The Oxford Guide to Etymology

183 Pages·2009·6.486 MB·English

by  Philip Durkin

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. Etymology
Philip Durkin
OXFORD
UNIVERSITY PRESS
TheO xforGdu idteo
Etymology
OXFORD
UNIVERSITPYR ESS
GreaCtl urcnSdtorneO extf.o OrXd26 np Contents
OxfoU.n'id verPsrietisyssa d epartmoeftn htUe n iverosfOi xtfyo rd'.
Itfu retrhtsh Uen iversoibtjye'cst ievxec eolfli enrn ecsee asrcchho,l arship,
ande ducatbiypo unb liswhoirnlgd wiind e
OxforNde wY ork
AucklaCnadp Teo wn Oarc sS alaaIm- loKnogn gK arachi
KualLau mpuMra driMde lbournMee xicCoi tNya irobi
NewD elhSih anghTaaii pTeoir onto Acknowledgements viii
WitohH iciens Aboutth ibso ok ix
ArgentAiunsat rBiraa zCihli lCez ecRhe pubFlriacn cGer eece
GuatemaHluan garIyt aJlayp aPno lanPdo rtuSgialn gapore
SoutKho reSaw itzerland ThaiUlkarnadiV niTeeu trnkaemy 1 Introduction 1
Oxfoirsdar egistterraedde moafOr xkf oUrdn iverPsrietsys 1.1W hati se tymology? 1
int hUeK andi nc ertoatihne r countries
1. 2S omeb asicco ncepttwso:e xampleet ymologies 3
Publisihnte hdUe n itSetda tes
byO xfoUrndi versitIyn cNP.er,we Y sosr k 1. 3W hy studeyt ymology? 22
<1;)P hilDiupr k2i0n0 9 1.4W hata ne tymologdiosets 31
Them orarli ghotfts h aeu thhoarv bee eans serted
DatabraisgeOh xtf ord Univer(smiatkye rP)r ess
2 Whati sa word?W hichw ordsn eede tymologies? 34
Firpsutb lis20h0e9d
2.1W hata rew ords? 34
Alrli ghrtess erNvoep da.ro tft hipsu blicmaatyib oern e produced,
storien1.1d r etriseyvsatloe rmt, r ansmiitnat neyfd O,f m boyar n ym eans, 2.2H ow neww ordasr ise 43
withotuhpter ipoerr misisnwi roint oifnO gx foUrndi verPsrietsys , 2.3L exicalization 49
ora se xpressly bpyel ramwoi,rut ntdeedr taegrrmewsei dt thh aep propriate
rcprographiocrsg arniigzhEatntsqi uoinr.i es croenpcreordnuicntgi on 2.4E xamploefsl exicalization 51
outstihdseec opoeft haeb ovseh oubleds enttot hRei ghDtesp artment,
OxforJ Univerastti htaeyd dPrreaesbssosv ,e 2.5A pparernetv ersoaftl hse p rocess 56
Youm llnsottc ircutlhaibtsoe o ikn a nyo thbeirn dionrcg o ver 2.6C ranbermroyr phs 56
anuy oum usitm potshese a mceo nditoinao nnya cquirer 2.7W hichw ordnse ede tymologies? 58
BritLiisbhr aCrayt alogiunPi unbgl icaDtaitoan
Dataavn ilnble '"
LibraorfCy o ngrCeustsa loignPi unbgl ication Data 3 Arew ordsc ohereenntt ities? 61 '4,.
Dataav ailuble 3.1V arieitnfy o rma ndm eaninpgo:k e' bag,s ack' 62
Typesbeyst r IP ublisSheerrv iPcoensdc,ih crIrnyd,i a 3.2D o we knowp reciswehleyna word'hsi stobreyg inCsa?n
PrintienGd r eaBtr itain
ona cid-pfarpeebery we assumceo ntinuoifut sye ? 68
CI'AIn tonRyo wcC,h ippenhWaiml,t shire 3.3H omonymya ndp olysemy 74
ISBN9 78-0-19-923651-0 3.4H owp olysemy-homonryemlya ticoanncs h ange 76
3.5M erge(ro nre ar-mergienfr o)r ma ndm eaning 79
I 3 5 I7() 8 9 6 4 2
3.6S pliitnws o rdf orm 83
3.7A casoef m ergefro llowbeyda split 86
3.8H omonymiccl ash 88
4 Wordf ormation 94
4.1I ssuceosn cernaifnfgi xation 95
4.2S ynonymnso,n cfeo rmatioannsdb, l ocking 103
VI CONTENTS CONTENTS vii
4.3I ssuceosn cerncionmgp ounding 107 8.3S emantpiocl ygenesis 228
4.4S omeo theirm portapnrto cesses 111 8.4M eanincgh angien a semanticcaolmlpyl ex
.
