Category: French (français)

Adventures in Etymology – Code Trees

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology, we find what the word code has to do with books and trees.

Code Trees

Meanings of code [kəʊd / koʊd] include:

  • A short textual designation, often with little relation to the item it represents.
  • A body of law, sanctioned by legislation.
  • Any system of principles, rules or regulations relating to one subject.
  • A message represented by rules intended to conceal its meaning.
  • Instructions for a computer.

It comes from Middle English code (a system of law), from Old French code (a system of law), from Latin cōdex (tree trunk; book, notebook), from caudex (tree trunk, block of woord, book), possibly from cūdō (I beat, strike), from PIE *kewh₂- (to hit, strike, forge) [source].

Words from the same roots include codex, codicil (an addition or supplement modifying any official document) in English, código (code) in Spanish, code (code) in French, kodex (code [of laws]) in Czech, and kütük (log [tree/computer], official register) in Turkish [source].

In Latin, caudex originally meant a tree trunk or block of wood. Later it came to refer to the wax tablets Romans used for writing on. From about the 1st Century AD/CE, scrolls were gradually replaced by codices, books made of stacks of paper bound together along one edge. The word cōdex was used to refer to such books [source].

In English, the word codex refers to an early manuscript book, that is, one bound by joining pages, as opposed to a rolled scroll. Specifically, it refers to hand-writing books made using parchment, vellum or papyrus rather than paper. It can also mean an official list of medicines and medicinal ingredients. [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 – Absurdity

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology we investigate the origins of the word absurd.

Absurdity

Absurd [əbˈsɜːd / æbˈsɚd] can mean:

  • Contrary to reason or propriety; obviously and flatly opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with the plain dictates of common sense; logically contradictory; nonsensical; ridiculous; silly.
  • Having no rational or orderly relationship to people’s lives; meaningless; lacking order or value.

In the past in meant inharmonious or dissonant.

It comes from Middle French absurde, from Latin absurdus (incongruous, dissonant, harsh, silly, stupid), from ab- (away from, out), and surdus (deaf, inattentive, silent, indistinct), from PIE *swer- (to resound, speak loudly, ringing, whistling) [source].

Words from the same roots include chwerw (bitter) in Welsh, searbh (bitter, sour, acid) in Irish, sword in English, zwaard (sword) in Dutch, assurdità (absurdity, rubbish) in Italian, and sordo (deaf, dull, muted) in Spanish [source].

The English word surd also comes from the same roots, and refers to an irrational number, a voicelss consonant, unvoiced or voiceless, and used to mean deaf or unheard [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 – Burning Focus 🔥🔍

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology we focus on the origins of the word focus.

Focus

Focus [ˈfəʊ.kəs / ˈfoʊ.kəs] as a noun can mean:

  • A point at which reflected or refracted rays of light converge.
  • The quality of the convergence of light on the photographic medium.
  • Something to which activity, attention or interest is primarily directed.

As an verb, focus can mean:

  • To cause (rays of light, etc) to converge at a single point.
  • To adjust (a lens, an optical instrument) in order to position an image with respect to the focal plane.
  • To direct attention, effort, or energy to a particular audience or task.
  • To concentrate one’s attention.

It comes from Latin focus (fireplace, hearth, brazier, house, family), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂- (to shine), or from PIE *dʰegʷʰ- (to burn) [source].

Words from the same roots include fuoco (fire, torment) in Italian, feu (fire, lighter) in French, fogo (fire, house, family, flame) in Portuguese, φουφού (foufoú – brazier) in Greek, Fokus (focus) in German, and curfew in English [source].

The English word fuel, also comes from the same Latin root, via Middle English fewell (fuel), Old French fouaille (firewood, kindling), and f(o)u / foc (fire), and Late Latin focus (fire) [source].

The Italian flatbread, focaccia, also gets its name from the same roots, via Late Latin focācia, the plural of focācium (bread baked under ash), from (panis) focācius ((bread) of the hearth), as does hogaza (loaf) in Spanish and pogača (cake) in Slovenian [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 – Cardinals

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology we investigate the origins of the word cardinal.

