distilled
UK[dɪˈstɪld]US[dɪˈstɪld]
adj
(of a liquid) made purer by being heated until it becomes a gas and then cooled until it becomes a liquid again.
adj
(of thoughts, ideas, or experiences) concentrated into their most important or purest form.
Morpheme Breakdown
dis
still
ed
dis
apart
still
drip
ed
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word 'distilled' originates from the latin verb 'destillare', which is a combination of 'de-' (down) and 'stillare' (to drip). this literal imagery of liquid dripping down captures the core process of distillation, where a substance is vaporized by heat and then condensed back into liquid form by cooling, separating the pure essence from impurities. the figurative sense, meaning to extract the most essential quality of something abstract, such as an idea or experience, emerged naturally from this physical process of purification and concentration. the modern spelling and adjectival form solidified through middle english, influenced by old french 'distiller'.
Analysis
Structure: dis (apart) + still (drip) + ed (adjective suffix)
- dis: latin origin, a prefix meaning 'apart' or 'in different directions'.
- still: from latin 'stillare', meaning 'to drip' or 'to trickle'.
- ed: old english origin, a suffix used to form adjectives from verbs, indicating a state or condition.
Examples
the vodka is made from distilled grains and pure water.
the book offers a distilled version of his complex philosophical theories.
the perfume's scent comes from distilled rose petals.