4.5A rbitraanrdyn on-arbitrary sliignngsu istic 123 wordq:u aint 228
8.5I nfluefnrcoemo thewro rds 230
5 Lexicbaolr rowing 132 8.6S omeb asitcy peosfc hange 235
5.1B asicco ncepatnsd t erminology 132 8.7I ss emantcihca ngper edictable? 243
5.2W hatc onstitau btoersr owifnrgo ml anguaXg ei nto 8.8S omep ractiecxaalm ples 254
languaYg?e 140 8.9A rgumenbtass eodn f orma ndm eanincgo ntrasted 259
5.3M otivatfioobrno rrowitnrga:d itieoxnpalla nations 142 8.10E tymoloagnyd e xtralingfuaicsttoircs 261
5.4E xamploefsb orrowing beocf'a unseee d' 143
5.5B orrowionfag n eww ordw hena newp roducoftt he 9 Etymoloagnyd n ames 266
naturwaolr lidse ncountered 145 9.1H owa ndw hya ren amesd ifferent? 266
5.6P atteorfnb so rrowiinntg h eh istoorfay l anguage 149 9.2T wov illacgaelsl Headr vington 269
9.3C hangien w ordf orms hownb yn ames 271
6 Them echanisomfsb orrowing 155 9.4W hichl anguadgoee sa nameb elontgo ? 275
6.1P erspectfirvoemcs o ntalcitn guistics 155 9.5N amesa se videnfcoelr e xis 277
6.2W hati sb asivco cabulary? 157 9.6N amesa se videnfcoewr o rdm eaning 279
6.3L anguasghei ft 161 9.7N amesa se tymons 280
6.4B orrowiwnigt hiann db etweelna nguages 164 9.8N amesa ndn on-linguhiissttiocr y 281
6.5B orrowifnrgosm m oret hano nel anguage 165
6.6C ontinusienmga ntiincf lueanncdes emantic inter1f6e7r ence 10 Conclusion 284
6.7M ultipbloer rowifnrgos mt hes ames ource 169
6.8H ow canw e teltlh abto rrowihnagso ccurred? 169 Glossary 288
6.9L exicbaolr rowianngd c ode-switching 173 Suggestfioofrnu sr threera ding 297
6.10S omec onclusifornosmc hapte5r asn d6 177 References 300
Generianld ex 313
7 Changei nw ordf orm 179 Indeoxfw ordf orms 326
7.1T woG ermansiocu ncdh anges 180
7.2E xamploefsE nglissohu ncdh anges 182
7.3S poradsiocu ncdh anges 195
7.4A ssociacthiavneg ien w ordf orm 197
7.5M etanalysis 207
7.6H ow regulaarrer egulsaoru ncdh anges? 208
7.7E xamploefsa rgumenbtass eodn w ordf orm 211
8 Semantichca nge 222
8.1M eanincgh angiesa commonp henomenon 223
8.2P olyseamnyd m eanincgh ange 225
Acknowlegdements Aboutt hisb ook { i
Asm y 'dajyo bI'l eatdh et eamo fs peciaeldiisttor ress carchwirnigt,i anngd, Etymologaipepse atlo p eoplwei tha veryw idev arieotfyi nterests and
reviscitnygm ologfioerts h en ewe ditioofnt heO xfoErndg lDisihc tio/lm)'. intellebcatcukaglr ounAd vse.r fye wp eoplseu,c ha sm yselsfp,e nmdo st
Asa resumlyt f irdsetb otf g ratitmuudsetb et oa lolf m y colleagpuaesst, oft heitri mree searcheitnygm ologAi essl.i ghltalryg neurm bedro s ov ery
andp resenfotr,t heidre epe xpertise, stimulatainndgv eqrugyeo sotdi ons, occasionMaalnlyym,.a nym orep eoplleo okat e tymologbiueths a,v ne ever
compayn,o ver( sof arf)o urteyeena rosf h ighleyn joyaabnlder ewarding researched any tShoemmesp eelovpelwsei. ln le veerv ehna vteh ougohfte ty­
.1
I· collaborraetsievaer ch. mologiaesst hings wnheiecdth o b er esearcPhaerdt.i culwahrelney t ymolo­
i!l'
Ia m vergyr atetfout lh ef ollowpienogp laen di nstituftoikroi nnsid n vita­ gieasr ee ncounteirnet dh ec ompressfeodr mf ounidn m anyd ictionaries,
tiontsog ivlee ctuarnedsp aperwsh icdhr ewe xtensiovned lrya fcth apteorfs they"csaene mt ob ea giverna,t htehra tnh e( oftveenr tye ntatrievseu)lo tfs
thibso okD:e reBkr ittaonndt heI nstitfuotre HistDoirailceaclt oaltot ghye extensrievsee arch.
UniversoifEt dyi nburHgahn;s S auearn dt heU niversoifMt uyn ichU;r sula Thibso oki si ntendfeodra nyonweh oh ast aketnh ei mporta1n1trs stte p
Lenkearn dt heU niversoifEt iyc hsHHiatnts;S auearn dU rsulLae nkearn d ofr ealiztihnaget t ymologaireets h er esuolftr esearacnhd,w ouldl ikteo
theF ifteenItnht ernatiCoonnafle renocne E ngliHsihs toriLcianlg uistics, discovseorm ethianbgo utth en aturoef t harte searacnhd,t hep rinciples
Munich2,0 0T8o. t hea udiencaetes a cho ft hespea perIsa m grateffourl andm ethodolowghiiecsuh n derliite.
manyh elpful suggaensdto ibosnesr vatiaonndns o, tl easfto rc onfirming Ih avaet temptteofd r amteh is bsooot kh aitti sa ddresmseods tc entrally
thatth eriesa na udienfcoera booko ft hisso rt. tos omeonweh oh asa ni nteriensh ti storliicnaglu istthiesc tsu,d oyf h ow
Ia m enormousglrya tetfoua ll olf t hosweh oh avec ommenteodn p arts languagcehsa ngaen dd eveloovpe tri meE.t ymoloigsya parotf t hiwsi der
oft his bionod kr aftK:a thryAnl lanJ,o anB ealA,l anD urantA,n thea Helda,n da nyoen'usn derstanodfie ntgy molowgiylb le g reatelnyr ichbeyd
FraseGru ptaC,h ristKiaayn,P eteMrc ClurIen,g eMi lfuNlilc,h olSaism s­ atl eassot mea cquaintawnicteth h eb roadceorn cernosf t hed iscipalsia n e
Williaamnsd;t ot hef ollowwihnogw ergee neroaunsdb raveen ougtho r ead wholRee.a dewrhso a ree ntirneelwyt ot hiHse lmda yf intdh atth egye mt uch
drafotfst hew holbeo okA:n thonEys posiMteog,L aingR,o geLra ssA,n na moreo uto ft hibso oki ft herye aid ti nc onjunctwiiotnoh n eo ft hem any
MorpurgDoa vieJso,h nS impsoann,d E dmundW eineTr.h eb ooka si t excellgeennte rtaelx tboionkt roducttiooh niss torliicnaglu isstuicchas s,
standtso dahya sb enfei tteendo rmousflryo mt hek eene yeasn ds tiklele ner Schen(dl2 010o)r i, ns lighgtrleya tdeerp thM,i lia(I2'0 0wh7i,ci hsa revised
intelloefca tloslf t hespee oplNee.e dletsoss a ya,l elr roarnsd o missioanrse editioofTn r as1k 996o)rC ampb el(l2 00f4or)a n;e xcelliennttr oducttoi on
tob el aiwdi,t cho mplejtues tice, aenndte ixrcelluys iavtme yl yo wnd oor. a widvea rieotfly i nguitsotpiicfc osc ussoinnt gh ev oc?aullaroyfE nglissehe
I am hugelgyr ateafluslt oo J ohnD aveya tO UP forh ish elpa,d vice, Katamb(a 2005).
