demittere

Demittere is a Latin verb of the third conjugation meaning to let down, lower, or drop; it can also extend to meanings such as to send away or release in more figurative or administrative contexts. The etymology is from de- “down” plus mittere “to send,” reflecting a downward motion or removal. The principal parts are demitto, demittere, demisi, demissum. It is transitive and typically governs a direct object in the accusative when referring to something being lowered or sent down.

In usage, demittere covers literal lowering: for example, demittere oculos “to lower the eyes,” demittere caput “to bow or lower the head,” or demittere manum “to let go of the hand.” It can also denote reducing intensity or causing something to fall or become lower in a non-physical sense, such as demittere voces (to lower one’s voice) or demittere animi impetus (to curb one’s spirit). In some contexts it carries a sense of sending away or releasing, though many such senses are more securely expressed by related forms like dimittere.

Grammatically, demittere forms a typical third-conjugation paradigm. The present active indicative includes demitto, demittis, demittit; a present passive such as demitor, demittitur may occur with a similar sense. The participles include the present participle demittens and the perfect passive participle demissus/demissa/demissum, the latter functioning adjectivally to mean “lowered” or “humble.”

Notes: demittere is closely related to, but distinct from, dimittere (to dismiss or release) in many contexts; the prefix debate often guides the exact sense in a sentence.