{"id":3102,"date":"2023-12-16T15:59:28","date_gmt":"2023-12-16T15:59:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/?p=3102"},"modified":"2023-12-16T17:03:04","modified_gmt":"2023-12-16T17:03:04","slug":"adventures-in-etymology-virus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/?p=3102","title":{"rendered":"Adventures in Etymology &#8211; Virus"},"content":{"rendered":"<div itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/AudioObject\"><meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"Adventures in Etymology &amp;#8211; Virus\" \/><meta itemprop=\"uploadDate\" content=\"2023-12-16T15:59:28+00:00\" \/><meta itemprop=\"encodingFormat\" content=\"audio\/mpeg\" \/><meta itemprop=\"duration\" content=\"PT1M40S\" \/><meta itemprop=\"description\" content=\"In this adventure, we\u2019re examining the origins of the word virus, because I seem to have picked up a bit of coronavirus \ud83d\ude37 this week, or possibly last week. I'm feeling better now, at the time of writing this, but not completely yet.\n\n\n\nA virus is:\n\n\n...\" \/><meta itemprop=\"contentUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/virus.mp3\" \/><meta itemprop=\"contentSize\" content=\"1.9\" \/><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_5932\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-3102-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/virus.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/virus.mp3\">https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/virus.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1px !important;\">Podcast: <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/virus.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_pinw\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Play in new window\" onclick=\"return powerpress_pinw('https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/?powerpress_pinw=3102-podcast');\" rel=\"nofollow\">Play in new window<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/virus.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"virus.mp3\">Download<\/a><\/p><p>In this adventure, we\u2019re examining the origins of the word <strong>virus<\/strong>, because I seem to have picked up a bit of coronavirus \ud83d\ude37 this week, or possibly last week. I&#8217;m feeling better now, at the time of writing this, but not completely yet.<\/p>\n<p><a data-flickr-embed=\"true\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/23925401@N06\/6194489334\/in\/photolist-aronSf-7kNfZk-7kSazd-4GiMFK-26SdU83-b6drbD-5nfLkx-2iJYU15-b6du8n-b6jWyP-64vTm8-TB5XcQ-TB5Xbh-z7L2M-2iJWacf-exBeb-eP3aMA-2mV6wKg-2nPpmM6-2mXYpVC-4qyntR-2iTuCen-2iTwcJc-2iTgV6G-2iQVarc-2nMoCPM-pymswK-2kcfUXp-2jrnXee-2iM9RaA-32PUpG-2588JEu-HVvbp-2j3ihi9-2iSzycA-nvNK81-2j2RdgK-6Hdohs-2nMqQVL-nEh31D-4BoNNR-2hFdNL8-2iJmM72-2iSB8hh-2j8Kq4J-9VrJCP-2j3e637-5Vy3Ut-2iPjjpD-2j4M2gn\" title=\"Virus VIH\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/6180\/6194489334_f303d167d8_z.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"488\" alt=\"Virus VIH\"\/><\/a><script async src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>A <strong>virus<\/strong> is:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism.<\/li>\n<li>A type of malware that, when executed, replicates itself by modifying other computer programs and inserting its own code into those programs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It comes from Middle English <em>virus<\/em> (virus), from Latin <em>v\u012brus<\/em> (poison, venom, bitterness, sharpness, slime), from Proto-Italic <em>*weizos<\/em> (poison), from PIE <em>*wis\u00f3s<\/em> (poison, slime) [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/virus#English\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p>Words from the same PIE roots include <strong>\u03b9\u03cc\u03c2<\/strong> [i\u02c8os] (virus, [historical] poison, venom) in Greek, from which comes the English word <strong>iodine<\/strong>, and <strong>\u0935\u093f\u0937<\/strong> [\u028b\u026a\u0283] (poison, venom) in Hindi, <strong>bisa<\/strong> (poison) in Malay and <strong>\u1796\u17b7\u179f<\/strong> (p\u0268h &#8211; poison, toxin, venom, infection, disease) in Khmer [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European\/wis\u00f3s\">source<\/a>]. <\/p>\n<p>So like a virus, the word <strong>virus<\/strong>, and related words, have spread around the world to many different places and languages.<\/p>\n<p>Incidentally, the Old English word for virus was <em>wyrms\/worms<\/em> [wyr\u02e0ms], which also meant pus or corrupt matter*. Its origins are lost in the mists of time, perhaps consumed by a virus or worms. It&#8217;s probably unrelated to <em>wyrm<\/em> (worm, maggot, grub, snake, dragon \ud83d\udc09) [<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wiktionary.org\/wiki\/wyrms\">source<\/a>].