Babeled

Today’s lesson in Word Power is to understand the etymology and history behind the word bucolic.

Bucolic: [bu-col-ic]

(Adj.)

1. Of or characteristic of the countryside or its people; rustic.
2. Of or characteristic of shepherds or flocks; pastoral.

(Noun)

1. A pastoral poem.
2. A farmer or shepherd; a rustic.  (American Heritage Dictionary)

Etymology

In order to understand the etymology behind the word bucolic, we must trace the word back to the Ancient Greek language.  It was in the Ancient Greek language that the word βουκολιΚος (boukolikos) first took form.  This word meant rustic or pastoral, but let’s dig deeper and understand how the Greeks were able to form this word in the first place.  The word βουκολιΚος was actually a combination of two other Ancient Greeks words, βους and κολος.

Βους (Bous)

In Ancient Greek, the word βους meant ox, bull, or cow.  In the plural sense, the word meant cattle.  Believe it or not the word βους is a stem in words that we use today, such as butter or bovine.

Κολος (Kolos)

Κολος in Ancient Greek meant tending.  It is actually derived from an obsolete form of the Ancient Greek verb κολεω.  As is usually the case, the Romans took this word and infused into their Latin language.  From κολεω the Romans created the verb colere, which means to tend, till, cultivate, etc.  We see the root κολος in our language today in words, such as colony, culture, and even cultivate.

Summary

The Ancient Greeks had taken the two words (βους and κολος) and combined them to form βουκολος, which meant herdsman.  However, as the Ancient Greeks were privy to, they added to existing words rather than make up new ones and in order to make a word an adjective “of pertaining to”, they added the suffix ικος to the word.  Hence, we have the Ancient Greek word βουκολικος, which meant pastoral.  Through the evolution of languages βουκολικος was changed by Latin to read bucolicus.  Remember, the Romans did not actively use the letter “k” in their alphabet and therefore the κ was changed to a c.  The suffix -us was added in order to ensure that the adjective would be able to match in gender, number, and case with the noun it was modifying.  Over time, through Old French and Middle English the ending -icus changed to -ique and then eventually -ic.

Extra Credit

Before now, I had never heard of the word bucolic, but after writing this post I feel like I am an expert on it.  So first, I want to take the time out to thank Jason Morgan for suggesting this most difficult word.  Onward, back in October I did a Word Power on the word economy where I briefly touched upon the suffix -ic.  The suffix -ic forms an adjective giving the meaning “of pertaining to or having characteristics of” to the word.  Nevertheless, I wanted to review the fact that the suffix -ic is actually derived from the Ancient Greek suffix -ικος.  The Romans changed this suffix to -icus (masculine).  Once the French got their hands on the words, they changed the suffix to -ique and then the English reduced it to -ic.  This is where we are today, with words such as music and critic.

Tune in next Thursday for a breakdown of the word Education.

Image Used in this Post

Highland Cattle image courtesy of Flickr user Steve Deger published under the CC license.

Today’s lesson in Word Power is to understand the etymology and history behind the word muscle.

Muscle (Noun): [mus-cle]

1. A tissue composed of fibers capable of contracting to effect bodily movement.
2. A contractile organ consisting of a special bundle of muscle tissue, which moves a particular bone, part, or substance of the body: the heart muscle; the muscles of the arm.  (American Heritage Dictionary)

Etymology

At first, this word looks very simple and indeed it is, but what I find most interesting about the word muscle is that the original meaning is something entirely different than what most people would imagine.  The etymology of muscle can be traced back all the way to the Ancient Greeks, but the word as we know it was really applied under the Latin language.  Allow me to explain . . .

μυς (mus)

In Ancient Greece, the word μυς meant a mouse.  When Greece became infused into the Roman Empire, some of the ancient language changed and some didn’t.  Mus was one of the words that didn’t change at all and the Romans used the word mus to refer to a mouse as well.  However, the Romans did develop the word musculus to mean “little mouse”.  Unfortunately, there are only a few words which we use today where we can see the stem mus in them, such as mussel (a sea mouse) and Mustelids (referring to the weasel genus).

Musculus, i

As stated above, musculus is a Latin noun that means little mouse.  Approximately in 1533, it was noticed that the shape and movements of biceps strongly resembled little mice.  So as you can guess this was when the the word musculus began to take on its new form muscle.  Through the evolution of languages from Latin to Old French to Middle English, the suffix -culus changed to -cle.  This change happened with many different Latin words that had a similar ending, such as circle and article.

