Summary: How is carillon related to clarion? Do these words make beautiful music together? I guess that depends on who's listening ...
Last night, lying in bed and reading, I came across a word that I pretty well figured out by context, but still wanted to look up, because it was new to me. Not only that, it's a word I would categorize as "pretty." After learning the exact meaning, "pretty" really does it justice, I think.
Carillon (KAYR - eh - LON) - (n.) a set of fixed, chromatically tuned bells sounded by hammers that are controlled from a keyboard; also an electronic instrument that imitates the carillon or a musical composition created for the carillon. The etymology of the word carillon is straightforward, but rich—perhaps a little like the instrument, itself.
Entering English in 1775 from the French (same word, different pronunciation [don't forget to click the link by the word above to hear how it sounds in English today]), it derives from the Old French carignon, meaning "set of four bells." This traces to the Latin for "set of four," quaternionem, which derives from quarter, also Latin and meaning "four times." Carillon's base origin traces back five and a half thousand years—well before such an instrument was ever even in idea form, likely—to the Proto-Indo-European word for four, kwetwer. (Now, that's one I'd categorize as a "funny" word! Say it as fast as you can, and it sounds like a sneeze.)
Researching this all for today's blog post, I wondered if this WOW! Word were any relation to clarion. The answer is yes—and no: While the two don't share any similar root words, they do follow the same path to the English language, from Latin to Old French to French, then English. Look up the definition, and you'll find even more they share in common. Then check out the history of the carillon, too.
As a sidebar, the book I was reading used this lovely word in a beautiful metaphor. The exact quote is: "While that first gloss had not set off any bells for Alan, Evan-Wentz's translation set off a carillon." [From Destructive Emotions: How Can We Overcome Them? (A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama, narrated by Daniel Goldeman, author of Emotional Intelligence)] ... Don't you just think that sentence has a nice ring to it?
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2011
Showing posts with label etymology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label etymology. Show all posts
Oct 10, 2011
May 31, 2011
WORD OF THE WEEK: Pastiche
Summary: I've always been a little fuzzy on the word pastiche. Is it a food? An art form? A style of building designs? ... Or is it possibly all of the above and then some?
As you've surely learned by now, I often use this blog to teach myself new words. It's one of the perks of being the blogger who makes those decisions—such as, "What will be the WOW, or Word of the Week, this time?" (And "Do I still blog on Memorial Day if I'm taking the rest of the day off of work?" To that one, I decided this year the answer would be, "Nah, that's okay.")
So today, there's a word I'm having a hard time using correctly. And that word is pastiche. Let's learn a little bit about it together:
Pastiche (pass - TEESH) - (n.) a literary, artistic, musical or even architectural composition that either imitates a previous style or is made up of selections from different works.
Synonyms for the latter definition include potpourri and hodgepodge. But when it comes to the first definition, that's where I draw a blank. It doesn't help that the word, a French word (for "medley of different works") derived from Italian, sounds like some sort of food to me—like an even more delicious pistachio. Its sound reminds me of a dessert. And my instincts aren't that far off: It turns out the Italian word, pasticcio, also means "pastry cake" and is linked to the word pasta. (Mmm, pastry cake ...)
What connects so many different ideas—pasta, cake, artistic medleys? Etymology can answer that question, too. The original Latin word pasticium means "composed of paste," or "pasted together." Like dough (in both cake and pasta), a pastiche of artistic styles is often kneaded with love to rise high in the hearts of intended admirers.
If you love pastries, words and art blends, join me in homage to all at my friend Jama Finney's deliciously artistic web store, CakeZen. It's a veritable pastiche of pastry and party styles!
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2011
As you've surely learned by now, I often use this blog to teach myself new words. It's one of the perks of being the blogger who makes those decisions—such as, "What will be the WOW, or Word of the Week, this time?" (And "Do I still blog on Memorial Day if I'm taking the rest of the day off of work?" To that one, I decided this year the answer would be, "Nah, that's okay.")
So today, there's a word I'm having a hard time using correctly. And that word is pastiche. Let's learn a little bit about it together:
Pastiche (pass - TEESH) - (n.) a literary, artistic, musical or even architectural composition that either imitates a previous style or is made up of selections from different works.
Synonyms for the latter definition include potpourri and hodgepodge. But when it comes to the first definition, that's where I draw a blank. It doesn't help that the word, a French word (for "medley of different works") derived from Italian, sounds like some sort of food to me—like an even more delicious pistachio. Its sound reminds me of a dessert. And my instincts aren't that far off: It turns out the Italian word, pasticcio, also means "pastry cake" and is linked to the word pasta. (Mmm, pastry cake ...)
