Category: German (Deutsch)

Adventures in Etymology – Index

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology we point out the origins of the word index.

Index

An index [ˈɪndɛks] is an alphabetical listing of items and their location; the index finger; a movable finger on a gauge, scale, etc (other meanings are available).

As a verb to index can mean to arrange an index for something; to inventory; to measure by an associated value, and other things.

It comes from Latin index (a pointer, index finger, index, list, sign, informer, spy), from in (in, at, on) and dicō (to say, talk, speak, declare, tell) [source].

Dicō comes from Proto-Italic *deikō (to show, indicate, say, tell), from Proto-Indo-European *déyḱeti (to be pointing out), from *deyḱ-. (to point out, to show) [source].

English words from the same roots include dictate, diction, dictionary, digit, edict, indicate, judge, preach, predict, teach, toe, token, verdict and vindicate [source].

Words in other languages from the same roots include decir (to say, tell) in Spanish, vingar (to avenge, revenge, thrive) in Portuguese, দিক (dik – direction, side, end) in Bengali, Zeh (toe) in German, teikn (omen, sign, icon) in Icelandic, and mallacht (curse) in Irish [source].

Incidentally, if there is more than one index, do you talk about indexes or indices?

I prefer indexes, but think you could use indexen (similar to ox / oxen, child / children, and aurochs / aurochsen) instead. The -en plural ending used to be a more common and used for words such as cheesen (cheeses), kneen (knees), eyen (eyes), foxen (foxes) and shoon (shoes) [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 – Balletic Symbols

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology we find out what links the words symbol, ballet and problem.

Punctuation

A symbol [ˈsɪmbəl] is a character or glyph representing an idea, concept or object; a thing considered the embodiment or cardinal exemplar of a concept, theme, etc – other meanings are available.

It comes from French symbole (symbol), from Latin symbolus (sign, mark, token, symbol), from Ancient Greek σύμβολον (súmbolon -a sign, mark, token, badge), from συμβάλλω (sumbállō – to throw together, compare), from σύν (sún – with, together) and βάλλω (bállō – to throw, put) [source].

The origins of σύν (sún) are uncertain [source], but βάλλω (bállō) comes ultimately from PIE *gʷelH- (to throw, reach, pierce) [source].

Other words derived from the Latin symbolus include symbool (symbol, sign, character, glyph) in Dutch, simbolo (symbol, sigh, emblem, icon) in Italian, símbolo (symbol, creed) in Spanish, and Symbol (symbol, icon) in German [source].

Words from the Ancient Greek root βάλλω (bállō), via Latin ballō (to dance), include bailar (to dance) in Portuguese, ballare (to dance, fidget, wobble) in Italian, baller (to dance with one’s arms swinging, to swing, sway, dangle) in French, and ballet, ballad and ballista in English [source].

Other words from the PIE foot *gʷelH- (to throw, etc) possibly include quälen (to torture, torment, agonize) in German, жило (sting, stinger) in Bulgarian, and emblem, problem, qualm, to quell and obelisk in English [source].

The English word devil also comes from the same roots, via Middle English devel (Satan, Lucifer, devil), Old English dēofol (Satan, devil, demon), Proto-West Germanic *diubul (devil), Latin diabolus, and Ancient Greek διάβολος (diábolos – false accuser, slanderer), which comes from διά (diá – through, across) and βάλλω (bállō – throw) [source].

Incidentally, the word Satan comes ultimately from Hebrew שָׂטָן (satán – adversary, accuser) [source], while Lucifer comes from Latin Lūcifer (morning star, the planet Venus, Lucifier), from lūx (light) and -ferō (to bear, carry) [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 – 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].

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 – 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.

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 – Tongues

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology we find out what links the words tongue and language.

Tongue

A tongue [tʌŋ] is a flexible muscular organ in the mouth that is used to move food around, for tasting and that is moved into various positions to modify the flow of air from the lungs in order to produce different sounds in speech. It can also refer to a language. Other meanings are available.