Summary

Although neither the Greek word μυς nor the Latin word musculus, literally mean muscle, they are both key components in understanding the etymology behind the word.  This example in etymology really shows you how words that mean something today could be derived from words that meant something entirely different 500 years ago.  Literally speaking, when somebody uses the word muscle, they are really referring to the little mice moving inside the human skin.

Extra Credit

The amount (edit) number of muscles that are inside the human body range (edit) ranges from 640 to 850.  While there is no specific number for the amount of muscles that are in the human body, experts have categorized all muscles into three categories.  Skeletal muscles are voluntary muscles meaning that the person has control on how it is used.  Skeletal muscles refer to muscles such as biceps, triceps, etc. (the inspiration for the word muscle).  There are also smooth muscles which are involuntary muscles inside the stomach and intestines.  The third type of muscle is categorized as a cardiac muscle.

At the request of fellow Babeler Jason Morgan, Tune in next Thursday for a breakdown of the word bucolic.

Today’s lesson in Word Power is to understand the etymology and history behind the word procrastination.

Procrastinate (Verb): [pro-cras-ti-nate]

1. To put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness.
2. To postpone or delay needlessly.  (American Heritage Dictionary)

Etymology

The first thing you should notice is that the definition above is for the word procrastinate and not procrastination, however from the last Word Power, you already know that the suffix -ion simply makes the preceding word a noun meaning an act of.  Therefore, procrastination is the act of procrastinating.  Like many of the words that we use today, this word has its origins in the Latin language.  The Latin word that gave birth to the word procrastinate is procrastinus, which is the combination of the Latin words pro and crastinus.

Pro

Pro is a Latin preposition meaning for, forward, in favor of, etc.  As is usually the case, translation of a Latin word depends on context.  We see the Latin word pro used in everyday fashion, in such words as provoke (to call forward) or promote (to move forward).  We also commonly see pro used when showing favor for certain information, as in when we use pro’s and con’s to evaluate data.

Crastinus

Crastinus is a Latin adjective meaning of tomorrow, belonging to tomorrow, etc.  However, the word that is most important to notice within crastinus is cras.  The definition of cras literally means tomorrow.  The ending -tinus was added to cras to make it an adjective that could grammatically match any noun in number and case.  Unfortunately, there are no traces of the Latin word cras in the English language today.

Summary

Initially, the word procrastinus was developed to serve as a Latin adjective meaning “in favor of tomorrow”.  However, the Romans used this adjective to make a new verb.  The Latin verb that procrastinus gave way to was procrastinare (infinitive), which means to put off till the morrow, delay, etc.  Through the evolution of languages, procrastinare lead to the word procrastinate, which literally means “to be in favor of (doing) tomorrow”.

Extra Credit

The word procrastination reminds me of term papers, studying for tests, and pretty much anything school related.  For others it might remind them of last minute Christmas shopping or booking plane tickets.  Do not fear we, procrastinators, are not alone in this.  In a 2007 study, Piers Steel, a University of Calgary professor, noted that 26% of Americans considered themselves as chronic procrastinators.  Dr. Steel attributes procrastination with a rise in the distractions that affect most people.  With the increasing diagnosis of ADD and SLOT, people have more reason(s) to procrastinate.  Just remind yourself that when you are procrastinating, you are really planning on doing it tomorrow, not next week.

Tune in next Thursday for a breakdown of the word Muscle.  If anybody has any words that they would like to know the etymology of, then let me know.

Image Used in this Post

Prague Town Hall Clock image courtesy of Flickr user kainet published under the CC license.

Today’s lesson in Word Power is to understand the etymology and history behind the word election.

Election (Noun): [e-lec-tion]

1. The act of choosing; choice; selection.
2. The act of choosing a person to fill an office, or to membership in a society, as by ballot, uplifted hands, or viva voce; as, the election of a president or a mayor.  (Websters Revised Unabridged Dictionary)

Etymology

With Election Day upon us today, I only thought it appropriate to discuss the etymology behind the word election.  The word election is directly derived from the Latin verb eligere, which means to choose, select, etc.  The four principle parts of this verb are eligo, eligere, elegi, and electum.  As was stated in my etymology of the word conservative post, most words that we use today are a form of the fourth principle part of verbs.  This idea holds true for the word election, however I aim to show you how the Latin word electum was constructed.  As always, we must get to the root word and in this case the root word happens to be lego.

Lego, legere, legi, lectum

Lego is a Latin verb which literally means to gather, to collect, etc.  Like many Latin verbs, lego can have multiple meanings when used in a certain context.  Another meaning it can have is to choose, to pick out, etc.  The word election was derived from the fourth principal part, lectum. There are many words that we use today with the Latin word lectum in them, such as neglect (to disregard, omit) and collect (to gather together).