ande ncouragemaeten vte rsyt agien t hep roceosfss hapinwgr,i tianngd, Whend ecidiwnhga tt oc oveirn t hibso ok ainndh owm uchd etaiIl ,
producitnhgib so okE.l manddiu T oitM,a lcolTmo dda,n dL esleRyho des havter ietdop ayp articualtatre nttioot nh osaer eawsh ich iamrpeo rtafnotr
provideexdp eirntp uotn t hep roductoifot nh eb ook. etymolobguytw hich rerceeliavtei lvietltaylt tee ntiinom no sti ntroductory
I wouladl so ltiotk hea nKka thryAnl Iaan s econtdi mef,o rp uttiunpg bookso n historical liNnognueitshteilceIss h.sa ,v ea lseon deavoutroed
witmhe ont hem anyd ays when berviemnm inpgo tosf c ollwceer en ot ensurteh atth eb ookp rovidae bsa lancaecdc ouonfta lals pecotfse tymol­
enougtho f ocutsh em inda ndd rive aiwraryi taAtnidofi nn.a lIlw yo ulldi ke ogye,s pecifaolrrle ya dewrhso a rcp reparteodf olluopwr eferentcofe usl ler
tot hantkh ed edicatoefte hsi bso okf ort oleratai cnhgi lda'tt si mersa ther discussoifoa nnsyt opics wmhaiycb hen ewo ru nfamiliar.
obsessiinvtee riensv te royl dd ocumenatnsd e veonl dewro rds.
X ABOUTT HISB OOK
Mosto f meyx amplweisl ble d rawnf romE nglisshi,n cteh iisst heo ne
language atnhyra eta deofrt hibso okw ilnle cessarilsyo mheka rvieo wdglee 1
ofH.o wevemry, aimh asb eent oa ssumneo p articuklnaorw ledagbeo ut
theh istoorfyt heE nglilsahn guagbee,y ontdh ee xplanatainodnf su rther
referengcievsei nn t het exDtr.a winegx amplferso mt heh istoorfyE nglish
alsbor ingtsh ea dvantage Iht ahvaeit n m anyc asebse ena blteo m akeu se Introduction
ofv errye cernets earfcohrt hen ewe ditiooftn h eO xfoErldl gDliicsth io/wl))
witwhh icIhh aveb eeni nvolvpeedr sonally.
Theraer en o exercibsuetsa ,t v ariopuosi ntisnt het exIt h avel isted
furtheexra mploefst hep henomendai scusswehdi,c rhe adecrasn p ursue
ift heyw ishi ne tymologdiiccatli onaArciceess.ts o a goode tymooglical
dictionoafEr nyg liwsohu lbde o fg reabte neftioat n yonree aditnhgi bso ok.
Inp articualcacIe�st sot hef ulOlx foDrIdg s/hDi ictioensmpyec,i ianlil tys
1.W1h aitsc tymolo1g y? 13. Whys tucdtyy molo2g2 y?
onlinvee rsi(ownw w.oecdo.m)w.o uldb eo fe specibaeln efisto,t hamta ny
12. Sombca sCiOcl lctcwpot S: 1.4 What alld occt3sy1 m ologist
examplgeisv en hiensr uem mary fcoarnmb ep ursuiedng reatdeert ail. (The
dictioncaarnby e a ccecsdso nlinvei am osti nstitutliiobnraalra inedms a ny CXIlUllclltcy moilco3sg
publliicb raries.)
1.W1h ati sc tymology?
As wwci lsle ei n thcihsa pteert,y molocgayn t eluls t hatE ngliFsiha r
wasb orrowefdr om Old FFreenrc'ehb rothwehri'c,i hn t urnd eveloped
fromL atiFn{ lt'ebrro t'h.Ie rtc ana lstoe llliS p, erhaprsa themro res ur­
prisingly, tFha{tl IiLesaur tl itni matreellya tteodE nglibshr othaendr ,
thaEtn glifsho oitsr elatteodL atipne s' fooatn'd A rmeniaonl l'flo ot'.
Jusats s urprisiintgc layn,t eluls t hati,n s pitoer t her esemblainnc e
form,E nglischa raen d LatiCn l/'rcaa raer'e d efinitneoltry e latteod
onca nothenro,ra reL atidne l'lgSo da'n dG reekt !ze'Dgso dE't.y mology
cana lstor acder amatcihca ngeisnm eaninrgo:r i nstanEcneg,l itshr ea­
cle originahlaldty h em eaning 'mediacnidcn oem'e,s u ltimatferloyma
Greewko rdw hicohr iginmaelalny't a ntidaogtaei nas.vt e nomoubsi tes'a;d
originahlaldty h em eanin'gs atisfiHeodw' w.e tracseu chd evelopments,
andw hat thteeyll lIS a boulti nguihsitsitco wriyl,bl e t het opiocf t his
book.