It comes from Middle English tong(e) / tung(e) (tongue, language, speech), from Old English tunge (a tongue, a language), from Proto-West Germanic *tungā (tongue, speech, language), from Proto-Germanic *tungǭ (tongue, speech, language), from PIE *dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s (tongue) [source].

Words from the same roots include լեզու (lezu – tongue, language, speech, nation, people) in Armenian, liežuvis (tongue) in Lithuanian, jazyk (tongue, language) in Czech, tunga (tongue, language, speech) in Swedish, and Zunge (tongue) in German [source].

Words such as lingua in Italian, lengua in Spanish and langue in French, all of which mean tongue or language, also come from the same roots, via Old Latin dinguā (tongue, language, speech) and Proto-Italic *dn̥ɣwā (tongue) [source].

Words in Celtic languages, such as teanga (tongue, language) in Irish, tafod (tongue) in Welsh, and taves (tongue, language) in Cornish, share the same roots, via Proto-Celtic *tangʷāts (tongue) [source].

The English words language, linguist and lingual (related to the tongue) have the same PIE roots as well. Language comes from Middle English lang(u)age (language, tongue, speech), from Old French language (language), from Vulgar Latin *linguāticum (language, manner of speaking), from Latin lingua (tongue, speech, language), etc. The other words were borrowed directly from Latin [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 – 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.

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 – 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.

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 – Wholesome Health

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology we examine the origins of the word health and related things.

Healthy no QR

Meanings of health [hɛlθ] include:

  • The state of being free from physical or psychological disease, illness, or malfunction.
  • A state of well-being or balance, often physical but sometimes also mental and social.

It comes from Middle English helthe [ˈhɛlθ(ə)] (soundness, health, recovery, remedy), from Old English hǣlþ [xæːlθ] (health, healing, cure), from Proto-Germanic *hailiþō [ˈxɑi̯.li.θɔː] (wholeness, health), from *hailaz [ˈxɑi̯.lɑz] (whole, intact, entire, healthy), from PIE *kéh₂ilos (healthy, whole) [source].

Words from the same roots include heal, whole, wholesome, holy and hale in English, heel [ɦeːl] (complete, full, whole, very) in Dutch, hele (to heal) in Danish, целя [tsɛˈlʲa̟] (to heal, cure) in Bulgarian, cały [ˈtsa.wɘ] (whole, complete, entire) in Polish [source].

Health should not be confused with health, an obsolete English word meaning a warrior, hero or man, which comes from Proto-Germanic *haliþaz [ˈxɑ.li.θɑz] (hero), and is related to words such as Held [hɛlt] (hero, protagonist) in German, held [ɦɛlt] (hero) in Dutch, and hjälte [ˈjɛlˌtɛ] (hero, main male protagonist in a work of fiction) in Swedish [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 – Perilous Experience

By Simon

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In this Adventure in Etymology we find what the word experience has to do with fear, peril and pirates.

Perilous Experiences

Meanings of experience [/ɪkˈspɪə.ɹɪəns] include:

  • Event(s) of which one is cognizant.
  • An activity which one has performed.
  • A collection of events and/or activities from which an individual or group may gather knowledge, opinions, and skills.

It comes from Middle English expērience (observation; an event which has affected one; to test, try, learn), from Old French esperience (experiment, proof, experience), from Latin experientia (a trial, proof, experiment, experience), from experīrī (to try, put to the test, undertake, undergo), from ex- (out) and perīrī (to go through), from PIE *per- (to attempt, try, risk) [source].

Words from the same roots include expert, experiment, peril and fear in English, Gefahr (danger, risk, threat) in German, pericolo (peril, danger) in Italian, perygl (danger, peril, risk) in Welsh, experimentar (to experience, feel, experiment) in Spanish [source].

The English word pirate also comes from the same roots, via Old French pirate, Latin pīrāta (sailor, sea robber), and Ancient Greek πειρατής (peiratēs – pirate, “one who attacks (ships)”), from πεῖρα (peira – trial, attempt, plot) [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 – 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.

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.