Ex

Now that we have gotten the root word lect, we can begin reconstructing the word election.  First we must add the prefix e- back into the equation.  The prefix e- is derived from the Latin word ex, which means out of or from.  Through the evolution of languages, ex was shortened to a simple e.  We commonly see the shortened version of ex every day when we look at U.S. currency, which reads “e pluribus unum“.  The literal translation of this motto is “out of many, one”.  There are many other words in which we see the prefix ex used in our language today, such as exact (to force out) and excerpt (to take passages from a book).

Summary

Now that we have reconstructed the word elect, all that is left to do is add on the suffix -ion, which makes a word a noun.  Usually -ion, gives the meaning of an action or process to the root word preceding it, such as legislation or procrastination.  The meaning of election hasn’t changed much since the Romans used the word eligo two thousand years ago, but the literal translation of election would be the act of gathering out of. Thus, it is fair to say that to elect somebody or something is to choose one option (supposedly the best) from multiple options.

Extra Credit

The U.S. Presidential Election is taking place today for the fifty-fifth time in the United States’ short history.  Since the inception of the U.S. as an independent country there has been much turmoil regarding elections, ranging from Thomas Jefferson’s win over Aaron Burr in 1800, as well as George W. Bush’s win over Al Gore in 2000.  Unfortunately, the people are not the overriding deciding factor in elections, as the Electoral College was designed to be elected by the people to choose the proper candidate.  So remember, when you are entering your voting booth today, you are only choosing the elector that will inevitably vote for the candidate that you are endorsing.  Well, at least that’s what they are supposed to do.  Now Get Out and Vote!

Tune in this Thursday for the breakdown of the word Procrastination.

Image Used in this Post

2008 Presidential Election Sample Ballot image courtesy of Flickr user freeparking published under the CC license.

Today’s lesson in Word Power is to understand the etymology and history behind the word liberal.

Liberal: [lib-er-al]

(Adj.)

1. Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
2. Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behaviors of others; broad-minded.

(Noun)

1. A person with liberal ideas or opinions.
2. A member of a Liberal political party.  (American Heritage Dictionary)

Etymology

Understanding the etymology of the word liberal is relatively simple.  Like most words that are used today, liberal has its roots in the Latin language.  The word liberal is directly derived from the Latin word liberalis, meaning of freedom or relating to freedom.  However, in order to fully understand the etymology we need to take apart the Latin word liberalis.  To do so, we must separate the word into two Latin words, liber and alis.

Liber, libera, liberum

Liber is a Latin adjective meaning free, unrestricted, unrestrained, etc. The adjective liber is likely derived from the Latin verb libero, liberare, liberavi, liberatus, which means to set free.  Liber could also be used as a substantive adjective within the context of the Latin language, meaning a freeman or freedom.  There are many words that we use today with the word liber in them, such as liberty, liberation, and liberator.

Alis

Alis is an older Latin form of the word, alius. Alius, alia, aliud is another adjective which typically means another, other, etc.  Throughout the centuries of linguistic evolution that followed, alius turned into the suffix -al.  Eventually, -al was attached to the end of words to change that word into an adjective, such as economical or political.  Another common way that we see the word alis used today is when you use the abbreviation et al. for et alii, which literally means “and others”.

Summary

So there you have it, the Romans combined the two adjectives liber and alis to form one word, liberalis.  Over the years that ensued through infusion of the Latin language into Old French and then Middle English, the last two letters -is dropped off to form the word liberal.  Taken literally and in Latin context, liberalis means another matter of freedom.  The word liberal became a component of everyday speech during the Age of Enlightenment (1637-1778) and had a hand in labeling the changing philosophy at the time of the American Revolution.

Extra Credit

The American Revolution was incited on the grounds that all men had a basic inalienable right to pursue liberty.  During the Age of Enlightenment philosophers, such as John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, heavily influenced the founding fathers of this great nation with thought of individual freedoms.  Their writings and philosophies served as the catalyst for our fore-fathers, such as Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, and John Adams to orchestrate a revolt from British tyranny and oppression. Over the years that followed the American Revolution, the word liberal took on a new meaning in U.S. politics such that it described an individual or group that desired to have government action affect social change.

Image Used In This Post

Portrait of Thomas Jefferson image courtesy of Flickr user Cliff1066 published under the CC license.

Tune in this Tuesday for a Word Power special on the breakdown of the word Election.