Cardinal

As an adjective, cardinal [ˈkɑː.dɪ.nəl / ˈkɑɹdɪnəl] can mean:

  • Of fundamental importance, e.g. a cardinal rule.
  • Of or relating to the cardinal directions (north, south, east and west).
  • Describing a “natural” number used to indicate quantity (eg 1, 2, 3, 4, etc), as opposed to an ordinal number indicating relative position (1st, 2nd 3rd, etc).
  • Having a bright red colour (from the colour of a Catholic cardinal’s cassock).

Cardinals Applaud The New Pontiff

As an noun, cardinal can mean:

  • One of the officials appointed by the pope in the Roman Catholic Church, ranking only below the pope, equal to the patriarchs, constituting the special college which elects the pope.
  • Any of various species of New-World passerine songbird in the genus Cardinalis, so called because of their red plumage.
  • A deep red colour, somewhat less vivid than scarlet, the traditional colour of a Catholic cardinal’s cassock.

It comes from Middle French cardinal ([Catholic] cardinal), from Latin cardinālis (pertaining to a door hinge, principal, chief, cardinal), from cardō (hinge, socket, turning point, critical moment of action), possibly from Ancient Greek κράδη (krádē, twig, spray, swing, crane in the drama) or from PIE *(s)kerd- (to move, sway, swing, jump) [source].

Words from the same roots include cardinal (important, paramount, cardinal) and charière (hinge, joint, turning point) in French, cardine (hinge, pivot, support, cornerstone) in Italian, and corddyn (pivot, hinge) and possibly cerdded (to walk) in Welsh [source].

Cardea, the Roman goddess of hinges and families, also got her name from the same roots [source]. She kept evil spirits from crossing the threshold of houses and protected the family and children inside More information about Cardea.

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 – Quintessence

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology we search for the elemental origins of the word quintessence.

Quintessence

Quintessence [kwɪnˈtɛs.əns] is:

  • A thing that is the most perfect example of its type; the most perfect embodiment of something; epitome, prototype
  • A pure substance.
  • The essence of a thing in its purest and most concentrated form.
  • (alchemy) The fifth alchemical element, or essence, after earth, air, fire, and water that fills the universe beyond the terrestrial sphere. (A)ether.
  • (physics) A hypothetical form of dark energy postulated to explain observations of an accelerating universe.

It comes from Middle English quint-essence (quintessence, the fifth essence or element), from Old French quinte essence (quintessence), from Medieval Latin quinta essentia (fifth essence, aether), from Latin quīntus (fifth) and essentia (the being or essence of a thing) [source].

Words from the same roots include quintillion (a billion billion, a million quadrillion, or an unspecified very large number), quintuplex (a collection of 5 things, a building divided in 5 residences or businesses) and quintet (a group of 5 musicians, or any group with 5 members) in English, cinque (5) in Italian, cinco (5) in Spanish, cinc (5) in French [source], and also essence and essential in English, esence (essence, extract) in Czech, essence (petrol, gasoline, essence, essential oil) in French, and ésser (to be, exist, be real) in Catalan [source].

Incidentally, I was inspired to investigate the word quintessence after learning the Welsh word mêr, which means marrow, the best or essential part, quintessence, essence, soul, heart, centre, middle, depth, and (source of) strength.

It’s related to the Irish word smior (marrow, pith, essential part, quintessence), to the English word smear, and to the Swedish word smör (butter – as in smörgåsbord) [more details].

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 – Fishing for Fish

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology we fish for the origins of the word fish.

#fish

Fish [fɪʃ] can refer to:

  • A typically cold-blooded vertebrate animal that lives in water, moving with the help of fins and breathing with gills.
  • Any animal (or any vertebrate) that lives exclusively in water.
  • As a verb it can mean: To hunt fish or other aquatic animals in a body of water, or to collect coral or pearls from the bottom of the sea.

Other meanings are available, and some would say there’s no such thing as a fish.

