Category: Old French (Franceis)

Adventures in Etymology – Scribbling Scribes

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology we scratch at the roots of the word scribe.

Scribe
Thoth, Egyptian god of the Moon, wisdom, knowledge, writing, science, magic, art and judgement, scribe of the gods, inventor of (Egyptian hieroglyphic) writing, reading and music

A scribe [skɹaɪ̯b] is someone who writes, a draughtsperson, a writer for another, a secretary, notary or copyist, and to scribe means to write, engrave, inscribe, record, and so on.

It comes from Middle English scribe (a public official who deals with writing or accounts, a clerk), from Old French scribe (scribe), from Late Latin scrība (writer, scribe, secretary, clerk), from Latin scrībō (to write), from Proto-Italic *skreiβō (to carve), from PIE *(s)kréybʰeti, from *(s)kreybʰ- (to scratch, tear) [source].

Words from the same roots may include schrijven (to write) and rijven (to rake, rasp, grate) in Dutch, scrie (to write) in Romanian, skriva (to write, type, copy) in Swedish, scríobh (to write, fill in, compose) in Irish, and écriture (writing, scripture) in French [source].

The English words scribble, script, scripture, describe, inscribe, prescribe, proscribe, transcribe, shrive (to hear or receive a confession [of sins, etc]), shrine also come from the same roots [source]. As does the word scrivener, which refers to a professional writer, particularly one whose occupation is to draw contracts or prepare writings, and used to mean a broker [source].

Incidentally, if you’re prone to excessive writing, you could be described as scribacious [source], and if you are a bad at transcribing, you could be called a transcribbler [source]

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I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur blog.




Adventures in Etymology – Odd Umpires

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology we discover the odd roots of the word umpire.

Wimbledon Tennis Championships 2014

An umpire [ˈʌm.paɪə(ɹ) / ˈʌm.paɪɹ] is an official who presides over a sports match, or a person who arbitrates between contending parties. To umpire means to act as an umpire in a game, or to decide as an umpire.

It comes from Middle English noumper (arbitrator, umpire), which was rebracketed as an oumper, and come from Old French nonper (odd number, not even [as a tie-breaking arbitrator]), from non (not) and per (equal) [source].

The Old French per (equal), comes from Latin par (even, equal, like, suitable), from Proto-Italic *par- (even, equal, matching), possibly from PIE *perh₂- (to sell).

Words from the same roots may include pair, peer, compare in English, paar (pair, couple) in Dutch, пара (para – pair, couple) in Russian, par (even, pair, couple) in Spanish, and cymar (peer, fellow, spouse, partner, companion) in Welsh [source].

Another word for an official who makes sure the rules are followed during a game is referee, which comes from Old French referer (to tell, talk about), from Latin referō (to bear, bring, return), from re- (back, again) and ferō (to bear, carry, support) [source].

Related words include refer and relate in English, référer (to refer) in French, riferire (to report, tell, relate, attribute) in Italian, and possibly rrëfej (to tell) in Albanian [source].

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I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur blog.




Adventures in Etymology – Delays Expected

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology we investigate the tardy roots of the word delay.

Expect delays

A delay [dɪˈleɪ̯ / dəˈleɪ̯] is a period of time before an event occurs; the act of delaying; procrastination; lingering inactivity, and various other things.

To delay can mean to put off until later; to defer; to retard; to temporarily stop; to wait; to hesitate, and other things.

It comes from Middle English delaien (to delay, postpone, withhold, hinder), from Old French deslai(i)er (to delay), probably a conflation of the Old Frankish words *lattjan (to delay, hinder) and *laibijan (to leave).

The former comes from Proto-Germanic *latjaną (to delay, hinder, stall), from PIE *leh₁d- (to leave, to be tired), and the latter comes from Proto-Germanic *laibijaną (to leave), from PIE *leyp- (to stick, fat) [source].

