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Thursday, July 7, 2011
Dirt
Dirt
Dirt derives from a reordering of the sounds in Middle English drit/drytt ("mud, dirt, dung") in the 15th century. Drit/drytt comes from Old Norse drit, though Old English dritan ("to void excrement") is a close relative. Both words derive from Proto-Germanic *dritanan. Calling someone dirt as an insult dates from the 1300's.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Gospel
Gospel \GOS-puhl\ , noun;
1. The story of Christ's life and teachings, especially as contained in the first four books of the new testament, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
2. Any of these four books
3. Something regarded as true and implicitly believed
4. Gospel music
adjective;
1. Of, pertaining to, or proclaiming the gospel or its teachings
2. Of or pertaining to gospel music
3. In accordance with the gospel
The origin of gospel is Old English godspel ("gospel, glad tidings announced by Jesus; one of the four gospels"), which is a combination of god + spel ("good" + "story, message"). The Old English word came as a translation of Latin bona adnuntiatio, which was translated from Greek euangelion ("reward for bringing good news").
Old English god meaning "good" and god meaning "God" are actually unrelated, despite outward appearances. God ("good") had a long 'o' and derives from Proto-Germanic *gothaz from Proto-Indo-European *ghedh- ("to unite, be associated, suitable"). God ("God") probably sounded like the modern pronunciation and it derives from Proto-Germanic *guthan from Proto-Indo-European *ghut- ("that which is invoked") from either *gheu(e) ("to call, invoke") or *ghu-to- ("poured").
1. The story of Christ's life and teachings, especially as contained in the first four books of the new testament, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
2. Any of these four books
3. Something regarded as true and implicitly believed
4. Gospel music
adjective;
1. Of, pertaining to, or proclaiming the gospel or its teachings
2. Of or pertaining to gospel music
3. In accordance with the gospel
The origin of gospel is Old English godspel ("gospel, glad tidings announced by Jesus; one of the four gospels"), which is a combination of god + spel ("good" + "story, message"). The Old English word came as a translation of Latin bona adnuntiatio, which was translated from Greek euangelion ("reward for bringing good news").
Old English god meaning "good" and god meaning "God" are actually unrelated, despite outward appearances. God ("good") had a long 'o' and derives from Proto-Germanic *gothaz from Proto-Indo-European *ghedh- ("to unite, be associated, suitable"). God ("God") probably sounded like the modern pronunciation and it derives from Proto-Germanic *guthan from Proto-Indo-European *ghut- ("that which is invoked") from either *gheu(e) ("to call, invoke") or *ghu-to- ("poured").
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Turd
Turd \TURD\ , noun;
1. A piece of excrement
2. A mean, contemptible person
Today is my birthday, so just to keep things interesting I'm going to post about my least favorite English word: turd. It's just such a horrible sounding word, and then you add the actual definition and it gets worse. Turd. Ew.
The origin of turd is Old English tord from Proto-Germanic *turdam, which derives from Proto-Indo-European *drtom. *Drtom is the past participle of the base *d(e)r-, which means "flay, tear," so "that which is separated (or torn off) from the body" or "excrement" makes sense. Similarly, shit derives from a Proto-Indo-European word, *skheid, meaning "split, divide".
Turd meaning something worthless and vile is attested from the mid-13th century, while the meaning "despicable person" is first recorded in the mid-15th century.
1. A piece of excrement
2. A mean, contemptible person
Today is my birthday, so just to keep things interesting I'm going to post about my least favorite English word: turd. It's just such a horrible sounding word, and then you add the actual definition and it gets worse. Turd. Ew.
The origin of turd is Old English tord from Proto-Germanic *turdam, which derives from Proto-Indo-European *drtom. *Drtom is the past participle of the base *d(e)r-, which means "flay, tear," so "that which is separated (or torn off) from the body" or "excrement" makes sense. Similarly, shit derives from a Proto-Indo-European word, *skheid, meaning "split, divide".