Etymoloigsty h ei nvestigoaftw ioorndh istorIithe ass.t raditiobneaelnl y
concernmeods te speciwalilttyhh osweo rdh istoriinwe hsi cthh er actasr e
notc ertaainnd,w heraeh ypothehsaists o b ec onstructtoae cdc ouenitt her
fora words'o rigoirnf ora stagieni thsi stoTrhya.tm ighbte a stagieni ts
meaninhgi stoorryi ,ni tfso rmahli stoorryi ,nt heh istoorfiy t ssp reafdr om
,--
i
3
2 INTRODUCTION SOMEB ASICC ONCEPTS:TW O EXAMPLEE TYMOLOGIES
onel anguatgoae n othoerrf romo neg rouopf s peaketroas n otheT!rl.et erm I parallaeclrso as gsr ouopf d ifTerewnotr dh istorAidedsi.t ionailtil soy f,t en
I
isa lsuos emdo reb roadtloyd escrtibheew holeen deavooufar t tempttion g crucitahlaq tu estioofn( sn on-linguciuslttiuacrn)ad li ntellehcitsutaolar rye
proviad ceo hereanctc ouonfta words'h isto(royrp re-shtioryA)sw. e w il.l I consideirnet da ndewmi tqhu estioornl si nguihsitsitco Ir y.
seei nt hec oursoeft hibso okm,a nyo ft heb asimce thodologaiscsaulmp­ I. . As welals u sintgh ew orde tymolaosa gnya bstrancotu nw,e c ana lso
i
tionmsa dei ne tymologriecsaela racrhet hes amer egardloefws hse thewre talakb ouat ne tYllltohlaitos tg oys ,ay a na ccounotfa words'h istoIrny .
arel ookiantgw ell-documepnetreido odfsl inguihsitsitco orrya tp eriods then exste ctiwoen ,w illlo oka tt wor epresenteattyimvoel ogiines so me
earlitehraon u re arlideosctu mentraercyo rIdnsd.e eedv,e sno meonweh oi s detaialsa, practiwcaaylo fi ntroducsionmgeb asicco ncepatnsd a tt he
primarciolnyc ernoendl wyi taht tempttions go lvhei theurntroe soldviefdfi ­ samet imseo meq uestiaonndsi ssuwehsi cwhi lclo nceurnsi nm uchm ore
cultoifew so rdh istocrayno nldyo s ob yb uildionntg h ek nowledogfme a ny detalialt eTrh.efi rsetx amplien volvseosm ev erwye ll-documepnetreido ds
othewro rdh istorwiheisc hha veb eenm uchm ores ecureesltya bli.sF hoerd ofl inguihsitsitco wrhyi,l teh es econ(dw hicihsr athmeorr ec omplewxi)l l
thirse asovne,r mya nyo ft hei llustreaxtaimvpel ienst hibso okw ilclo me offear fi rsfto raiyn to histroerciocnaslt ruactta i voenr cyo nsidertaibmlee
fromw ordh istorwiheisc ahr ev ersye cuarned n oti na nyd oubts,i ncteh ey depthCo.n ceptthsa wte w ilelx ploirnec lude:
oftepnr ovitdhee s urefsotu ndatfioornf urther invesNtoingeatthieolne.s s,
• tracitnhgel inehairs toorfay word
wew ilall sloo okat s omer athmeorr ed ifficcausletas l ontgh ew ay.
• changienw ordf orm
Etymology fpoarrmotsf t hew idefri eolfdh istorliicnaglu irsetsieca rch,
• changienw ordm eaning
thaits t os ayo fa ttempttose xplahionw a ndw hyl anguagheasv ec hanged
• borrowing
andd evelopientd h ew ayst hatth ehya veH.o weve,i rtd oenso tc oncern itself
• genetriecl ationbsehtiwpesle ann guages
exclusiwvietlahy p articullianrg uilsetviecal sd, o esf ori nstanhcies torical
• cognates
phonolo(gtyh set udoyf s peecsho undasn do ft heidre ploymeinntw ays
• comparatrievceo nstruction
whiccho nvedyi stimnecatn ingh)i,s tormiocraplh olo(gtyh set udoyf w ord
• souncdh ange
formass u sedt oc onvegyr ammatircealla tionshhiisptso)r,si ecmaaln tics
(thset udoyf t hem eaninogf w ordso)r,h istorsiycnatla (xt hset udoyf t he
meaninrge latiboentsw eewno rdwsi thai ns entenTchei)is.s n ott os uggest
1.2S omeb asciocn cetpwtoes x:a mpeltey mologies
fora momentt hath istoripchaoln ologimsotrsp,h ologissetmsa,n ticists,
ors yntactinceivaenprsa ya nya ttenttiooa nn ythiontgh etrh anp honol­
1.2.E1x ampolnecji- :i{/ I'
ogym,o rphologsye,m antiocrss ,y ntarxe spectiHvoewleyv.e re,t ymology
Thee tymoloogfyt heE ngliwsohr dF iacra nb es ketched cvreurdye alsy
isr athdeirff ereinntt ,h aati iln dividwuoarldh istowriyl all mosnte vebre
follows:
explicaibntl eer mosf o nloyn el inguilsetviecTly .p icalsloym,ea rguments
ora tl eastta caists umptiaobnosu wto rdf ormp,r obabilnyv olviisnsgu oefs Lati'inijt'iebrr other'
I
:I :1 abrogtuhhm iesntotorsar spishcuoamnlpo tlioaaogbnnyods mu wotor rpdhm oelaonwgiyinI,lgbn l.fe ca ocmetbt,iy nmeowdli otcgshayo nb m ee OlFdr deenvc'eehrli(jeollmi, polo s d eFrnr enJcih'e'rber)o tahles'.r om'e ,m boefarr eligious
ordoefr "brothers"
definaesdt hea pplicataitto hne, loefva enli ndividwuoarldo ,f m ethodasn d
whiicbsho rro(IwS ed
insigdhrtasw n fmraonmy d ifferent oafhr iesats orliicnaglu isitni cosr,td oe r MiddElneg lJiis''herfriea r'
producae c ohereanctc ouonftt hawto rds'h istoOrnye.o ft hem oste xciting whidcehl ·eillolptso
, I
aspecotfse tymoloigsty h atth isso rotf d etailweodr ko ni ndividwuoarld modeErnng lJiis'hillr ,!
historsioemse timtehsr owusp i nteresrteisnuglw thsi ccha nh avea much I Fora shosrutr voefpy r ievoudse finitoifto hntese r'me tymoalcocgoym'p,a ­
broadesri gnificiantn rcaec ing the ofha i lsatnogruya (gweh ethtehra bte niebdy a na dventuartotuesmt poft or mulaa tfule layd equfaotrem daelfi nition,
witrhe gartdop honolomgoyr,p holoegtyc, .e)s,p eciawlhleynw ec anf ind seAel i(n91e9i5 ).