Words from the same Old French roots include délai (time limit, extension) in French, tlajja (to loiter, linger, stroll back forth) in Maltese, and dally (to waste time in trivial activities, or in idleness) and dalliance (playful flirtation, a wasting of time in idleness or triffles) in English [source].

Other words from the PIE root *leh₁d- (to leave, etc) include laten (to leave, let, cause to) in Dutch, lassen (to allow, permit, let) in German, laisser (to leave, forget, let) in French, and late, let, lease and lassitude in English [source].

Other words from the PIE root *leyp- (to stick, etc) include leve (to live, to be alive) in Danish, lepiť (to stick) in Slovak and leave, belive, life and liver in English [source].

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I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur blog.




Adventures in Etymology – Befuddled Confusion

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology we untangle the befuddling roots of the word confusion.

Confusion

Confusion [kənˈfjuːʒən] can mean a lack of clarity or order; the state of being confused; a misunderstanding; the act of mistaking one thing for another, or a lack of understanding due to dementia. It is also the collective noun for a group of wildebeest(s) (a.k.a. gnu).

Wildebeest herd
A confusion of wildebeest(s) / gnus

It comes from Middle English confusioun (destruction, disgrace, disorder), from Old French confusion (spread), from Latin cōnfūsiō (mixing, confounding, trouble), from cōnfundō (to pour, stir up, diffuse, combine, confuse), from con- (with, together) and fundō (to pour out, overthrow, spread out) [source].

Other words from the Latin word cōnfundō include confondere (to mix up, confuse, embarrass) in Italian, confondre (to confuse, mix up) in French, confundir (to confuse, mistake, confound) in Spanish, konfus (confused) in German [source].

Other words from the Latin word fundō (to pour out, etc) include confound, foundation, foundry, fuse and fusion in English, fondre (to melt, smelt) in French, hundir (to sink, ruin, collapse) in Spanish, and ffynnu (to prosper) in Welsh [source].

If you’re both confused and befuddled, you could say that you’re confuddled, but that might be confusing, befuddling, confuddling and maybe even fuddlesome.

Incidentally, befuddle comes from be- (to become, to cause to be) and fuddle (to confuse, intoxicate, get drunk), the origins of which are not known [source].

Some related words include fuddlement (the state of being befuddled), fuddlesome (confusing, marked by fuddling), fuddle-duddle (to depart, be off), and fuddling (drunkenness).

Note: normally I publish these Adventures in Etymology on Saturdays, but I didn’t get round to doing so last week as I was away in London for a few days. So this is either the delayed Adventure from last week, or an early Adventure for this week. If I have time, I will do another Adventure this week as well. I hope that’s not too confusing, befuddling or confuddling.

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I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur blog.




Adventures in Etymology – Burning Torrents

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology we uncover the burning roots of the word torrent.

torrent

Torrent [ˈtɒɹənt / ˈtoɹənt] as a noun can mean a violent flow (as of water, lava, etc), a stream suddenly raised and running rapidly, or a large amount or stream of something.

As an adjective, torrent means rolling or rushing in a rapid stream, and as a verb it means to fall or flow in a torrent or to pour.

It comes from French torrent (a torrent), from Italian torrente (stream, creek, torrent), from Latin torrentem, from torrēns (scorching, burning, roasting), from torreō (to scorch, burn, parch, roast), from Proto-Italic *torzeō (to burn, scorch), from PIE *torséyeti (to make dry), from *ters- (dry) [source].

Words from the same roots include tir (land) in Welsh (and Cornish and Breton), tierra (earth, land, ground, soil) in Spanish, torr (dry, matter-of-fact, dull) in Swedish, turska (cod) in Finnish, and terrace, terrain, territory, thirst, toast, torrid in English [source].

Yorkshire Terrier

The terrier dog also gets its name from the same roots via Old French chien terrier (terrier dog) from chien (dog) and terrier (of earth), from Latin terra (dry land, ground, earth), ultimately from PIE *ters- (dry)[source].

The Mediterranean

The Mediterranean also gets part of its name from the same roots. It comes from Latin mediterrāneus (inland), from medius (middle),‎ terra (earth, land) and -āneus (adjectival suffix) source].

