The best part of learning the etymology (origin) of the languages is to trace out the links , in term of cultural, social, historical, geographical and political; between all languages. And according to lexicographer who added 150millions words each month “since a living language is never still, a dictionary’s work can never be done”. And by learning this also, I just realized that English like to be short and simple, in other word - monosyllables. How interesting! For 5-6 syllables, mostly were came from Latin or French.
What is the similarity between þ and θ? As in the previous entry, I did mention that in Old English, they used þ for ‘th-’ sound. While in
Greek, they used θ symbol. βάθος (pronounce bathos) literally
describing depth, and also anti-climax. θ is theta in ancient & modern Greek.
It’s also a symbol of number 9, was also considered as symbol of death.
Telescope also from
Greek. The results from combining two Greek terms via Italian ‘telescopio’
meaning “far off” and “look”. Barometer means “weight” and “measure”. While Pendulum
originally from Latin, ‘pendeo’ means “hang down”.
‘Ainigmata’ is a Greek word for riddles/puzzle. That’s the
origin of ‘enigma’ or mystery. Apart from that, ‘rebus’ was a French phrase from
‘à rebours’ means ‘backwards’. Rebus is a very creative way of visual illustration;
may involve number(s), letter(s), image(s), symbol(s), sign(s), and nowadays we
love to use emoji for rebus games.
It’s normal to believe in star signs (horoscope) or
constellation. Unfortunately, the word ‘disaster’ which is originally came from
dis+aster not only relates to magical influences but also the idea of bad luck,
trouble and misfortune. ‘Aster’ ἀστήρ is ‘star’ in
ancient Greek word. Meanwhile in Latin, star is ‘astrum’. Well hey, I think I
know where Astro got their name from.
All of us has experienced the quarantine moment since Covid-19 badly hit us. The word ‘quarantine’ originally from ‘forty’. Yes, 40! Forty in French is ‘quarante’ kaʀɑ̃t; while Italian is ‘quaranta’ and ‘quarantina’ in Old Italian. Alright, why forty? Ever since 17th century, those who has leprosy disease or a plague carrier, must be sent to the isolation island called lazaretto (means ‘beggar’ in Italian) for forty days. Forty days is the best treatment duration to make sure that they return as healthy travelers and were no longer disease carriers.
In Muslim culture, it’s our Sunnah to practice midday nap in order to improve memory, enhance alertness and to boost wakefulness and performances. Same goes to people in Spain, and they called it ‘siesta’ from the word ‘sexta’ means the 'sixth' (6th) hour. An afternoon rest is essential to avoid mid-day heat.
In Julian calendar right before the introduction of Gregorian
calendar in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, the month of 'August' was once called as ‘sextilis’ means the 'sixth' (6th)
month in Rome. There were only 10 months in Julian calendar, with no January and
February. It has been renamed after Augustus Caesar (first Roman Emperor) in 8 ᴃᴄ.
'Marathon' was named after the real classical place in Greece. It
was a long-distance race which the runner needs to cover 22miles (44km) away
from Marathon to Athens even though he finally falls down dead when he arrived.
Inuit or Arctic people (Greenland, Alaska & Canada) introduced
‘kayak’ to the world. ‘Kayak’ as in Eskimo tongue means 'one-person boat' or 'small boat'. For the bigger boat, they called it as ‘umiak’.
to be continued~
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