It comes from Middle English fisch [fiʃ] (fish, and other animals that live in water), from Old English fisċ / fix / ᚠᛁᛋᚳ [fiʃ / fisk] (fish), from Proto-West Germanic *fisk, from Proto-Germanic *fiskaz [ˈɸis.kɑz] (fish), from Proto-Indo-European *peysk- (fish) [source].

Words from the same PIE root include vis (fish) in Dutch, fisk (fish, Pisces) in Swedish, peixe (fish) in Portuguese, pez (fish, idiot) in Spanish, pêcher (to fish) in French, pysgodyn (fish) in Welsh, iasc (fish) in Irish, and piscine (fishy, pertaining to fish) and piscatorial (pertaining to fish, fishing or fishermen) in English [source].

The Proto-Indo-European *peysk- (fish) only has descendents in the Germanic, Romance and Celtic languages. Another PIE root for fish is *dʰǵʰúHs, which became ձուկ (juk – fish, calf muscle) in Armenian, zivs (fish) in Latvian, žuvis (fish) in Lithuanian, and ιχθύς (ichthýs – fish) in Greek – (archaic) appears mainly in compounds such as χθυοπώλης (ichthyopólis – fishmonger) [source].

ichthyosaur

Some fish-related words in English also come from the same roots, via Ancient Greek ἰχθύς [ixˈθis] (ikhthús, fish, stupid person). These include: ichthyology (fish science), ichthyosaur (any fishlike marine reptiles of the extinct order Ichthyosauria), ichthyolatry (the worship of fish or fish-shaped idols), and ichthyophobia (fear of fish) [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.

Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

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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 – Rest Awhile

By Simon

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What does the word while have to do with resting? Let’s find out in this Adventure in Etymology on Radio Omniglot.

Lying in the sun

While [waɪl / wæl] as a noun means an uncertain duration of time, a period of time, or an uncertain long (or short) period of time. As a conjunction it means during that same time, although or as long as, and as a verb it means to pass (time) idly, e.g. to while away hours, days, etc. or to occupy or entertain (sb) in order to let time pass.

It comes from Middle English whyle [ˈhwiːl(ə)] (while), from Old English hwīl [xwiːl] (while, period of time), from Proto-West Germanic *hwīlu (period of time, pause, while), from Proto-Germanic *hwīlō [ˈxʷiː.lɔː] (time, while, break, pause, period of rest), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷyeh₁- (to rest, rest, peace) [source].

Words from the same PIE root include pokój (room, peace) in Polish, quedo (quite, still) in Spanish, quitter (to leave, quit) in French, tranquillo (calm, sober, tranquil) in Italian, hvile (rest, repose) in Danish, and quiet, quit, quite, quiescent, acquiesce, tranquil, requiem, and coy in English [source].

I hope that reading and/or listening to this podcast has been worth your while. In a while, there will be a new Adventure in Etymology. Meanwhile, you might find it worthwhile to while away a little (or long) while look at / listening to past episodes of this and other Radio Omniglot podcasts.

By the way, if someone tells you they’ll do something in a little while or in a while, how long would you expect to wait?

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 – Unkempt Combs

By Simon

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You can be unkempt, but can you be just kempt? Let’s find out in this Adventure in Etymology on Radio Omniglot.

Llama, Unkempt
An unkempt llama

Unkempt [ˌʌnˈkɛmpt] means uncombed or dishevelled (hair), disorderly, untidy, messy, rough or unpolished.

It comes from unkemmed, from Middle English kembed (well-combed, neat), from kemben [ˈkɛm(b)ən] (to comb), from Old English cemben [ˈkem.bɑn] (to comb), from Proto-West Germanic *kambijan (to comb), from Proto-Germanic *kambijaną (to comb), from *kambaz (comb) from Proto-Indo-European *ǵómbʰos (tooth, peg), from *ǵembʰ- (to bite, chomp) [source].

combs
Combs

Words from the same roots possibly include dhëmb (tooth) in Albanian, zub (tooth) in Slovak, kampa (comb) and hammas (tooth, cog, sprocket) in Finnish, kam (comb, ridge) in Dutch, and comb in English [source].