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

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I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur blog.




Adventures in Etymology – Rightly Adroit

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology we deftly discover the right roots of the word adroit.

Marmotte (Marmota marmota) (56)

Adroit [əˈdɹɔɪt] means deft, dexterous or skillful. Related words include adroitness (skillfulness or ease of ability), and maladroit (awkward, clumsy, inept).

It comes from French adroit (skilful, apt, skilled), from à (to) and droit (right, law, right angle), so could be translated as ‘to the right’, and the French phrase à droite means on the right or to the right [source].

A related word in French is adret, which refers to the sun-facing side of a mountain, particularly in the Alps [source].

The somewhat dated German word adrett (neat, tidy, clean-cut) [source] was borrowed from French, and was also borrowed into Danish (via German) to become adræt (agile, nimble) and adræthed (agility) [source].

The French word droit (right, etc) comes from Old French, droit [ˈdɾoi̯t] (justice, right), from Late Latin drictus (straight, right), from Latin dīrēctus (laid straight, direct, straight), from dīrigō (to lay straight, guide, distribute) [source].

Words from the same roots include dirigere (to address, run, manage, direct) in Italian, derecho (straight, right, correct) in Spanish, dyrygować (to conduct, boss around) in Polish, and address and direct in English [source].

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

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I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur blog.




Adventures in Etymology – Frequently Crowded

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology we uncover the crowded roots of the word frequent.

The Shenzhen Eye of Gangxia North Station

Frequent [ˈfɹiː.kwənt] as an adjective can mean:

  • Done or occuring often – common, regular, recurring.
  • Occurring at short intervals – continual, steady.
  • Addicted to any course of conduct; inclined to indulge in any practice; habitual; persistent.

It used to mean full, crowded or thronged, or often or commonly reported, and as a verb to frequent [fɹɪˈkwɛnt] means to visit often.

It comes from Old French frequent (frequent, often), from Latin frequēns (crowded, filled with a multitude, frequent, repeated), from Proto-Italic *frekʷents, possibly from PIE *bʰrekʷ- (to condense, crowd together) [source].

Words from the same Latin roots include fréquent (frequent) in French, freqüent (frequent, often) in Catalan, frequente (frequent, common) in Portuguese, and frequency in English [source].

Words from the same PIE roots may include farcir (to stuff) in French, harter (to bore, tire, make fed up) in Spanish, hartzitu (to ferment) in Basque, and farce in English [source].

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

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I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur blog.




Adventures in Etymology – Holding It Together

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology, we’re holding it together as we uncover the origins of the words content and content.

Contentment

As an adjective, content [kənˈtɛnt] means satisfied, pleased or contented, and as a noun, it can mean satisfaction, contentment or pleasure, or that which contents or satisfies. As a verb, to content means to give contentment or satisfaction to, to satisfy, or to make happy.

It comes from Middle English contenten [kɔnˈtɛntən] (to satisfy), from Old French contenter (to content, satisfy), from Latin contentus (contained, satisfied, enclosed), from contineō [kɔnˈtɪ.ne.oː] (to hold, keep, connect, contain), from con- (together) and teneō (to hold) [source].

A related word is content [ˈkɒn.tɛnt], which means that which is contained, subject matter, semantic information, or one or more creative works. This comes from the same roots as content, via Middle English content (things contained, contents), from Latin contentus etc [source].

Related words include contain, continent, continuous and countenance in English, contenir (to contain, hold) in French, contente (happy, content, satisfied) in Portuguese and continencia (continence, self-control) in Spanish [source].

Incidentally, the word contend [kənˈtɛnd] (to contest, dispute, quarrel) is not related to content or content even though it sounds similar. Instead, it comes from Middle English contenden (to engage in rivalry, compete), from Old French contendre, from Latin contendēre (to stretch out, strive after, contend), from con- (together) and tendere (to stretch) [source].