4 INTRODUCTION SOMEB ASICC ONCEPTS:T WO EXAMPLEE TYMOLOGIES 5
Thes ymbo'l> 'i sf requenutsleydt os tanfdo rb oth' develionptsoa 'n d Ferree maintehdeb asiwco rdi nF rencfho r' brothbeurt'i ,ta lsaoc quirae d
'ibso rrowaesd' a,n ds ow ec anr eprestehnest a med evelopmielnalt m ore secondamreya nindge notitnhge( metaoprhica'lb)r othwehrosb 'e longteod
'shorthawnadya' s : varioruesl igioorudse rTsh.i uss agien F rencfho llowseidm ilaro fu/srea ter
Latjirnci lberro t>h OelrdF renjcrhe brreho etra,l smoe mboefra r eligious inm edievLaalt inT.h4ew ordw ast hebno rrowiendt Eon glifsrho mF rench.
ordoefr 'br>o MtihdedrElsne'g l/iis'fheirrae>r modeErnn gslhi/rim' Thihsa ppeneidnt heM iddle Englisht hpese traigooedft , h eE nglilsahn ­
guagfer omr ough1ly51 0t o1 050M.o rea ccurattehlewy o,r dw asb orrowed
Orw ec anr evertsheea rrowasn,dt racbea ckwarfdrso mt hemo dernE nglish
fromt heA nglo-Frevnacrhi eotfyO ldF rencwhh icwha su sedi nE ngland
wordI.n f actth,i isst hes tylmeo stf requenetnlcyo unteirned di ctionaries
int hec enturaifetset rh eN ormanC onques5t T.he u suaflo rmi nM iddle
andi nm osto thesrc holarship:
EngliFshe,r mea,t chetsh eF rencfho rme xactalnyd,t hep ronunciaitsi on
modeErnn glii'si<ha M/ri ddElneg liesrfherj ir<a Orl Fdr cnjcih'berrhoect r, liketlohy a vbee eanl mositd entiicnAa nlg lo-Freanncdih n M iddlEen glish.
also memrbcerl igooifro dauc s'r b roof t<h Leartsjir'c7nl ebrr ot2h er Howeveirn,M iddlEen glitshhem eaninigsm uchn arrowserh,o winogn ly
Thee tymoloogfyt heL atiwno rdc ouladl sboe t racebda cka lotf urther ther eligisoeunssa en do ccasionoanlelo yr t woo themre taphocraliu ses.
thatnh iasn,d c anb el inkueldt imatweiltyEh n glibsrh otbhuettr h,ir se quires Thusw eh aveo urs econsdt ep:
ana cquaintawnictseho met opiwchsi cwhe w ililn vestiignsa etcet i1o2n.. 4.
Old Frencbhr o/rtr,ah elersmeoc mbeorh tr eligoiroduoesfr' brot>h crs'
Obvioustlhyi,is s a summaroyf a serioefse ventisnl inguihsitsitco ry. MiddElncg li'sefhrir/ea ir
We wilnlo we xamineea cho ft hoseev entisnt urn,a ndt od os ow ew ill
requiar lei ttblaec kgrouneda cahst t agTeh.e L atilna nguaigset hed irect Iti sv ercyo mmonJ ora borrowewdo rdt os howo nlya verrye stricted
antecedoefnFt r encThh.a ti st os ayF,r enchl,i kteh eo theRro mance andp ossibrlayt hepre ripheproarlt ioofni tmse aninwgh eni ti sb orrowed
languag(ePso rtuguSepsaen,i sIht,a liRaonm,a niaent,c .d)e,v elopferdo m intaon othelra nguagIen.t hipsa rticuilnasrt anictei ,se asyt os.e ew hy
Latianl,b epirto babflryo ma f ormo fthlea nguargaet hdeirt ferfernotmt hat (Angl)oFr-encfhi 'ewraesn otb orrowiend tEon gliwsiht thh em uchm ore
reflecbtyet dh em ajoriotfyo url iterraercyo rdFsr.e ncahl ssoh owmsa ny basimce anin'gb rothtehre'w :o rdb rot(hienrhe riftreodmt heO ldE nglish
borrowianngdss omes tructiunrflaule ncferso mo thelra nguageessp,e cially perioadn,d f romt heG ermaniacn tecedoefnE tn glibsehf orteh ata)l ready
theG ermanilca nguasgpeo kebny t heF rankbsu,ti tbsa silci noefd esceinst hadt hamte aninagn dw asi nc ommonu sea,n de veinn t heM iddlEen glish
indisputfarbolmLy a tiInn.t hev ulgaLra tiann dp roto-Romavnacrei eties periowdh,e nv ermya nyw ordwse reb orrowfedr11 01F rencihn tEon glish,
which eventuallyi dnetFvore elnocptheh,deL atiwno rdf or' brother',fi'citer iti sr elatiuvnecloym moJno rw ordwsi tqhu itseu chb asimce aninagsst his
(orm orea ccuratietlosyb liqcuaes feo rmss,u cha st hea ccusatsiivneg ular tob eb orrowiendp lacoefn atiwvoer dsW.e willlo okat t hiiss suien more
Fcitremu)n derwean ntu mbeorf ( perfercetgluyl acrh)a ngiesnw ordf orm, detaiinlc hapte5ra sn d6 .In f acEtn glibshr otahlesrhoa dt hem eaning
resultiinnO gl dF renc.h/i ·eOlrdeF .re ncihst het ermu sedt od enotteh e
earlireescto rdsetda goef t he Frelnacnhg uaugpet, o t hee arlfyo urteenth
4 Thcm acrownhsi icnhd ivcoawtlccel nigntfo hrm lsi cklea sLsaitcianl/h aUrenero t
centu3r Tyh.u sw eh aveo urfi rsstt ep: normaglilvwyeh ne cni tLiantgfi ornm sfr olma ttehrat nhc e'1 lsspiecraialol dt,h ough
this ndonotee cse ssianrdiialcnyacy th ea nignte h veo wlcelnignpt ah rtiwcourldasr.