Turd meaning something worthless and vile is attested from the mid-13th century, while the meaning "despicable person" is first recorded in the mid-15th century.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Suffrage
Suffrage \SUHF-rij\ , noun;
1. The right to vote, especially in a political election
2. A vote given in favor of a proposed measure, candidate, or the like
3. In Christian practice, a prayer, especially a short intercessory prayer or petition
This word dates to the late 14th century as "prayers or pleas on behalf of another" from Old French suffrage, which derives from Middle Latin suffargium from Latin suffragium ("support, vote, right of voting"). Suffragium comes from suffragari ("lend support, vote for someone"), which is a combination of sub + fragor ("under" + "crash, din, shouts of approval"). Fragor is related to frangere ("to break"), which is the forebear of fraction. The meaning "right to vote" was first used used by the founding fathers in the US Constitution in 1787.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Monday, July 4
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. The right to vote, especially in a political election
2. A vote given in favor of a proposed measure, candidate, or the like
3. In Christian practice, a prayer, especially a short intercessory prayer or petition
This word dates to the late 14th century as "prayers or pleas on behalf of another" from Old French suffrage, which derives from Middle Latin suffargium from Latin suffragium ("support, vote, right of voting"). Suffragium comes from suffragari ("lend support, vote for someone"), which is a combination of sub + fragor ("under" + "crash, din, shouts of approval"). Fragor is related to frangere ("to break"), which is the forebear of fraction. The meaning "right to vote" was first used used by the founding fathers in the US Constitution in 1787.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Monday, July 4
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Chow
Chow \CHOU\ , noun;
1. Food, especially hearty dishes or a meal
verb phrase;
1. Chow down: To eat; eat a meal, especially the main meal of the day
This American English word is first attested in 1856 from a Chinese pidgin English word, chow-chow, that originated in California around 1795. Chow-chow meant "food" and was a reduplication of Chinese cha ("mixed"). The dog breed chow dates to 1886 and is of unknown origin, though folk etymologies suggest it has something to do with Chinese practice of eating dog meat.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Sunday, July 3
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. Food, especially hearty dishes or a meal
verb phrase;
1. Chow down: To eat; eat a meal, especially the main meal of the day
This American English word is first attested in 1856 from a Chinese pidgin English word, chow-chow, that originated in California around 1795. Chow-chow meant "food" and was a reduplication of Chinese cha ("mixed"). The dog breed chow dates to 1886 and is of unknown origin, though folk etymologies suggest it has something to do with Chinese practice of eating dog meat.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Sunday, July 3
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Bedlam
Bedlam \BED-luhm\ , noun;
1. A scene or state of wild uproar and confusion
Bedlam is first attested in the 1660's and comes from a colloquial pronunciation of 'Bethlehem' in 'Hospital of Saint Mary of Bethlehem.' The London hospital was founded in 1247 as a priory, turned into a hospital around 1330 and was a lunatic hospital by 1402. In 1547 it was converted to a state lunatic asylum after the dissolution of the associated monasteries.
A priory is a house for women or men under religious vows that's run by a prior or prioress. Prior is a Latin word meaning "former, superior," which derives from Old Latin pri ("before") from Proto-Indo-European *per ("beyond") and *pro- ("before"). Prioress derives from Middle Latin prioressa, which evolved in the mid-12th century.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Saturday, July 2
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
1. A scene or state of wild uproar and confusion
Bedlam is first attested in the 1660's and comes from a colloquial pronunciation of 'Bethlehem' in 'Hospital of Saint Mary of Bethlehem.' The London hospital was founded in 1247 as a priory, turned into a hospital around 1330 and was a lunatic hospital by 1402. In 1547 it was converted to a state lunatic asylum after the dissolution of the associated monasteries.
A priory is a house for women or men under religious vows that's run by a prior or prioress. Prior is a Latin word meaning "former, superior," which derives from Old Latin pri ("before") from Proto-Indo-European *per ("beyond") and *pro- ("before"). Prioress derives from Middle Latin prioressa, which evolved in the mid-12th century.
Today's word and the first definition were both taken from Dictionary.com's 'Word of the Day' for Saturday, July 2
Etymologies come from the Oxford English Dictionary and/or Etymonline.com
Friday, July 1, 2011
Spur
Spur \spur\ , noun;
1. A u-shaped device that slips over and straps to the heel of a boot and has a blunt, pointed, or roweled projection at the back for use by a mounted rider to urge a horse forward
2. Anything that goads, impels, or urges, as to action, speed or achievement
3. Something that projects and resembles or suggests a gaff; sharp projection
The origin of spur is Old English spura/spora, which derives from Proto-Germanic *spuron from Proto-Indo-European *spere- ("ankle"). Spura/spora is related to Old English spurnan, ("to kick away, reject, scorn, despise") which also ultimately derives from *spere-. The verb version of spur evolved in the 1200's. The generalize sense of "anything that urges on, stimulus" dates to the late 14th century. A now archaic phrase on the spur is first attested in the 1520's and meant "in great haste." This phrase survives in Modern English as spur of the moment.
1. A u-shaped device that slips over and straps to the heel of a boot and has a blunt, pointed, or roweled projection at the back for use by a mounted rider to urge a horse forward
2. Anything that goads, impels, or urges, as to action, speed or achievement
3. Something that projects and resembles or suggests a gaff; sharp projection
The origin of spur is Old English spura/spora, which derives from Proto-Germanic *spuron from Proto-Indo-European *spere- ("ankle"). Spura/spora is related to Old English spurnan, ("to kick away, reject, scorn, despise") which also ultimately derives from *spere-. The verb version of spur evolved in the 1200's. The generalize sense of "anything that urges on, stimulus" dates to the late 14th century. A now archaic phrase on the spur is first attested in the 1520's and meant "in great haste." This phrase survives in Modern English as spur of the moment.
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