Related words include contention and contentious in English, contesa (quarrel, argument, dispute) in Italian, and cynnen (contention, discord) in Welsh [source].

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

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I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur blog.




Adventures in Etymology – Harmonious Reason

By Simon

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Are the words harmony and reason connected? Let’s find out in this Adventure in Etymology.

Singing in Pontio / Canu ym Mhontio

Meanings of harmony [ˈhɑː.mə.ni] include:

  • Agreement or accord.
  • A pleasing combination of elements, or arrangement of sounds.
  • Two or more notes played simultaneously to produce a chord.

It comes from Middle English armonie (harmonious sounds, song, music, harmony), from Old French (h)armonie (harmony, musical instrument), from Latin harmonia (harmony, music, peace), from Ancient Greek ἁρμονία (harmonía – joint, union, agreement, concord of sounds), from or related to ἁρμόζω (harmózō – I fit together), from PIE *h₂er- (to join, fit, fix together) [source].

Meanings of reason [ˈɹiː.zən] include:

  • A cause.
  • A motive for an action or a determination.
  • Rational thinking.

It comes from Middle English reso(u)n (reason), from Anglo-Norman raisun (logic, logical reasoning), from Latin ratiō (reason, calculation, procedure), from reor (to reckon, calculate, think), from Proto-Italic rēōr (to reckon, calculate, think), from PIE *h₂reh₁- (to think, reason, arrange), from *h₂er- (to join, fit, fix together) [source].

Other words from the same roots possibly include arachnid, art, ordinary, ornament, ratio and read in English, Rede (stream, current, flow) in German, araña (spider, chandelier) in Spanish, arment (herd of cattle or horses) in Catalan, гармония [ɡɐrˈmonʲɪjə] (harmony) in Russian [source].

One word for harmony (and melody) in Old English was swinsung, which came from swinsian (to sing) from Proto-West Germanic *swinisōn, from Proto-Germanic *swinisōną, from Proto-Germanic *swin- (to sound), from PIE *swenh₂- (to sound) [source].

Words from the same roots include assonance, sonata, sonnet, sound and swan in English, seinn (to play [an instrument], sing, warble, chatter) in Irish, honni (to claim, assert) in Welsh, and dzon (bell) in Polish [source].

If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or contribute to Omniglot in other ways.

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I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur blog.




Adventures in Etymology – Plain Planes

By Simon

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Are the words plain, plane and plan related? Let’s find out in this Adventure in Etymology.

Cheshire Plains

Plain [pleɪn] as an adjective can mean:

  • Simple, unaltered, ordinary, unsophisticated.
  • Obvious, evident.
  • Open, honest, candid.
  • Unattractive
  • Flat, level (rare, regional)

It comes from Middle English pleyn (clear, unambiguous), from Anglo-Norman pleyn (plain), from Old French plain (plain [flat area]), from Latin plānus (level, flat, even, intelligible, clear), from Proto-Italic *plānos, from PIE *pleh₂-no-s (flattened) from *pleh₂- (flat) [source].

As a noun, plain can mean:

  • An expanse of land with relatively low relief and few trees, especially a grassy expanse.
  • A broad, flat expanse in general, as of water.

This comes from the same roots as the adjective plain, but directly from Old French plain [source].

Words from the same roots include plane (flat surface), explain, plan, palm, piano, floor, flat and maybe plant and field in English, plan (map, plane, plan) in French, llano (even, flat, level, plain) in Spanish, flor (thin, transparent fabric) in Swedish, and llawr (floor, deck, stage, platform, cellar, ground) in Welsh [source].

The word clan (a group of people all descended from a common ancestor; a traditional social group of families in the Scottish Highlands having a common hereditary chieftain) possibly comes from the same roots via Irish clann (children, clan) or Scottish Gaelic clann (children, clan, tribe), both of which are from Old Irish cland (children, family, plant), from Old Welsh plant (children), from Latin planta (shoot, offspring), from PIE *pleh₂- (flat).

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I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the Omniglot Blog, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the Celtiadur blog.