Etymology 101

Word of the Day: Nice

-       Did you know that the word nice  really means “naïve, ignorant, and foolish”?

-       Nice comes from Old French (12th century).  It can be transliterated back to the Latin word nescius. 

-       This word can be broken into a prefix and root.  The prefix ne meaning “not” and the root scius is a stem of scire, which means “to know” (see science).

-       …Thus, if you are not nice, then you are unware and do not know.  You are naïve and foolish. 

BTW:

·      Naughty means needy and having nothing (naught + y).  So, during Christmas, if someone asks your children if they are naughty or nice, they are really asking if they are foolish or needy/having nothing.  Next time, tell them to say “neither- I am intelligent and I am well-taken care of by my _________________ (mama, papa, grandma, grandpa, etc…)

We say many words daily without truly knowing their true meaning, or its denotation.  Instead, we use connotations, the shaded or added meaning of a word.  

A sophomore at Howard University asked me the following question: "Although it is great and interesting to study the true meaning of words, but does it matter?  Aren't these definitions archaic since we don't use them in society any longer?  If so, why study etymology?"  

What a great question...it truths we seek are often in the whys versus the whats and hows.

Words are ideas and objects that are expressed and identified by voice (the etymology of word is Germanic; it means to call or speak).  It is true that words are used to convey information; to name a thing; and they can affect the energy and atmosphere around us.  Think about when people ask you to do something.  The way they ask can make the difference between a yes or a no.  In other words, a sweet request carries more weight than an angry demand.  

Thus, another reason to study etymology is to strengthen our understanding of history, culture, civics and law, philosophy, social engineering, physical and chemical sciences, and every other "subject" that we study.  These studies are the building blocks of society.  To study geometry, we must first know that we are studying "the measure of the earth" (geo is earth, metry is measure).  Why study the measure of the earth?  To know ratios and angles between the Earth and various planets and stars.  And they learned ratios and angles to build pyramids and structures that align with the planets and stars.  Ancient cultures used this and other structures to generate energy (the original use of solar power).

By knowing the etymology of geometry, we have unlocked a cultural legacy that shows us 
a) ancient civilizations considered planets and stars before making a decision; 

b) ancient civilizations were more technologically advance than we typically thin; and 

c) one can generate energy by studying geometry and building structures to capture the rays of the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars. 




I encourage everyone, both young and old, to delve deep into the study of etymology so that you may know and stand in truth.  

Etymology 101
Word/Cognate of the Day: Consider


Consider derives from Old French (14c.) considerer from Latin (13c.) considerare.  Prefix con (together, with) + root sider  (the stars).  Proto Indo European root sweid, meaning "to shine".  Meaning to observe the stars; to be with the stars. 

Remember, etymology and denotative meanings puts a word in its cultural context and opens the door for one to learn about their history and ancient cultural practices.  Many of the cultural practices are coming back into our lives (ex: many schools are now adopting agricultural curricula to teach children how to grow and tend to crops for food).  This is a practice of our ancestors, both of recent and ancient times- at one point, we could all grow food.  
Consider is a term with astrological significance because our ancestors (Egyptian, Chaldean, indigenous American, Asians, Europeans, etc...) used the transits of the planets and stars to dictate weather and seasonal patterns.  The stars would tell them when to plant and when to harvest.  

Other word(s) with the same root: sidereal

Etymology 101 
Word/Cognate of the Day: Patience
Patience (abstract noun): of Latin origin patientia; the Latin root is pati or pass; the Proto-Indo-European root is pei, all of which mean to suffer or endure; firm and unyielding (like a river's current).  To suffer without complaint.

...yes, patience is truly a virtue...

Other words with the Latin cognate include: passion; compassion; compatible

Thus, a person in the hospital would be considered a patient (concrete noun) because they are suffering from an illness or disease; and to heal, they must be patient (adjective) to see the best results. 

Greek form of pass/pati is pathos, which means feeling.  Words with this cognate include: sympathy; empathize; pathology; pathetic; allopathic; psychopath; antipathetic, etc...