Distributuere

Distributuere is not a standard Latin infinitive in classical texts. If encountered, it would typically be interpreted as a nonstandard or variant form of distribuere, the normal present active infinitive meaning “to distribute.” Because classical Latin uses distribuere with the infinitive ending -ere, distributuere is generally considered incorrect or a scribal error rather than an attested form.

Etymology and meaning. The correct Latin verb is distribuere, derived from the prefix dis- and the root tribuere, meaning to allocate, assign, or distribute. The prefix dis- can convey separation or dispersion, yielding the sense of distributing goods, tasks, or resources.

Attestation and usage. There is little to no evidence that distributuere occurs as a legitimate form in classical Latin corpora. It may appear in some medieval manuscripts as a misspelling, in didactic or pedagogical texts that repeat nonstandard spellings, or in neo-Latin constructions where scribes experiment with forms. In authoritative Latin dictionaries and grammars, distributuere is not listed as a recognized infinitive, and standard references treat distribuere as the proper form.

Modern relevance. In discussions of Latin orthography, philology, or learners’ notes, distributuere is sometimes cited as an example of a potential but erroneous variant to illustrate how spelling errors can arise in transmission. It can also appear in discussions of orthographic variation across manuscript traditions, though it remains outside the canon of classical Latin.

See also. Distribuere; Distributio; Latin verbs of the third conjugation; Neo-Latin terminology.