Vocab Chapter 9: Word Histories & Etymologies

Recalcitrant

From Latin “recalcitrare” which refered to the defiant kicks of a mule. Novelist William Thackery introduced this word to english, meaning “stubbornly resisting authority” like a kicking mule.

Pinnacle

From 500 BC until the 1800s, writers used pens made from feathers. Latin for feather or wing is “Penna”. Similary, Latin “Pinna” (an alternate form of penna) brought about the word pinnacle, which refered to a small wing-like projection above the roof of a tower or building. Hence, Pinnacle came to mean the highest point.

Siren

In Greek mythology, sirens were enchanting women who would lure sailors to their death, as seen in Homer’s “The Odyssey”. From these sirens came the english word “siren” which can refer to either a loud, alarming sound, or a dangerously attractive woman.

Adonis

In Greek/Roman mythology, even Aphrodite/Venus, goddess of love, could fall in love. She was entranced by a strikingly handsome man named Adonis. Her love went so deep that when he was killed hunting, Aphrodite grew a red flower from his blood. For this reason, Adonis is now used to describe an extremely handsome man, one worthy of even Aphrodite’s love.

Inexorable

From Latin roots meaning not, out, and pray, inexorable refers to how we cannot pray our way out of an inescapable situation. For this reason, inexorable means inevitible and impossible to avoid.

Tally

Before calculators, people calculated with sticks and stones. The word “calculate” itself comes from the Roman word “calculus” which were the little stones used to add or subtract. Another way historical calculations were done was using wooden planks called “Tallies” or “Tally sticks” to divide and match loans. For this reason, when we “tally” items, loans, etc. we count them up in the same way we used Tally sticks back in the day.

Bizarre

While usually traced back to French “bizarre" meaning odd, the word Bizarre comes from the basque word “Bizar” meaning “beard”. The Basques occupied the French region and, while they likely thought beards handsome, the French saw their beards as peculiar. Hence, the French referred to the Basques as “bizarre” and therefore we use the word “bizarre” in english today to mean odd or peculiar.

Remorse

From the Latin roots meaning “bite again", the word remorse refers to the feeling of being eaten up by guilt.

Spurious

From Latin “spurius” meaning “illegitimate child”, spurious entered English referring to anything illegitimate or fake.

Fervent

From Latin “fervere” meaning “boil”, fervent now refers to anything hot and impassioned.

Etymologies

Latin

re= “back”

calcitrare= “kick”

penna/pinna = “feather, wing”

in= “not”

ex= “out”

orare= “pray, speak”

talea= “cutting, rod, stick”

re= “again”

mordere= “bite”

spurius= “illegitimate child”

French

bizarre= “odd", fantastic”

Italian

bizzarro= “angry”

Basque

bizar= “beard”