What connects so many different ideas—pasta, cake, artistic medleys? Etymology can answer that question, too. The original Latin word pasticium means "composed of paste," or "pasted together." Like dough (in both cake and pasta), a pastiche of artistic styles is often kneaded with love to rise high in the hearts of intended admirers.
If you love pastries, words and art blends, join me in homage to all at my friend Jama Finney's deliciously artistic web store, CakeZen. It's a veritable pastiche of pastry and party styles!
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2011
Apr 5, 2010
WORD OF THE WEEK: Pernicious
Summary: Today's word, pernicious, comes complete with the usual etymology, pronunciation and definition. But it also includes a bonus list of synonyms and a special writing exercise just for you! Read more ...
This week's word may be a bit troubling, but don't let it cause you to lose any sleep. Entering the English language in the 15th century, pernicious (PER - NI - shus) originally meant wicked—but has since evolved to mean merely harmful or injurious, a lesser degree on the evil scale.
It's gained popularity in usage again, especially in fictional literature. (Think Twilight and Harry Potter series.) In fact, the implications of the word pernicious are fatal, as in "causing fatal injury or harm." Other synonyms are deadly, lethal, toxic and noxious. While each of these words is subtly different in meaning, their similarities are close enough to be interchangeable at times. Hence, the synonyms!
Probably my favorite synonym for pernicious is destructive, as it's much closer in meaning than the others—without the extreme connotations for wickedness, of course. Pernicious, to me, always implies a slow and steady kind of annihilation, such as the Biblical reference (by some translations) to "the pernicious snake" in the Garden of Eden.
Here's your writing assignment for the week: Write at least a paragraph about something pernicious in your life, be it a thought process, an illness or an ever-present, competitive co-worker. Then comment here to share how being honest about it makes you feel.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
This week's word may be a bit troubling, but don't let it cause you to lose any sleep. Entering the English language in the 15th century, pernicious (PER - NI - shus) originally meant wicked—but has since evolved to mean merely harmful or injurious, a lesser degree on the evil scale.
It's gained popularity in usage again, especially in fictional literature. (Think Twilight and Harry Potter series.) In fact, the implications of the word pernicious are fatal, as in "causing fatal injury or harm." Other synonyms are deadly, lethal, toxic and noxious. While each of these words is subtly different in meaning, their similarities are close enough to be interchangeable at times. Hence, the synonyms!
Probably my favorite synonym for pernicious is destructive, as it's much closer in meaning than the others—without the extreme connotations for wickedness, of course. Pernicious, to me, always implies a slow and steady kind of annihilation, such as the Biblical reference (by some translations) to "the pernicious snake" in the Garden of Eden.
Here's your writing assignment for the week: Write at least a paragraph about something pernicious in your life, be it a thought process, an illness or an ever-present, competitive co-worker. Then comment here to share how being honest about it makes you feel.
© KiKi Productions, Inc. 2010
Jul 13, 2009
WORD OF THE WEEK: A Beautiful Noun
Here is one of my favorite nouns: credenza. It's beautiful! But, my, what a dark history it has. Here is its etymology, according to Merriam-Webster online and Wikipedia:
Credenza: from the Italian "credenza"; literally, "belief" or "confidence"; from the Medieval Latin "credentia"; anecdotally, the 16th century act of credenza was "the tasting of food or drinks by a servant for a lord or important person (like popes and cardinals). With this taste they [ascertained] the food was not poisoned. The name then passed to the room where the act took place, then to the furniture."
Today, a credenza is most commonly known as a sideboard used in a dining room or restaurant for serving food buffet style and/or storing dishes for food service. It's also "a modern desk form usually placed next to a wall as a secondary work surface to that of another desk ... in a typical executive office." The desk version of a credenza can also be used to store books, files or other work items.
From potentially-poisoned food-tasting to housing the boss's stationery, the credenza has come a long way in the last 500-some years, although the word's spelling and sound primarily remain the same. What's your favorite noun? And do you know its history?
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Credenza: from the Italian "credenza"; literally, "belief" or "confidence"; from the Medieval Latin "credentia"; anecdotally, the 16th century act of credenza was "the tasting of food or drinks by a servant for a lord or important person (like popes and cardinals). With this taste they [ascertained] the food was not poisoned. The name then passed to the room where the act took place, then to the furniture."
Today, a credenza is most commonly known as a sideboard used in a dining room or restaurant for serving food buffet style and/or storing dishes for food service. It's also "a modern desk form usually placed next to a wall as a secondary work surface to that of another desk ... in a typical executive office." The desk version of a credenza can also be used to store books, files or other work items.
From potentially-poisoned food-tasting to housing the boss's stationery, the credenza has come a long way in the last 500-some years, although the word's spelling and sound primarily remain the same. What's your favorite noun? And do you know its history?
