To speak
Take a look at the following words and ask yourself how
they might possibly share a common root:
fairy prophet fame
ban
infant confess fable
beckon
affable nefarious
Hmmm. I must admit, given this list, I wouldn’t have a
clue.
The word ban showed up in Old English about
the same time Old English showed up. Ban came to us through Old High
German from a Proto-Germanic word meaning banish,
expel or curse (all actions which must be spoken). Like the rest of the words on this list, it seems to have
started with bha-, to speak.
Beckon showed up in Old English about the
same time through a West Saxon & possibly Old High German word meaning to make a mute sign or to speak without words.
Prophet appeared in English in the late
1100s through Latin from a Greek word meaning one who speaks for the gods.
Fairy showed up in English in 1300,
through a Latin word meaning that which
is fated, & of course, for something to be fated, it must first be spoken
of.
Fame showed up in the early 1200s through
Old French from a Latin word meaning talk,
rumor, report, good reputation.
Affable – came from Old French through a Latin
word meaning one who can be easily spoken
to. It appeared in English in the 1400s.
Infant appeared in
English in the 1300s from a Latin word meaning unable to speak (the in-
meaning not & the fant meaning speak).
Confess came from Old French from a
Vulgar Latin word meaning speak
together or admit. Like infant,
it arrived in the 1300s.
Fable also showed up in
the 1300s through Old French from a Latin word meaning spoken narrative.
Nefarious
appeared in English in the 1600s from a Latin word meaning wicked crime. In this case, the ne-
negates the root fari-, which meant divinely
spoken, which suggests that a crime is an activity a higher power has forbidden.
All from a little old word (actually, a little VERY old
word) meaning speak.
I’m hoping you might click on the word “comments” below
& let me know where your brain went when asked the initial question in this
post.
Big thanks to this week’s sources: Etymonline, Wordnik, Collins Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, & the OED.
Fascinating stuff as usual. I've always wondered when a little one ceases being an infant and becomes a child. Now I know. It's speaking that first Ma-ma and Da-da! This root word helps understand the core meaning of so many of these words, like "fairy". ("I heard tell of these little folk who hide under mushrooms...")
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anne, for popping by once again. And be sure to keep an eye out for affable, nefarious fairies.
DeleteCharlie, I didn't have a clue. I couldn't see any relationship between any of those words. Whodathunk it was the root word meaning to speak? Like Anne, I'm kinda fascinated by infant and how the word came into being. Another great post. :)
ReplyDeleteHowdy Paul - Great to hear from you. I'm with you when it comes to "whodathunk". I'm hoping life is being good to you & Bob.
DeleteInfant was the one that stood out for me too. I have watched my three little guys go from being in-fants to fants I guess!
ReplyDeleteHi Christine - I wonder what that says about the second rate soft drink Fanta. Curious.
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