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…)
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…)
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