Curious Derivations.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 41, 9 October 1902, Page 29

Curious Derivations.

Few (says an exchange) would credit the fact that there is any relationship between tho word ' sarcasm ' and the word ' sarcophagus,' yet such is the case. Both of them owe their origin to the Greek ' sarx,' meaning flesh, and the idea embodied in the word 'sarcasm' is something sharp that stinga the moral flesh. Sarcophagus is, of course, as most people Know, a tom'bi and the latter half of the word is from the Greek ' phogo ' (to eat). It thus signifies, a place where mortal flesh is consumed.

Again there are not many 'who could see much resemblance, as regards meaning, in the wond ' humor' and ' humidity,' yet both come from the Latiin ' hurneo ' (I am wet). Originally, a person's temperament or ' humor ' was supposed to bo largely dependent on tho fluids of his body, and according to tho state of these fluids has temperament varied. Henco the origin of the word.

Tho words ' dun,' meaning to press for money, and ' din,' a noise, are exactly the same originally. ' Dun ' is simply the old ' dun,' to make' a noiso, hence to raise an outcry atxoutl money owing to one ; and 'din' is formed by the alteration of tho vowel v into i.

Tho word ' pavilion ' is der.ived' from tho Latin ' papilio,' which means a butterfly. The first pavilions known in history had their coverings painted to resemble tho wings of these insects, and hence the origin of the word.

Speculation, it is said, often leads to peculation, and doubtless many may imagine that the words are indeed etymologically connected. But such is not the case, as the first comes from the Latin ' specie,' (I look at), whilst the latter is from the Latin ' peculuxn,' signifying ' private propenty.' The reader can form his own conclusions as to the relationships of these two words with their derivations.

Most readers will have heard of the wonderful land of • Utopia,' which was the imaginary ideal State of Six 1 ' Thonms More. But perhaps not so many will be aware that its origin ia thus :Qreek ■' ou/ meaning ' not ';

and * topos,' ' a place.' Put both together, they read ' not a place,' or a place non-existent.

Extravagance often leads to vagrancy, and the two words are very closely related. To be evtravagant is to ' wander beyond ' one's financial limits, and to be a vagrant is to ' wander about ' without visibjle means of existence. Both words come from the Latin ' vagor ' (to wander).

' Influence was originally an astr.ological term. It comes from meaning ' in,' and ' fluo,' to flow) ; and it represented the action of the stars on human destinies, flowing down on the same, and guiding them for betten, for worse.