January 12, 2011
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I am taking a class in Etymology, and I am in over my head. It is interesting, but difficult, and although I know I'm in for a lot of frustration, I'm too stubborn to choose something easier. I want to know these things so I will learn them, even though I'll probably cry about it.
Today I read about how the word sad used to mean satisfied, as in, "having had one's fill (of something)." My textbook goes into how to trace its changes, but it's all very scary and technical and I don't entirely understand. But eventually sad began to mean, "weary or tired (or something)," which is where it developed a negative connotation. Later still, its meaning broadened to mean, generally, "sorrowful or mournful," remaining negative but becoming less specific.
I feel like that's the kind of thing that's good to know.
h.
Comments (2)
There are several things that made this post interesting - most of them related to the fact I just woke up. Here are my thoughts in order:
1. Hey, I wonder if that's Alvarez's brother in that photo.
2. Entomology is a strange choice for an English Major.
3. Oh, right, ETYmology.
4. I wonder if "sad" used to be a form of "sate."
I wish I'd taken an etymology course - though I get that it's going to be difficult. I dropped out of a linguistics class once. It seemed like such an awesome idea, but it just wasn't fun like I thought it would be... Sigh.
x.g.
@edithshead - It is indeed Alvarez's brother. I don't know about "sate," but if I find out I'll let you know. It makes sense. (Also, yes - words, not bugs. Although they might as well be bugs, for how foreign this class seems to me.)
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