Tendential Etymology
Meaning: Tendential etymology refers to the practice of deriving the meaning of a word based on its assumed or desired origin, rather than on its actual historical or linguistic development.
Origin: The term "tendential etymology" was first coined by the philologist Karl Brugmann in the 19th century. It is based on the Latin word "tendere," which means "to strive" or "to aim at."
Mechanism: Tendential etymologies often appeal to a popular belief or legend about the origin of a word, even if there is no linguistic evidence to support it. For example, the word "salary" is commonly believed to derive from the Latin word "salarium," which originally meant "a payment in salt." However, linguistic evidence suggests that the word "salary" actually comes from the Latin word "soldarium," which means "a soldier's pay."
Consequences: Tendential etymologies can lead to misconceptions about the true origin and meaning of words. They can also obscure the real etymological relationships between words and make it difficult to trace their linguistic history.
Examples: * "Balloon" is often believed to come from the Greek word "ballōn," meaning "to throw," because it suggests that balloons are thrown into the air. However, it actually comes from the French word "ballon," which means "a ball." * "Maverick" is commonly derived from the name of the American cowboy Samuel Maverick, who was known for not branding his cattle. However, the word is actually of Scottish origin and originally meant "a stray animal." * "Curfew" is often said to come from the French words "couvrir" (to cover) and "feu" (fire), implying that it refers to a time when people were required to cover their fires at night. However, it actually derives from the Latin word "curfus" (a race) and originally meant the ringing of a bell to signal the end of the day.
Etymology The word tendency comes from the Latin word tendere which means to stretc
Etymology Latin teneō meaning to hold keep or possess Meaning A principle
Meaning A suggested etymology that is biased or distorted to support a particular interpr
Etymology The word tendency comes from the Latin word tendere which means to stretc
Tendential Etymology Meaning Tendential etymology refers to the practice of deriving the
Etymology The word invention is derived from the Latin word invenire meaning to com
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Etymology and Meaning of Consequence Origin Middle French consequence Late Latin
Etymology of autumn The word autumn derives from the Latin autumnus which origina
