Tagged Questions
2
votes
1answer
95 views
Where do we get “queen” from? [closed]
King comes from Old Norse konungr, and prince is from French principle, but I have found no definite etymology for queen as we know it. I have found assumptive connections such as to keenan and gna, ...
4
votes
2answers
103 views
What did James V mean by “afferandly”?
In this letter from 1536, King James V of Scotland wrote in 1536:
Veilbelouit frend, we grete yow. Forsamekill as we ar of pourpas
to pas to Kelso, and to vesy owr Bordouris for ordoneng of ...
0
votes
1answer
186 views
Conjugation of wonder in early modern English [closed]
What I actually mean what's the conjugation of the verb wonder. For example:
I wonder, thou wonderest, etc..
including past, ing form, etc.. (it will actually help me with other verbs too)
10
votes
4answers
930 views
How and why have some words changed to a complete opposite?
One example that comes to mind is terrific which originally denoted something quite terrorising while now it has positive connotations... How and why did these changes occur?
13
votes
2answers
1k views
What were nightmares called before “nightmare” was used in that sense?
Apparently the word "nightmare" has only been used in the sense of "bad dream" since c. 1829. Before then the term referred to the agent causing the dreams—a mare < mera, mære 'goblin, ...
