phatic etymology

Etymology:

The term "phatic etymology" is derived from the Greek words "phatic" (relating to speech or communication) and "etymology" (the origin of words).

Meaning:

Phatic etymology refers to the phenomenon where people derive words from existing words or phrases based on perceived similarities in sound or appearance, even though there is no actual etymological connection. It is a type of folk etymology, which is the study of popular or erroneous etymologies.

Origin:

The concept of phatic etymology has been discussed since the 19th century. One of the earliest recorded references to it is in the 1847 book "The Historical Etymology of English Words" by Charles Richardson.

Examples:

• Baccalaureate is often believed to be derived from the Latin "bacca laureus," meaning "berries of the laurel," because it sounds similar. However, it actually comes from "baccalaureus," a medieval term for a candidate for a university degree.
• Dogma is often connected to the verb "to dog," meaning "to follow persistently." However, it derives from the Greek "dogma," meaning "opinion" or "belief."
• Hokum is sometimes described as derived from "hocus pocus," a magician's incantation. While they may sound alike, "hokum" is actually of unknown origin.

Significance:

Phatic etymology can provide insights into how language evolves and how people make connections between words. It can also shed light on cultural beliefs and misconceptions. However, it is important to note that phatic etymologies are not always accurate and should not be taken as the primary source of information about the origin of words.

phatic relate terms

• abandon

  Etymology Origin Middle English abandonar from Old French abandoner from Late Latin

• affable

  Etymology Affable comes from the Latin word affabilis meaning approachable easy to

• anthem

  Etymology The word anthem comes from the Middle English anteme which in turn derive

• antiphon

  Etymology Ancient Greek ἀντίφωνος antiphōnos Literally means answering i

• aphasia

  Etymology Aphemia Greek meaning speechlessness ia Greek suffix indicating a con

• aphonia

  Etymology and Origin Word Aphonia Etymology Greek words a without phone voice

• aphonic

  Etymology The word aphonous originates from the Greek word a without and phonos

• apophasis

  Etymology From Ancient Greek ἀπόφασις apóphasis from ἀπό apó away

• apophatic

  Etymology Apo Greek for away from or apart from Phatic Greek for pertaining to s

• banal

  Etymology Latin banalis meaning common ordinary trivial Old French banal Meani

• bandit

  Etymology The word bandit comes from the Italian word bandito which means exile or

• banish

  Etymology The word banish comes from the Old French word banir which means to exile

• banlieue

  Etymology The word banlieue comes from the Old French banlieue which in turn derive

• banns

  Etymology The word banns originates from Middle English banes which is derived from

• bifarious

  Etymology Bifarious Latin bi two farius different related to face or form

• blame

  Etymology The word blame originates from the Middle English word blamen which in tur

• boon

  Etymology Middle English boun boone Old English bēn Proto Germanic bōnaz Proto I

• cacophony

  Etymology The word cacophony is derived from the Greek word kakophōnia which is a c

• confess

  Etymology Middle English confessen from Old French confesser from Latin confessus p

• contraband

  Etymology Late Middle English from Anglo Norman French contreban literally meaning a

• defame

  Etymology and Origin of Defame The word defame originates from the Latin word diffa

• dysphemism

  Etymology Dys Greek prefix meaning bad or difficult Phemism Greek word meaning

• euphemism

  Etymology Euphemism derives from the Greek words eu good and phemi speak Mean

• euphony

  Etymology Euphony comes from the Greek word euphōnía meaning sweet sound or soundi

• fable

  Etymology The word fable derives from the Latin fabula which itself is derived from

• fabulous

  Etymology The word fabulous originates from the Latin word fabula which means stor

• fado

  Etymology The word fado is derived from the Latin word fatum meaning fate or dest

• fairy

  Etymology The word fairy is derived from the Old French word faerie which in turn e

• fame

  Etymology The word fame traces its roots back to the Latin word fama meaning report

• famous

  Etymology is the study of the origin of words and how their meanings have changed over tim

