Distillare

Distillare is a Latin verb of the first conjugation meaning to distill, to drip, or to cause a liquid to drip as it condenses from vapor. It is used in scientific, alchemical, and agricultural texts to describe the process of separating components by distillation or the act of dripping liquid.

Etymology and forms: Distillare is formed from the stem distill- with the standard infinitive ending -are. The principal parts are distillare, distillo, distillavi, distillatum. The passive or perfect participle is distillatus, from which the adjective distillatus/a/um “distilled” is formed, as in aqua distillata “distilled water.”

Usage: In Latin texts, distillare appears with direct objects such as aqua distillata. The noun distillatio denotes the distillation process, apparatus, or operation. Common phrases include aqua distillata meaning “distilled water,” with distillare describing the action of heating a liquid to produce vapor and condense it.

Modern usage: Distillare today is encountered primarily in the study of Latin literature and the historical sciences. The English word distill ultimately derives from distillare via Old French distiller, reflecting the Latin source of many scientific and alchemical terms.