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Jun 8, 2009
WORD OF THE WEEK: Guess the Meaning!
Today's word of the day comes from Dictionary.com—and it comes with a twist: This week, rather than tell you the meaning and etymology of the word, I'm going to use it in a sentence and ask you to tell me where it came from or what it means. Think you can handle it? Get ready to play!
"It's not uncommon for politicians to talk around a topic, making an art of tergiversation in answer to a question, especially on controversial subjects." Also: "Senator Arlen Specter has been accused of selling out to the highest-voting bidder after his tergiversation of the Republican Party."
Those are your clues. The first 2 people to comment with the right definition (and/or etymology) will win 1 hour of consultation with me, Kealah Parkinson, for FREE.
Need help overcoming speaking shyness? Having troubles with hemming and hawing when you really want to be making your point? Bring your woes to the session, and see how an hour with a speech coach can cure your tergiversation today!
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
"It's not uncommon for politicians to talk around a topic, making an art of tergiversation in answer to a question, especially on controversial subjects." Also: "Senator Arlen Specter has been accused of selling out to the highest-voting bidder after his tergiversation of the Republican Party."
Those are your clues. The first 2 people to comment with the right definition (and/or etymology) will win 1 hour of consultation with me, Kealah Parkinson, for FREE.
Need help overcoming speaking shyness? Having troubles with hemming and hawing when you really want to be making your point? Bring your woes to the session, and see how an hour with a speech coach can cure your tergiversation today!
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
May 27, 2009
TRULY SPEAKING: The Etymology of Etymology
Still confused about this week's bonus word? Here's the answer! I've collected (in addition to the definition of the word) a list of links to connect you to all things etymological. Enjoy!
First, the definition and word history: Etymology dates back to the 14th century in English, and means "the history of a linguistic form (as a word)," according to Merriam-Webster.com, and (according to Wiktionary) "an account of the origin and historical development of a word." (Truthfully, there's more to the definition—and you can learn it in full at either of those sites—but for our purposes here, this is the explanation that fits.) ... So, the etymology, or word history, of the word etymology is: from the Middle English etimologie, derived from the Old French ethimologie, which comes from the Latin word etymologia. This comes from the Ancient Greek word etumologia, a blend of two Ancient Greek words: etumon, meaning "true sense," and logia, or "the study of." We study the true sense of a word to learn its etymology.
If this kind of information gets you as excited as it does me—or even half as excited!—follow the links below for more word-sleuthing fun. And if you find all this word-speak to be just a little boring, it may help you to know that the science of etymology helps memorialize the evolution of language. (Gee, where have I heard that word before?)
etymonline.com - an online dictionary of word etymology
WordOrigins.org - a site that's "devoted to the origins of words and phrases"
Behind the Name - a dot-com site dedicated to the etymology of names in a variety of languages
Etymologically Speaking - a site that looks at the etymology of Romance language words (& my favorite site name!)
Rob's Old Norse Page - contains a list of English words derived from Old Norse
Sanskrit Etymological Sources - a page of Sanskrit etymology
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
First, the definition and word history: Etymology dates back to the 14th century in English, and means "the history of a linguistic form (as a word)," according to Merriam-Webster.com, and (according to Wiktionary) "an account of the origin and historical development of a word." (Truthfully, there's more to the definition—and you can learn it in full at either of those sites—but for our purposes here, this is the explanation that fits.) ... So, the etymology, or word history, of the word etymology is: from the Middle English etimologie, derived from the Old French ethimologie, which comes from the Latin word etymologia. This comes from the Ancient Greek word etumologia, a blend of two Ancient Greek words: etumon, meaning "true sense," and logia, or "the study of." We study the true sense of a word to learn its etymology.
If this kind of information gets you as excited as it does me—or even half as excited!—follow the links below for more word-sleuthing fun. And if you find all this word-speak to be just a little boring, it may help you to know that the science of etymology helps memorialize the evolution of language. (Gee, where have I heard that word before?)
etymonline.com - an online dictionary of word etymology
WordOrigins.org - a site that's "devoted to the origins of words and phrases"
Behind the Name - a dot-com site dedicated to the etymology of names in a variety of languages
Etymologically Speaking - a site that looks at the etymology of Romance language words (& my favorite site name!)
Rob's Old Norse Page - contains a list of English words derived from Old Norse
Sanskrit Etymological Sources - a page of Sanskrit etymology
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
May 25, 2009
WORD OF THE WEEK: Remember This Memorial Day
You might say there are two words to remember this week: The first, memorial, is defined at myEtymology.com. And that makes the second word etymology.