The word kempt does exist in English and means neat and tidy, especially when talking about hair. These days it is usually used humorously, but it was more commonly used in the past [source].

Camshaft
A camshaft

Incidentally, the English word cam, as in camshaft, camwheel, etc, comes from the same roots, via Dutch kam (comb, ridge). The Dutch word was also borrowed into French as came (cam, stuff, trinket), Italian as camma (cam), and into other languages [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.

Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

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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.




Celtic Pathways – Birches

By Simon

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In this episode we unearth the Celtic roots of words for birch (tree) in various languages.

Birch forest

The Proto-Celtic word *betuyā means birch tree, and comes from Proto-Indo-European *gʷetu-yo-s, from *gʷet- (resin, gum) [source].

Descendents in the modern Celtic languages include:

  • beith = birch (tree), letter B in Ogham (ᚁ) in Irish
  • beithe [behə] birch, birch wood/forest in Scottish Gaelic
  • beih = birch (tree) in Manx
  • bedw [ˈbɛdʊ] = birch(es), birch grove, maypole, birch-rod in Welsh
  • besow = birches in Cornish
  • bezv [ˈbɛ(z)w] = birches in Breton

More details of words for birch in Celtic languages can be found in the Celtiadur post Birch (trees).

Words from the same Proto-Celtic roots, via Gaulish *bitu/betua and Latin *betius, include betulla (birch) in Italian, bouleau (birch) in French, βετούλη (vetoúli – birch) in Greek, and abedul (birch) in Spanish [source].

The botanical Latin name for the genus, Betula (birch), also comes from the same roots [source].

Incidentally, the English word birch comes from Middle English birche (birch), from Old English bierċe (birch), from Proto-West Germanic *birkijā (birch), from Proto-Germanic *birkijǭ (birch), from PIE *bʰerHǵos (birch), from *bʰerHǵ- (to shine, to gleam, whiten) [source].

Words from the same roots possibly include: bredh (fir tree) in Albanian, björk (birch) in Swedish, béržas (birch) in Lithuanian and březen (March) in Czech [source].

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Adventures in Etymology – Feathers

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology we investigate the word feather.

Feathers

A feather [ˈfɛð.ə(ɹ) / ˈfɛð.ɚ] is:

  • A branching, hair-like structure that grows on the bodies of birds, used for flight, swimming, protection and display.
  • Long hair on the lower legs of a dog or horse, especially a draft horse.
    [other meanings are available]

It comes from Middle English feþer (feather), from Old English feþer (feather, pen), from Proto-West Germanic *feþru (feather, wing), from Proto-Germanic *feþrō (feather), from Proto-Indo-European *péth₂r̥ (feather, wing), from *peth₂- (to fly, to spread out) [source].

Words from the same Proto-Germanic roots include veer (feather, plume) and vlerk (wing, scoundrel) in Dutch, Feder (feather, spring, nib, penholder, fountain pen) and Gefieder (plumage) in German, and federa (pillowcase) in Italian (via Lombardic fedeara (feather)) [source].

Roger Federer (Switzerland)

By the way, the Swiss tennis player Roger Federer gets his surname from the Swiss German word Federer, which means ‘one who works with or trades in quills’, which are traditionally made from feathers [source]

Other words from the same Proto-Indo-European roots include πτηνό (ptinó – bird) in Greek, पत्र (patra – letter, paper, document, leaf) in Hindi, adar (birds) and adain (wing, fin) in Welsh, and appetite, petal, petition and fathom in English [source].

Helicopter

Incidentally, the word heliocopter also comes from the same roots, via French hélicoptère (helicopter), which comes from Ancient Greek ἕλιξ (hélix – spiral) &‎ πτερόν (pterón – feather, wing) – at least the -pter part does – see also pterodactyl (“winged finger”) [source].

Can anybody identify which birds the feathers in the photo at the top of this post come from? I found them in my garden.

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

Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with Blubrry Podcast Hosting, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code omniglot.

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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.