Lat/iin'(>l OtledFr rcncehr/ei '
5 Int hibso oIk utshcte e r'Amn glo-Ftreodn ecnhoF'tr ee nacsuh s eidnE ngland
2 Somsec houlsaterh sse y mb'o<l'a sn d' >o'n ltyol ifnrokm rse labtyde idr pehcot­ (anedl sewihnBe rriet ianit nhc)ee niteufsrlo olwintghN eo rmaCno nquest. Scholarly
netdiecs caenndt ,du islel 'csryemnbftoro lp sr ocessuscaehssb oorwrinogrd erivation, pracitsid ciev iidnet dh iasr c'aAn:g ol-Normiason f't uesne tdod cnottheiv sa riety
buitnt hbioso Ikw iulslte h etmol iannky ctownos ecsuttaiigvneae sne tylmoogy. (aisn t htci tlteh Aeol fl g/a-NDoircmlaino bIulitGn lcyr)c,a tshibenr golaytd eerrm .i1
3 Unusuianlt lhpiyas,r ticcausalenai, rn tcnnediinat thfecro msadtlee vpe lopment of 'Angol-Freinsuc shei'dn stienoa rdd,te orr e llbcectttth evera riiendp ufrtosdm i fTcrent
thOel Fdr enwcohri drs e coridnte hvdee reya rOllyFd r cnfcorhm /i'parderscei rntv heed varieotfCi oenst inFernnetcahwl h icohc curbroetidhm mcdiaafttetelhryNe o rman
StrasgbO oautrlaIu sn,i q(uaenv de rsyh odrotc)u mfernottm h yee a8r4w 2h ircehc ords' Conquaensidtn t hscu bseqcueenintetufs ror: uas edfiuslc uasnsfdiu ornt rheefcren rees
(paritnLl ayt pianr,i tnlF yr enacnhdp, a ritnlG yc rmatnh)oe a tthask beynL ouis the scReo thw(e2l0l0F 5or)c .o nvenwihcenrcfeero ,ma o r meabneilnognt gobc odtI hn sular
German, tChhBeaa rlladen,std h cfiolorlw cdrusr iant gi mocfc onllict. anCdo ntinFcrnctnIacu lhs t eh set y(lAen glo-)French.
\J
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Jl"'�l��'lf\\'
6 INTRODUCTION SOMEB ASICC ONCEPTS:T WO EXAMPLEE TYMOLOGIES 7
'e(lofwl)m emboefra r eligoirodueisrnt ' h Oel dEn glpiesrhio ontd h e borroswhionwgoe ndl ay v ernya rrcoowm ponoefn ttd hoen oworr d's
'
modeolfu sien Laatnidtnh m,ie sa nicnogn tintuheMedi didnEl neglish meaniWnecg a.an l ssoeh eo wt his borrowians geo tfmfi ettaendi ngi nto
peri(oaidsdt o etso darye)oi,rn cfbeydt hsei miulsaiern b otLha tainnd reloantwsii tehx istingE nwgolr(idsssph ei icclnailb fyr othTehrem) e. an­
FrencWhh.e ne/rIiefs i rfuosntid n M iddElneg liits hd uptlhimicesaa tne­s ing hiosftt howirosyr a dl ssoh owtshi em paonrctoeff catofrorsm n on­
'
inags,w elalss howtihnmego rsep eciamleiaznei'dnm ge mboefor n oef linguhiissttiiofcr ydw:ien d o ktn oswo metahbionugt thoef th hies tory
the menodridce(arcnsht i tehfFelr ya nciAsucgaunsst,i Dnoimnaiincsa,n s, religoirodueisrnms e dieEvuarlow pcew oulhadv ceo nesriaddbilffei culty
anCda rmeesla,iso t pposteod the nonB-emneenddiicectta'icnBn..tye) s, ine xplatihnheii nsigtc odarelv eloipntm hemene ta noifnt gh is word.