<\/p>\n<p><em>*You might notice that in the recording I say manner instead of matter. Just ignore it. It doesn&#8217;t matter \ud83e\udd26<\/em><\/p>\n<p>You can also listen to this podcast on: <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/gb\/podcast\/radio-omniglot\/id1432641094\">Apple Podcasts<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/music.amazon.com\/podcasts\/8b1b1d1b-b39e-4277-b28d-479a3b5043b3\/radio-omniglot\">Amazon Music<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/podcast\/radio-omniglot\">Stitcher<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/tunein.com\/podcasts\/Education-Podcasts\/Radio-Omniglot-p1154145\/\">TuneIn<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.podchaser.com\/podcasts\/radio-omniglot-716327\">Podchaser<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/player.fm\/series\/radio-omniglot\">PlayerFM<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/podtail.com\/da\/podcast\/radio-omniglot\/\">podtail<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>If you would like to support this podcast, you can make a donation via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/uk\/cgi-bin\/webscr?cmd=_flow&amp;SESSION=aLjPfXL-vP_1gQ_U23Iz8_hSWLlhzLHPMFZrt32dIEfG8htoNFLYaPoWkv8&amp;dispatch=5885d80a13c0db1f8e263663d3faee8def8934b92a630e40b7fef61ab7e9fe63\">PayPal<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/omniglot\">Patreon<\/a>, or <a href=\"http:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/donations.htm\">contribute to Omniglot in other ways<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Radio Omniglot podcasts are brought to you in association with <a href=\"https:\/\/blubrry.com\/services\/podcast-hosting\/?code=omniglot\">Blubrry Podcast Hosting<\/a>, a great place to host your podcasts. Get your first month free with the promo code <strong>omniglot<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.japanesepod101.com\/member\/go.php?r=759259&amp;i=b0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/images\/banners\/banner_japanesepod.jpg\" alt=\"The Fastest Way to Learn Japanese Guaranteed with JapanesePod101.com\" width=\"630\" height=\"83\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I also write about words, etymology and other language-related topics on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/bloggle\/\">Omniglot Blog<\/a>, and I explore etymological connections between Celtic languages on the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/celtiadur\/\">Celtiadur<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div itemscope itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/AudioObject\"><meta itemprop=\"name\" content=\"Adventures in Etymology &amp;#8211; Virus\" \/><meta itemprop=\"uploadDate\" content=\"2023-12-16T15:59:28+00:00\" \/><meta itemprop=\"encodingFormat\" content=\"audio\/mpeg\" \/><meta itemprop=\"duration\" content=\"PT1M40S\" \/><meta itemprop=\"description\" content=\"In this adventure, we\u2019re examining the origins of the word virus, because I seem to have picked up a bit of coronavirus \ud83d\ude37 this week, or possibly last week. I'm feeling better now, at the time of writing this, but not completely yet.\n\n\n\nA virus is:\n\n\n...\" \/><meta itemprop=\"contentUrl\" content=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/virus.mp3\" \/><meta itemprop=\"contentSize\" content=\"1.9\" \/><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_5933\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-3102-2\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/virus.mp3?_=2\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/virus.mp3\">https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/virus.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><\/div><p class=\"powerpress_links powerpress_links_mp3\" style=\"margin-bottom: 1px !important;\">Podcast: <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/virus.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_pinw\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Play in new window\" onclick=\"return powerpress_pinw('https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/?powerpress_pinw=3102-podcast');\" rel=\"nofollow\">Play in new window<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/media.blubrry.com\/radio_omniglot\/www.omniglot.com\/soundfiles\/etymology\/virus.mp3\" class=\"powerpress_link_d\" title=\"Download\" rel=\"nofollow\" download=\"virus.mp3\">Download<\/a><\/p><p>In this adventure, we\u2019re examining the origins of the word virus, because I seem to have picked up a bit of coronavirus \ud83d\ude37 this week, or possibly last week. I&#8217;m feeling better now, at the time of writing this, but not completely yet. A virus is: A submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[98,20,56,61,113,150,4,50,134,55,1,59,133],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-adventures-in-etymology","category-english","category-etymology","category-greek-","category-hindi-","category-khmer-","category-language","category-latin","category-malay-bahasa-melayu","category-old-english-aenglisc","category-podcast","category-proto-indo-european","category-proto-italic"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3102","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3102"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3102\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3115,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3102\/revisions\/3115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3102"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3102"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.omniglot.com\/radio\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3102"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}