dietary

The story

1. Latin · derived fromdiaeta“diet”
2. Medieval Latin · borrowed fromdiētārium“book prescribing diet”
3. English todaydietary

From Medieval Latin diētārium (“book prescribing diet”), from Latin diaeta (“diet”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 15th c. A regulated diet that excludes or constrains certain types of food, especially for health reasons; also, a book or similar setting out such regulations.
• from 18th c. A prescribed meal plan setting out how the inhabitants of an institution (such as a prison, hospital etc.) should be fed, and on what foods.
• from 16th c. Pertaining to a prescribed diet; (generally), relating to what a person or animal eats.