lindo

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish lindo.

Adjective

lindo (feminine singular linda, masculine plural lindi, feminine plural linde)

1. neat
2. clean
3. tidy

Pronunciation

• (Portugal, Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈlĩ.du/
• Hyphenation: lin‧do

Etymology 1

Uncertain. Probably ultimately from Latin legitimus (“lawful; proper”), and likely through the intermediate of Spanish lindo^[1] (the native Portuguese descendant (and thus its doublet) in this case is lídimo; there is also the later learned borrowing legítimo). Some sources cite Latin limpidus (“clean”)^[2], but this is unlikely for several reasons, including that this word already gave rise to another word in Portuguese, limpo.

Etymology 2

References

Etymology 1

Uncertain. From Old Spanish, probably from Latin legitimus (“lawful; proper”), through transposition of consonants an earlier form *lidmo (compare Portuguese lídimo)^[1], and thus a doublet of legítimo, a later learned borrowing; some sources cite Latin limpidus (“clean”)^[2], but this is unlikely for several reasons, including that this word already gave rise to another word in Spanish, limpio. In Old Spanish, the term originally meant "legitimate", later "authentic", "pure", "good", and finally eventually gave rise to the modern meaning.

Etymology 2

References