According to the folks at myEtymology, memorial was first used in the English language in the 14th century. And its history, or word origin—or etymology—is as follows: It's derived from the Old French word "memorial" which comes from the Late Latin word "memoriale," meaning "memorandum" or "memory," which is borne of the Latin word "memorialis" (historiographer royal, a man employed in the emporer's secretarial bureau), coming from "memoria," also Latin and meaning "memory, recollection; history." That word is derived from the Latin word "memor," meaning "remembering" or "mindful." And there you have the history (etymology) of the word "memorial"!
Can you remember all that? If you aren't sure, take notes, because—yes—there will be an upcoming quiz ....
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
According to the folks at myEtymology, memorial was first used in the English language in the 14th century. And its history, or word origin—or etymology—is as follows: It's derived from the Old French word "memorial" which comes from the Late Latin word "memoriale," meaning "memorandum" or "memory," which is borne of the Latin word "memorialis" (historiographer royal, a man employed in the emporer's secretarial bureau), coming from "memoria," also Latin and meaning "memory, recollection; history." That word is derived from the Latin word "memor," meaning "remembering" or "mindful." And there you have the history (etymology) of the word "memorial"!
Can you remember all that? If you aren't sure, take notes, because—yes—there will be an upcoming quiz ....
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
Apr 17, 2009
The Evolution of Etymology: How Human Language Changes & Grows
We’ve all heard the universal lament: Cell phones and e-mail accounts are downgrading language. Abbreviations and emoticons are blamed for dropping literacy rates and for lingual confusion virtually all over the world, as teens and tweens spend, according to one British study, about 31 hours per week online texting, surfing, and chatting—versus 3 hours each week studying via the internet. Contrary to popular belief, however, the reverse may be the real truth: Newsweek Magazine reported in an article last August that “texting may give literacy a boost,” because exposure to language equals exposure to language—period.
The fact is, language—no matter which you speak or in what part of the world—changes. Pick up any book written in any decade of the 20th Century, fiction or non-fiction, and you’re sure to find yourself amused at some point by the notable differences in conversational tones. The English language, spoken by more than 20 percent of the world, has morphed from Middle English and “Olde Englishe” (as it was then written), and beyond that, from the Romance languages of Latin and Greek. Etymologically, English has been internationally influenced at each turn as the world population shifts, grows, and eternally relocates.
It should come as no surprise then that language continues to transform as the various countries of the world meet up online. Merriam-Webster’s “open dictionary” takes a firm hold on the helm of this exploration, inviting internet users to add their own words (or “slanguage” as one anonymous contributor put it) to an ever-growing list.
Wikipedia, the open source e-encyclopedia, also has its own open content dictionary, or Wiktionary. It integrates multiple languages into one dictionary source for any speaker-user around the globe.
It’s also not unexpected to note the several books and e-books on the subject of linguistic adaptation. The hand-held reading device Amazon Kindle, having released over 265,000 titles to date—currently priced at around $10—has at least 57, alone, about the ever-changing English language.
What’s your personal contribution to the word world? If you consciously create, unconsciously co-create, or even simply help proliferate the language you speak, hear, read, write, type or text (imagine: “text” is now a verb!), you are a part of the ever-evolving human existence. Welcome to growth! And talk about progressive!
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
The fact is, language—no matter which you speak or in what part of the world—changes. Pick up any book written in any decade of the 20th Century, fiction or non-fiction, and you’re sure to find yourself amused at some point by the notable differences in conversational tones. The English language, spoken by more than 20 percent of the world, has morphed from Middle English and “Olde Englishe” (as it was then written), and beyond that, from the Romance languages of Latin and Greek. Etymologically, English has been internationally influenced at each turn as the world population shifts, grows, and eternally relocates.
It should come as no surprise then that language continues to transform as the various countries of the world meet up online. Merriam-Webster’s “open dictionary” takes a firm hold on the helm of this exploration, inviting internet users to add their own words (or “slanguage” as one anonymous contributor put it) to an ever-growing list.
Wikipedia, the open source e-encyclopedia, also has its own open content dictionary, or Wiktionary. It integrates multiple languages into one dictionary source for any speaker-user around the globe.
It’s also not unexpected to note the several books and e-books on the subject of linguistic adaptation. The hand-held reading device Amazon Kindle, having released over 265,000 titles to date—currently priced at around $10—has at least 57, alone, about the ever-changing English language.
What’s your personal contribution to the word world? If you consciously create, unconsciously co-create, or even simply help proliferate the language you speak, hear, read, write, type or text (imagine: “text” is now a verb!), you are a part of the ever-evolving human existence. Welcome to growth! And talk about progressive!
(c) KiKi Productions, Inc. 2009
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