dimittere

Dimittere is a Latin verb of the third conjugation meaning to send away, dismiss, release, or let go. It covers both physical sending away and more figurative releases, such as dismissing someone from office or releasing a prisoner. In classical usage it often conveys ending an obligation, a jurisdiction, or a status, rather than merely sending something from one place to another. The form is inflected like other mittere-verbs, with the root dimitt-.

Principal parts and key forms: the principal parts are dimittō, dimittere, dimīsī, dimissum. This indicates a present active paradigm dimittō (I dismiss), with dimittere as the present infinitive, dimīsī as the perfect, and dimissum as the supine (and the perfect passive participle in some constructions is dimissus). The verb is transitive, usually taking a direct object or an object expressed by a preposition (for example, to dismiss someone from office or to release someone from custody). In the passive voice, forms such as dimittor, dimittitur, and so on are used.

Usage and nuance: dimittere is employed in contexts such as dismissing personnel, releasing captives, or ending an official duty or legal claim. It can also appear in legal or administrative language for releasing someone from obligation or case, as in phrases meaning to dismiss a charge or relinquish a claim, though exact phrasing can vary by author and period. The verb remains common in Latin dictionaries and Latin-language studies as the standard term for “to dismiss” or “to release.”

Derivatives: the noun dimissio signifies dismissal or release; the participle dimissus means having been dismissed; related forms include dimmittens (present participle) and dimissurus (future participle).