• fandango

  Etymology The word fandango comes from the Portuguese word fandango which in turn is

• fatal

  Etymology Origin Latin fatalis from fatum fate Meaning Of or relating to fate

• fate

  Etymology The word fate comes from the Latin word fatum which means prophecy or d

• fateful

  Etymology The word fateful is derived from the Old English word fætle meaning fat

• gramophone

• heterophemy

  Etymology Derived from Greek heteros meaning other different phemē meaning

• homophone

  Etymology The word homophone is derived from the Greek roots homo meaning same an

• ineffable

  Etymology The word ineffable comes from the Latin word ineffabilis which means uns

• infamous

  Etymology The word infamous is derived from the Latin word infamis meaning having

• infamy

  Etymology Middle English infamie from Old French infamie from Late Latin infamia fro

• infant

  Etymology The word infant comes from the Latin word infans which means not speaking

• infantile

  Etymology Latin infans meaning child too young to speak Late Latin infantilis

• infantry

• mauvais

  Etymology Mauvais is a French word derived from the Latin word malus meaning bad o

• megaphone

  Etymology The word megaphone comes from the Greek words megas meaning great and

• microphone

  Etymology The word microphone is derived from two Greek words μικρός mikros

• monophonic

  Etymology Mono Greek for single Phonic Greek for sound Meaning Monophonic r

• nefandous

  Etymology Latin nefandus ne not fari to speak Meaning Wicked abomin

• nefarious

  Etymology From Latin nefarius from ne not fas right Meaning Wicked e

• phatic

  Etymology The term phatic etymology is derived from the Greek words phatic relating

• phone

  Etymology The word phone is derived from the Greek word phōnē meaning sound or

• phoneme

  Etymology The word phoneme is derived from the Greek words phonēma φώνημα m

• phonetic

  Phonetic Etymology Phonetic etymology is the study of the relationship between the sounds

• phonic

  Etymology Greek phone sound etymon true meaning Meaning Phonic etymology

• phonics

  Etymology and Meaning The word phonics is derived from the Greek word phonos which m

• phono

  Etymology Greek phōnē sound Meaning Relating to sound or the human voice

• pheme

  Etymology The word pheme comes from the Greek word φήμη phēmē meaning rumor

• Polyphemus

  Etymology Poly Greek many phemos pheme phēnai Greek speak tell Meani

• polyphony

  Etymology The term polyphony comes from the Greek words poly πολύς meaning

• preface

  Etymology The word preface comes from the Latin word praefatio which means somethi

• profess

  Etymology The word professor originates from the Latin word professus which means

• profession

  Etymology The word profession derives from the Latin word professio meaning a public

• professional

  Etymology Origin Latin Root pro forward fateri to declare or confess Mean

• professor

  Etymology Origin Latin professor Meaning one who professes Meaning and Origin

• prophecy

  Etymology The word prophecy is derived from the Greek word propheteia which means

• prophet

  Etymology Ancient Greek προφήτης prophētēs Latin propheta Meaning A

• prophetic

  Etymology Greek prophetes προφήτης Latin propheta Old English profeta

• quadraphonic

  Etymology Quadraphonic is derived from the Greek words Tetra τετρά four Ph

• symphony

  Etymology The word symphony is derived from the Ancient Greek word συμφωνία

• telephone

  Etymology The word telephone is derived from two Greek roots Tele τῆλε me

• xylophone

  Etymology The word xylophone comes from the Greek words xylon ξύλον meaning

• Caucasian

  Etymology Caucasus Derived from the ancient Greek Kaukasos the name of a mountain r

• diabetes

  Etymology Greek dia through bētēs passing through Meaning A chronic meta

• substance

  Etymology The word substance is derived from the Latin word substantia which means

• literature

  Etymology The word literature is derived from the Latin word littera which means le

• fringe

  Etymology The word fringe comes from the Middle English word fringe which in turn d

• spoil

  Etymology The word spoil comes from the Old French word spolier which means to rob

• friend

  Etymology The word friend comes from the Old English word freond which meant compa