Etymology Lessons - April 27th, 2001 - 4

PREFIXES
  1. sub- [Greek]

a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin (subject; subtract; subvert; subsidy); on this model, freely attached to elements of any origin and used with the meaning "under," "below," "beneath" (subalpine; substratum), "slightly," "imperfectly," "nearly" (subcolumnar; subtropical), "secondary," "subordinate" (subcommittee; subplot).

[< L, comb. form repr. sub (prep.); akin to Gk hypó; see HYPO-]
ROOTS

  1. grad# [Latin] -gress-

a latin verb meaning "to step" as in:
 
ag.gress:
[1565–75; < L aggressus (ptp. of aggred# to attack), equiv. to ag- AG- + gred- (see GRADE) + -tus ptp. suffix]
pro.gress: (pro- forward)
[1400–50; late ME progresse (n.) < L pr$gressus a going forward, equiv. to pr$gred-, s. of pr$gred# to advance (pr$- PRO-1 + -gred#, comb. form of grad# to step; see GRADE) + -tus suffix of v. action]
SUFFIXES
  1. -esque [Germanic]

an adjective suffix indicating style, manner, resemblance, or distinctive character: arabesque; Romanesque; picturesque.

[< F < It -esco Î Gmc; see -ISH1]

WORD EXAMPLES

  1. arabesque:

    [1605–15; < F < It arabesco ornament in Islamic style, lit., Arabian, equiv. to arab(o) ARAB + -esco -ESQUE]

  2. museum:

    [1605–15; < L m%s"um place sacred to the Muses, building devoted to learning or the arts (referring esp. to the scholarly institute founded in Alexandria about 280B.C.) < Gk Mouseîon, equiv. to Moûs(a) MUSE + -eion suffix of place]

  3. spirit:

    [1200–50; ME (n.) < L sp#ritus orig., a breathing, equiv. to sp#ri-, comb. form repr. sp#r!re to breathe + -tus suffix of v. action]
  4. paradise:

    [bef. 1000; ME, OE parad#s < LL parad#sus < Gk parádeisos park, pleasure-grounds < Iranian; cf. Avestan pairi-da"za enclosure]

  5. supposition: (sup- below - a form of sub-)

    [1400–50; late ME < L suppositi$n- (s. of suppositi$) substitution (E meaning by assoc. with SUPPOSE), equiv. to supposit(us) (ptp. of supp$nere to substitute) + -i$n- -ION. See SUP-, POSITION]

    SUPPOSE
    [1275–1325; ME supposen < OF supposer, equiv. to sup- SUP- + poser to POSE1; cf. ML supp$nere to suppose, L: to substitute, place below]
     
  6. hypothesis:
    [1590–1600; < Gk hypóthesis basis, supposition. See HYPO-, THESIS]
    THESIS
    [1350–1400; ME < L < Gk thésis a setting down, something set down, equiv. to the- (s. of tithénai to put, set down) + -sis -SIS]
  7. drama:
[1505–15; < LL < Gk drâma action (of a play), equiv. to drâ(n) to do + -ma n. suffix]

QUOTES & OTHERS

No matter how good the things you write are, the things that make them "good" are what they are based on.
Latin for "to err is human"

      1. (italics) an epic poem attributed to Homer, describing Odysseus's adventures in his ten-year attempt to return home to Ithaca after the Trojan War.

      2. (often l.c.) a long series of wanderings or adventures, esp. when filled with notable experiences, hardships, etc.

WHAT'S NEXT?

  1. Interesting Word Etymologies - Continued
  2. Old English - Speak'st Thou English?
  3. Discussion - Contributions to English
  4. Beyond Words - History of Idioms
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