Showing posts with label Etymology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Etymology. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Etymology: Sacrifice

History


Sacrifice was borrowed from Old French, ultimately combining two parts the Sacri which means to set apart as sacred, and facere to make.   So a sacrifice means to set apart something in order to make it dedicated to a Deity.   Abraham sacrificed his son, in order to set apart a nation for God. 

Quote


 To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.
Steve Prefontaine

Ngram Popularity


Sacrifice was a word that hit its most popular use in the period right before the Civil War.   Sacrifice was the highest form of works for a citizen to do.   The word was often used in conjunction with the Christian Church, and especially concerning Jesus Christ mighty work.





Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Etymology-Eavesdrop

Etymology of Eavesdrop 
The term originally referred to the water that falls in drops from the eaves of a house.   Then, in a moment of frustration, due to flooding of one's abode by their neighbors drip, the English adopted Eaves drop into a law.   One needed a special permit before one could build, in order to avoid annoying accidents, so that one's eave could not drip water onto anther's land.   The term of the interloper who hears the message of another and spreads the gossip around was first used in the 14th century.   The term saw the act of eavesdropping as a flood of half truths, and innuendos, thus flooding a town with slime.  Yuck!   Now with the advent of new technology, eavesdrop refers to the electronic eavesdropping carried on by the government, or your neighbor today.



Ngram Popularity

The Word Was most popular between 1820 - 1840 but is seeing a current resurgence.   Below is how John Milton used the word Eavesdrop in his book the Prose Works of John Milton.

 

Gematria for the Word Eavesdrop


Eavesdrop
514514967
6   9   5  15 7
15   5  22
20  22
42
6
A strong sense of responsiblity, artistic, a nurturing disposition, community oriented, balanced, sympathy for others, humanitarian, unselfishness, love of home and domestic affairs, freely renders service to others.
Negative Traits:
Self righteousness, obstinacy, stubborn, dominates family and friends, meddling, egotistical, and susceptible to flattery, outspoken.

Next Week: Walnut.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Etymology: Word History - Quicksilver/Mercury.

 History of the Word:  
Quicksilver-Liquid Silver. The history of the word comes from Latin. One needs to know that Quicksilver comes from two words: cwic and seolfor. Cwic means running, moving, shifting.
Mercury
points to the God Mercury. Mercury was the "god of commerce and the fleet footed messenger of the gods."This God exemplified the type of material that Quicksilver was.  The silver that ran and was not solid, that moved between the fingers like jelly.  
NGram Viewer Popularity of the Word: The Word's highest use was between 1820-1840.




The Merriam-Webster New Book of Word Histories ( Miriam Webster Inc., 1991),385

The Numerological Value of the Word Mercury


Mercury
4593397
99697
18 15 7
18 22
40
4: According to Wikipedia this word has a strong sense of order and values, struggles against limits, steady growth, highly practical, scientific mind, attention to detail, foundation for achievment, a genius for organization, fine management skills.
Negative Traits: Lack of imagination, caught up in detail, stubborn fixed opinions, argumentative, slow to act, too serious, confused.






Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Etymology: Word History - OK

OK:The history of the abbreviation is deep, and has many stories linked to it.   OK is most likely the deliberately misspelled oll korrect. Many American humorists from the 1820's deliberately misspelled words.  They did this in order to look like Country Folk/Bumpkins.

Off To Kinderhook
OK may have gone into Obscurity had it non been for Martin Van Buren, the democratic candidate in 1840. Martin Van Buren was the current president.  The Campaign for re-election captured the craze of saying Ok and associated it with Martin Van Buren's home town: Old Kinderhook, New York. This was a catchy way to remember to vote for Van Buren was a vote for OK. The Whigs re-incorporated OK to a new meaning for the departure of the current president.   The Whigs flaunted the departure of Van Buren with the saying "off to Kinderhook."
The Myth around OK is fascinating and has a number of stories connected to it.   As far as The Merriam-Webster New Book of Word Histories knows, the Martin Van Buren campaign was the biggest influence on this use of that word.
Quote

Some people wear their smile like a disguise. Those people who smile a lot, watch their eyes. I know 'cause I'm like that a lot. You think everything's ok, and it is . . . 'till it's not. Ani Difranco quotes 

Ngram Popularity
OK is currently at its height of popularity.   


The Merriam-Webster New Book of Word Histories ( Miriam Webster Inc., 1991), 329-331

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Etymology: Word History - Jade

Defined:
 Jade was believed to have medicinal/magical powers and be effective on the kidneys.   Jades name in Spanish translates to "loin stone".  Jade also meant broken down horse, to be Jaded was to be broken down.  Jade also referred to a broken down woman of ill repute.  

Quote:

I
A pretty girl at time o' gloaming Hath whispered me to go and meet her Without the city gate. I love her, but she tarries coming. Shall I return, or stay and greet her? I burn, and wait.
II
Truly she charmeth all beholders,
'Tis she hath given me this jewel, The jade of my delight; But this red jewel-jade that smoulders, To my desire doth add more fuel, New charms to-night.
III
She has gathered with her lily fingers A lily fair and rare to see. Oh! sweeter still the fragrance lingers From the warm hand that gave it me.
Ngram Popularity:
Jade was most popularly used between 1920 and 1940.

And Most Interesting Usage:
Popular Science in February 1923 reported a statue of a Maori Warrior carved out of Jade.  Read It Here. 

The Merriam-Webster New Book of Word Histories ( Miriam Webster Inc., 1991), 492.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Etymology: Word History

Venom


The word comes from the name of Venus. Venus, a god, whose name means love, charm, adorn, and to worship.  Venus was known for creating a love potion which she used to help Aeneas escape from the burning city of Troy.   She protected him from the enmity of Juno.  She made Dido, queen of Carthage, fall in love with him and grant him refuge at a time when Aeneas's had his back against the wall. Venom became malicious over time and became a word that means a malicious deadly drink.   As Edgar Allan Poe wrote:
III
And pride, what have I now with thee? Another brow may ev'n inherit The venom thou hast poured on me Be still my spirit!

The Google NGRAM viewer shows this word was most popular in  the period between 1910 and 1920.  

Interesting articles outside of the usual ones about Plants, Spiders, and Snakes was the Weekly World News which reported that Snake Venom could be used to prevent brain damage.   Read it here.

Grant. Michael and John Hazel Who's Who Classical Mythology  (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993), 141-142.

The Merriam-Webster New Book of Word Histories ( Miriam Webster Inc., 1991), 492.

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