English Language: interesting, fun, and odd stuff about it
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English Language: interesting, fun, and odd stuff about it - 7/23/2008 10:49:40 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
Posts: 3637
Joined: 6/8/2005
From: a mother who let me live
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Word:
Definition:
Etymology (if necessary)
Why I chose this word:
_____________________________
Abiyah
"Ladies and gentlemen, there are things that you will only be able to learn by the weakest among us, and when you snuff them out, you are the one that loses." ~~Gianna Jesson, 1977 LA, CA, saline abortion survivor
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RE: English Language: interesting, fun, and odd stuff a... - 7/23/2008 10:50:55 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
Posts: 3637
Joined: 6/8/2005
From: a mother who let me live
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Word: governor
Definition: 1. U.S. state executive: the elected executive of state government in the United States
2. governing official: an appointed or elected official who governs a state, colony, or province for a specific term
3. governing body member: a member of a governing body of an institution
(there are other definitions, but these will do for my purpose)
Etymology (if necessary): 1297, from O.Fr. governer "govern," from L. gubernare "to direct, rule, guide," originally "to steer"; . . . governor (c.1300) is from L. gubernatorem (nom. gubernator) "director, ruler, governor," originally "steersman, pilot." Gubernatorial (1734, chiefly in Amer.Eng.) preserves the L. form.
Why I chose this word: Well, here’s the thing: As you can see, governor came to the English language from such words as gubernatorem, and we still retain that sound in our English word, gubernatorial. This will explain why the person in your state’s governor’s mansion is such a goober. You should have known that before you voted, and now, you know it before you go to the polls this time.
Yes, you may thank me.
You could have figured it out when you first learned the word, gubernatorial. I mean, think about it, and say it out loud with me. “Goober,” “nut,” “orial.” Think about it. “Goober”: well, there are many definitions for this word, not just peanut (which is certainly interesting). Just think about the definitions of the word you have learned or your children have taught you. “Nut”: well, that’s pretty well self explanatory. Orial is much like the word “oriole” – a flashy bird, but it just sings the same ol’ song.
And did you notice that another related word (from Latin) is gubernator. If you are from California, this is particularly enlightening. You thought he was The Terminator, but now, you know the truth. -ator, as a suffix, means “something or somebody that acts in a given way.” Okay – gubernator: someone who acts like a goober!
_____________________________
Abiyah
"Ladies and gentlemen, there are things that you will only be able to learn by the weakest among us, and when you snuff them out, you are the one that loses." ~~Gianna Jesson, 1977 LA, CA, saline abortion survivor
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RE: English Language: interesting, fun, and odd stuff a... - 7/24/2008 12:37:13 PM
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Covaan_Meshuga
Posts: 3637
Joined: 6/8/2005
From: a mother who let me live
Status: offline
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Another favorite English word to ponder
Word: cleave
Definition: 1. split: to split, or make something split, especially along a plane of natural weakness 2. cut path through something: to make a way through something ( literary )
Why I chose this word: Okay. So what do some marriage vows tell the new bride and groom to cleave to one another? Could it be because our language is maybe a little bit confusing?
Cleave: cling faithfully to somebody or something: to cling closely, steadfastly, or faithfully to somebody or something
So cleave means to split apart along a weak point and to cling together. Good night!
_____________________________
Abiyah
"Ladies and gentlemen, there are things that you will only be able to learn by the weakest among us, and when you snuff them out, you are the one that loses." ~~Gianna Jesson, 1977 LA, CA, saline abortion survivor
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