theen odf t hMeid dlEen glpiesrhia op dr ocoefss esm anstpiecc ialization
toopkl ace,b rowtiuhtsehrei dnt hgee nesreanl's mee mbearr eolfi gious
ordearnf'dr iianrt hnea rrosweenr's mee mboefor n oef t hmee ndicant
12..E2x amptlweos :a fdr ommo deErnn gltiosp hr oteor-mGanic
ordeTrhsu'ws.e m igshatty h atthb eo rrofwiilnalgl e edx igcaapil nt he
vocabulEanrgyl piorsfoh v,i adw ionrsgdp ecififroc' aaml elmyb er of one Fooru nre xetx amwpelw ei sltla writtt hh per esdeanayt n wdo rbka ck­
wards. MEondgelarinnsdM h i ddle sEandsg hloitwsh hre e floerxl inear
oft hmee ndiocradnetar lst'h,ow uesg hho upledr hbaeps sl igchatultyi ous
abosuutca hs sumpstiinotcnhese , sgaarmpee m aiunnefdib lyal nesydi ngle histodreivceallo pomfOe lndEt n glsiwsdTh.h es ymbleo wlh icohcc urs
woridnF ren,ec vhetnh outghhte w ol aunaggweesr bee iunsge idnv ery in wtrhiet ftroemno ft hwiosr adn do f maontyhO elrdE nglwiosrhd s
(ansdo meea rMliyd dle oEnnegrsle)iep ssrhe anf trnsot v owpehlo nelmael
simisloacri eItnideeAsen.dg ,l roe-nFacnhMd i ddElneg lwiesrbhee ing used
inp recitsheel yss aomce.i( eStcsyee ct5i.of6ornd iscuosfts hideoi nf lerent (perhianfpc ast[ [rcalt thhera[ naw ]h)i icnh EOlndg lwiasdshi stfiornmc t
thbea cvko w1e0lr/ e,p resbeyan .(t Ieitdts a florim(c ir u sn ofrttuenvlaeyr y
functioofen asc lha nggeuA.a)sw ew islelle a tweelc �a onf treunin n to
probloeftm hsi s whseownre ta ttetmope tx plwaoirnhd i siteoisrnf unc­ simitlota hrao tft hlei garet, uwrhei ccahs no metliemaetdsoc onfusion
tiotnearlam ls,t hotuhgihs n donotee csse asrmielayn thaattt eitmnshpo ett flUt'h uen wya.rW)e c ourledp retshewinostr h di syta osOr ld Elsi(grldi sh
worthwhile. > MiddElneg lsiasd>h m odern Ensgaldbi,u stthh wiosu lbder ather
Ini tdse velofprmmoe Mnitd dle tEonm goldiesrnh Entghwleoi rsddhi d artifisciinwachleaw, tc i nfca th avieasc ontinuolalcsr aohlspisles rtioordys
nosth oawn fyur thcehra nignmee anibnuigtdt, i sdh oawnu nuscuhaaln ge int hhei stooftr hyle a ng.u age
. 1 infor mT.h eu suaelxlpye cmtoedde( rBnr isttiasnhd ard) porfon unciation Iwf et urtnot hweo rsds 'emanhtiisyct,a ob rasdiicc tidoenifanriyot fi on
r
'I aw orwdh ihcahd MtihdedE lneg lfirosmhife 'rweo ubledI fr(ic:oQmIp are thweo rsda ad st ypiucsaleildnmy o deErnng liiss:h ••� t
here, bdueitent rse)aw def iInfdr aTIhQes/ a.md ee veloipfsmuo ennidtn a Ofa persoornh ,i osr h efre lcindgiss,p oseittcif.eeoi:ln n,sg o rrsoowr;r owful,
smanlulm boefor t hweorr dsusc ahsb riaanrdc h oiIrtp. r obasbhloyaw s mournful.
sporapdhiecn omoefn ovnor waeilsb ienfgof rloel oaw Iirn!g.
Thimse aniinfisgr srte coradle3d0( 0w hisctha nfodr' sa n1t03e0 't,h aits
'310o0ra l itetalrel6 iA e sri'm)ib.la asdrii cc tidoenfianriyftro ti howeno rd's
Summarsyof arW e ctarna tchehe i stoofr ya wsoorudan'ndsfd ro mI.n
earlmieearn iwnogusl d be:
doisnowg e a rleo okfirorn egg utlyiae,.rd. ie velopwmheinactrhtse h sea me
ast howshei hcahp petnote hde sameo rcs oomubnidnsa otfsi oounnsd s 6 Somsec holuas'reas n itnet 'hm eo rlei tseerna'slbe e fobrumet'o ,si tn,c luding
ino thweorr d"sV.h esroem etuhnienxgp eocrit rerde ghualhsaa rp pened, mosdti ctiounsaierit in e sgt,eh nee rmaolrulesy e sfeunl's tehd iasto era l itetalrel ier'.
asw itthhd ee veloopfmIe fnrtarl aQtIh erI ftr,hbw a/cwn i wlaln ttof ind Int his bodoaktg eitsvh feeron E nglwiosrhdf sor,m s, saenndsa ernseo rmatlhloys e
provibdyte hdOe E D.F owro rfdrso omt hlcarn gutahgdeea stI ga i vigese nerdarlalwyn
para,ls lueclhbs raisea rtI,c d.e awlewl iywl aln tto fianned x planfaort ion
frotmh set andhairsdt oorrei tcyalm olodgiicctailoo nfea arcilhea sn ggeuG.alo sses
thiwse alsl .
andd efinoiftEi nognlwsio srhda srn eo rmablalsyoe ndt hoisnee itthheOerE Do r
Them eanionftg h weo rcda an lsboet racheidsi tcoa.rWl elc yasne e TheO x/oDli'cdnt airooyfE ngleixsche wphte roet herwisael tnhootIuhe gadvh,fe r e­
howt hmee anibnrgo adenLeadt aiinnndF renbcuhht,o wt hEen glish quensthloyr toeron tehde rawdijsuest theedm .
r
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6 INTRODUCTION II SOMEB ASICC ONCEPTST:W O EXAMPLEE TYMOLOGIES 7
j
'(felmleomwb)oe rfa r eligoirodueisrnt ' h Oel dE nglpiesrhio ontd iel borroswhionwgoe ndl ay v ernya rrcoowm ponoefn ttd hoen owro rsd '
modeolfu sienL atainndt, h miesa nicnogn tiinnu eMtdih ded 'Elneg lish meaniWnecg a.an l ssoeh eo wt hbiosr rolwiitnitgne tad o semte aonfi ng
peri(oaidsdt o etso darye)oi,rn cfbeydt hsei miulsaiern b otLha tainnd relatwiiotnhs exisitniE nngg l(wisosprhed csi blrioctahTlehlremy) e. an­
FrenWchhe.n e,/i"riefis r fsoutn idn M iddElneg liidtsu hlp ictathmeiessa n­ inhgi syto oftr hwiosr adl ssoh owtshi em protanocffe ca tofrorsm n on­
inags,w elalss howtihnmego rsep eciamleiaznei'dnm ge mboefor n oef linguhiissttiiowfcre yd :i d knnootsw o metahbiontught he i stooftr hye
thmee ndiocradnet(r csh itehflFeyr anciAsucgaunsst,i Dnoimnaiincsa,n s, reliogirodueisrnm s e dieEvuarlo pe we wcoouinldsde rhdaai1bvillece u lty
anCda rmeesla,iso t pposteotd hn eo n-menBdeincceatdniitn eetscB,.y ) '. ine xplainhiinsgt odtrehivece allo ipntm hemene ta noifntg hw iosr d.
