word/indolence

“indolence (n.)
c. 1600, ‘indifference to pain,’ from French indolence (16c.) or directly from Late Latin indolentia ‘freedom from pain, insensibility,’ abstract noun from Latin indolentem (nominative indolens) ‘insensitive to pain,’ from in- ‘not, opposite of, without’ (see in- (1)) + dolentem (nominative dolens) ‘grieving,’ present participle of dolere ‘suffer pain, grieve’ (see doleful). Originally of prisoners under torture, etc. The intermediate sense ‘state of rest or ease neither pleasant nor painful’ (1650s) is now obsolete as well; main modern sense of ‘laziness, love of ease’ (1710) perhaps reflects the notion of avoiding trouble (compare taking pains ‘working hard, striving (to do)’).”

From: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dedolent

“dedolent
From Latin dedolens, present participle of dedolere (‘to give over grieving’); de- + dolere (‘to grieve’).
(obsolete) Feeling no compunction; apathetic.”

And from: https://www.websters1913.com/words/Dedolent

“Ded”o*lent (?), a. [L. dedolens, p. pr. of dedolere to give over grieving; de- + dolere to grieve.] Feeling no compunction; apathetic. [R.] Hallywell.”

Oh, and you might think “adolescent” has its root in grief or growing grief. 🙂 LOL. But, not, it actually does not: https://www.etymonline.com/word/adolescence