Tagged Questions
0
votes
1answer
67 views
Etymology of the word 'finesse'
According to Merriam-Webster, one of the definitions of the word finesse is as follows:
refinement or delicacy of workmanship, structure, or texture
Now, based on the fact that the Latin base ...
9
votes
2answers
295 views
What is the ultimate etymology of “false”?
The first two are based on wiktionary
false
From Middle English false, from Old English fals (“false, fraud, falsehood”), from Latin falsus (“counterfeit, false; falsehood”), perfect passive ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Where do “‑ess” and “‑ine” suffixes come from?
English has a lot of words that end in ‑ess or ‑esse, such as actress, hostess, huntress, finesse, duress, prowess, Lyonesse, and Westernesse.
That looks like a suffix that is also used frequently ...
0
votes
0answers
112 views
quadratic equation vs. quad [closed]
A quad is four of something - such as quadruplets. However, a quadratic equation is named for the squaring of the first term:
ax2 + bx + c
Looking up the etymology, both go back to quadratus or ...
11
votes
1answer
620 views
Why isn't “muscle” pronounced “muskle”?
It comes from the Latin musculus (meaning mouse) and Latin has only hard c's. The "c" has somehow become soft or silent during evolution. Why did this happen?
Also, if muscle is pronounced mussle, ...
1
vote
1answer
157 views
Derivations of operation, operable vs. reparation, reparable
After a little thought I decided irreparable derives from repairable, but a few seconds later, decided it stems from reparation, "like operable from operation". Looking the words up, I found I was ...
7
votes
3answers
697 views
As “postscript” is one word, why do some abbreviate it as “p.s.”?
'Postscript' is a single word in modern English, and Dictionary.com states that it's even based on a single Latin word, postscrīptum. So, why do some abbreviate it to p.s. (or P.S.), as on this ...
18
votes
6answers
19k views
How did “sinister”, the Latin word for “left-handed”, get its current meaning?
Sinister is the Latin word for left-handed. What evolution of meaning turned left-handed into evil and threatening?
8
votes
2answers
760 views
Plural of “abacus”
A colleague and I were having a discussion as to the proper plural form of abacus. I believe the plural would be abacuses and he feels that the proper form would be abaci. I believe that abacuses is ...
6
votes
1answer
315 views
Etymology of “duck”
Etymonline and wiktionary don't seem to agree on that one.
Many European languages have cognates (Ente, anatra, eend), but duck seems isolated. Where does English take duck from?
Edit
As Henry ...
5
votes
2answers
583 views
Latin (or Greek) -x becomes -ght?
I have attested two words in English that come from two Latin words. These are "night" and "light". They derive from the words "nox" and "lux" respectively; both Latin — in the case of the word "nox", ...
2
votes
4answers
614 views
nebula and nebulous - a question of origin
While looking up nebulous, I noticed the origin of the word is dating back to 14th century. Surprised since the nebulae wasn't discovered at that time, I checked nebula to find that its origin dates ...
11
votes
4answers
5k views
What is the origin of the counting prefixes: uni-, bi-/di-, tri-, quad-, etc.?
Many English words use the prefixes uni-, bi-/di-, tri-, quad- and so on to mean one, two, three, and four. For example:
A unicycle has one wheel, a bicycle two, and a tricycle three.
I presume ...
5
votes
2answers
203 views
What is the origin of the pluralization “virii”?
However wrong it may be, lots of people have pluralized virus as virii. I'd understand viri, but what misconception could lead one to write virii?
7
votes
5answers
868 views
“Unicorn”: what other words have this “cornus” etymology?
"Unicorn" comes from the French and late Latin, with the "cornus" part meaning "horn". I am wondering what other English words share this root. I could think of "rhinoceros". Can you think of ...
4
votes
3answers
897 views
Derivation of “anus” from “annulus”?
I have always thought the word annulus to be exceptionally awkward. I'd like to know the relation between annulus and anus.
Geometrically, an annulus is a disk with a hole in it. The anal muscle ...
10
votes
6answers
788 views
Adjectives with Latin etymology when noun has non-Latin etymology
As a non-native English speaker, I always wondered why, for example, you say moon, but then you say lunar (same goes for side and lateral, hand and manual and so forth): in some cases, the noun is not ...