the oeftn hdMe i ddElneg lpiesrhia op rdo coefs ss emantic specialization
toopkal cew,i tbhr otuhsele'd in tsheen 'sgmeee nmeborefaar r l e ligious
ordearnj'di- iianrt hnea rrosweenr's mee mboefor n oef t hmee ndicant 12..2E xamptlweos :a fdor mm odeErnng ltiosp hr oto-Germanic
ordeTrhsu'ws.e m igshatty h atb otrhreo lwiilnalgl e edx igcaapil nt he
Foro unre xetx amwpelw ei sltla writtt hh per esdeanyat n wdo rbka ck­
vocabuolfEa nrgyl pirsiohvd,i anw go rsdp ecififcor' aaml elmyb ero nocf
wardMso.d ern EnagnlMdi isdhd Elneg lsiasdsh h otwh ree floerxl inear
oft hmee ndiocradnetar lst'h,ow ueg hs hpoeurlhdba eps sl igchatultyi ous
abosuutca hs sumpstiinocness a,tm gheae rp e maiunnefiedldb l ya nsyi ngle hisrtiocdaelv elopomfOe lndEt n glsiCI!sdTh.h es ymb,oc wlh icohcc urs
int hwer itftroemno f twhoirasdn do fm anoyt hOelrdE nglwiosrhd s
woridnF rench,t heovuegnht wtolh aen guagebse iuwnseger idenv ery
(and esaormMleiy d dle oEnnegrsle)ip srhe asf ernnotvt osw pehlo nelmael
simisloacri eItnideeAsen.dg ,l roe-nFacnhMd i ddElneg lwiesrbhee ing used
(perhianfpca st[ ,rcalt thehra[ naw Jh)i icnhO lEdn glwiasdshi stfiornmc t
inp recitshseeal myse o c.i( eStcsyee ct5i.fo6rond iscuosfts hideofi nefr ent
functioofen asc lhag nuagAes.w )ew islelle ae trw,e c aonf treunin n to thbea cvko w1e0lr/ e,p resbeyan. (tIeitdts a flroimCl!c i usn ofrtautnevleyr y
probloeftm hssi osrw th ewne a ttetmope tx plwaoirnhd i stoirnfi uensc ­ simitlota hrao tft he lire,g wahtiuccrahesn o metilemaetdsoc onfusion
fort he urynW.we)ac ourledp retshewinostr h di syta osOr ld Ensgeleids h
tiotnearlam ls,t hotuhgihs n donotee cse smseaartnihl ayt a tttheeim nspo tt
. > MiddElneg lsiasd>h m odeErnng lsiasdbh,u tth wiosu lbde rather
worthwhile.
artifisciinaclew, e wi hnfaca tt hiaascv oen tinhuiosutasocr ryao lsplse riods
In dietvse lofpormmeM nitd dElneg ltioms ohd eErnn gltihsweho rddi d
int hhei stooftr hyle a nggeu.a
nosth oawn fyur thcehra nignmee anibnuigtdt, i sdh oawnu nuscuhaaln ge
Ifw et urtnot hweo rds'esm anhtiisyct,a ob rasdiicc tidoenlianriyot fi on
infor mT.h eu suaelxlpye cted( Bmroidstetirasnn hd parrodn)u ncoifa tion
thweo rsda ad st ypicuasleildny modern English is:
aw orwdh ihcahtd h Mei ddElneg lfiosrhm ,/i"weoruelb deIr fi(:caolm pare
herdee,e bru)t inwselt ieInafddan luT.h es amdee veloipfsmuoe nndt a i n Ofa persoornh ,i osr hfeelrnei gsd,i sposeittcif.eeo:ln i,sn ogrr ows;o rruolw,f
smanlulm boefor t hweorr dsusc ahsb riaanrdc h oiTrtp. r obasbhloyaw s mournufl.
!!
sporapdhiecn omoefn ovnor waeilsb ienfgoaf r loel ow1i1'n/g. This meiafisnr isrnetgc or(/d13e0d(0 w hisctha nfrod' sa n1t03e0 t'h, aits
'310o0r al itetalrel6 iA es ri'n)l.i ldairc tbiadosenifiacnr iyftor ti howeno rd's
Summarsyof arW cc atnr atchehe i stoofar w yo rds'osu anndfd ro mI.n
earlmieearn iwnogusbl ed :
doisnowg e a rlco okfiorrn egg utlyia,.rd eie.V elopwmheinactrhtse h sea me
ast howshei hcahp petnote hde ssaomueno drcs o mbinaotfsi oounnsd s 6S omsec holuas'resa nitnet 'hm eo rlei tseerna'slbe e fobruet' ,m ionsctl,u ding
ino thweorr ds. sWohmeerteuh nixenpge cotrei dr reghualhsaa rp pened, mosdti ocntairuiseiesit ,n t hgee nermaolrulesy e ful' tshdeianstos erea l itetalrel ier'.
asw itthh e deveolf/o lpim'reaan1ttaht leh raI nf: raiwle,w ill twofia nndt Int hbioso tkh dea tgeisv feronE nglwiosrhdf sro,m sa,n ds ensaernseo rmatlhloys e
provibdyte hdOe E DF.o r wforrodomst hlearun aggtehsde a tIga i vigese nerdarlalwyn
paralsluecalhsbs r,i eartI,c d.e awlcl yw iltlofi wnaadnn et x planfarot ion
frotmh set aanrdhd istoorrei tcyamlo lodgiicctailoo nfea arcilhea sun aggGel.o sses
thaisws e ll. andd efiitnioofnE sn glwiosrhd sn oarrmca blalsyoe ndt hoisnee i tthheOerE Do r
Them eanionftg h weo rcda an lsboet racheiodsr tilcyWa.el casne c The0 >;(D0i1c'l{/'i)/'o'0 n /E ngleixsch ewphte roet hernwoitseaedl ,t hoIuh gavhfe r e­
howt hmee anibnrgo adeinnLe adt ainndF renbcuhht,o wt hEen glish quensthloyr toerol tlheecr.awldi jsuest theedm .