When you hear 'agave' are you hearing English or Greek?

'Agave' is a word borrowed from Greek 'agauós'. The word entered the English language some time around 1763.

agave [noun] [1763]

Any of a genus ( of the family Agavaceae, the agave family) of plants having spiny-margined leaves and flowers in tall ...
Etymology: New Latin 'Agave' genus name, from Latin, a daughter of Cadmus, from Greek 'Agauē'.

Topics: Science:Botany.

Origin: From Greek to English.

note: Linguistic Path: Ancient Greek (ἀγαυός / agauós) → New Latin (Agave) → English.Meaning & History: The Greek root agauós means noble illustrious or admirable. In Greek mythology Agave was also the daughter of Cadmus and the mother of Pentheus. In 1753 the famous Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus chose the name Agave for the plant genus likely due to its majestic tall flower spikes and immense utility to indigenous peoples.

See 'agave' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Greek.

See more loan words from 1700s.

The word 'gambrel' is a loan word from French 'gambre'

'Gambrel' is a word borrowed from French 'gambre'. The word entered the English language some time around 1547.

gambrel [noun] [1547]

A stick or iron for suspending slaughtered animals
Etymology: Perhaps from Middle French dialect (Norman) 'gamberel' from 'gambe' leg, from Late Latin 'gamba'.

Topics: Architecture:Elements.

Origin: From French to Latin to English.

note: Derived from Middle English gamberel and Old French gambre meaning a horse's hock or leg. It was used to describe the hinged stick used by butchers to hang carcasses which shares a similar shape to a gambrel roof. Origin of gambrel roof: Popularized by Dutch colonial architecture in the 17th/18th centuries - the name stems from the Medieval Latin gamba meaning horse's hock.

See 'gambrel' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from French.

See more loan words from 1500s.

The Latin roots of the word 'animus'

'Animus' is a word borrowed from Latin 'animus'. The word entered the English language some time around 1816.

animus [noun] [1816]

• basic attitude or governing spirit
• disposition
• a usually prejudiced and often spiteful or malevolent ill will
• an inner masculine part of the female personality in the analytic psychology of C. G. Jung

Etymology: Latin, spirit, mind, courage, anger.

Topics: Society:Culture.

Origin: From Latin to English.

note: Derived from Latin animus (rational soul/mind/life/mental powers/consciousness) related to anima (soul/spirit) and ultimately from the PIE root *ane- (to breathe). It historically referred to the animating or rational part of the psyche though it evolved to imply temper active hostility or ill will in English.

See 'animus' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Latin.

See more loan words from 1800s.

Did you know that 'astringent' is actually Latin?

'Astringent' is a word borrowed from Latin 'astringere'. The word entered the English language some time around 1541.

astringent [adjective] [1541]

• causing contraction of soft organic tissues
• styptic
• suggestive of an astringent effect upon tissue
• rigidly severe
• austere
• pungent

Etymology: Probably from Middle French, from Latin 'astringent-, astringens' present participle of 'astringere' to bind fast, from 'ad-' + 'stringere' to bind tight.

Topics: Science:Chemistry, Medicine:Remedies.

Origin: From Latin to English.

See 'astringent' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Latin.

See more loan words from 1500s.

The word 'avalanche' is a loan word from French 'lavanche'

'Avalanche' is a word borrowed from French 'lavanche'. The word entered the English language some time around 1771.

avalanche [noun] [1771]

• a large mass of snow, ice, earth, rock, or other material in swift motion down a mountainside or over a precipice
• a sudden great or overwhelming rush or accumulation of something
• a cumulative process in which photons or accelerated charge carriers produce additional photons or charge carriers thro...

Etymology: French, from French dialect (Franco-Provençal) 'lavantse, avalantse'.

Topics: Weather.

Origin: From French to English.

See 'avalanche' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from French.

See more loan words from 1700s.

Is 'apothecary' English, or is it actually Greek?

'Apothecary' is a word borrowed from Greek 'apothēkē 1'. The word entered the English language some time around the 14th century.

apothecary [noun] [14th century]

• one who prepares and sells drugs or compounds for medicinal purposes
• pharmacy

Etymology: Middle English 'apothecarie' from Medieval Latin 'apothecarius' from Late Latin, shopkeeper, from Latin 'apotheca' storehouse, from Greek 'apothēkē' from 'apotithenai' to put away, from 'apo-' + 'tithenai' to put.

Topics: Society:Culture.

Origin: From Latin to English.

note: Evolution: Evolved from Latin apotheca into Late Latin apothecarius (storekeeper) then into Old French as apotecaire. English Entry: Entered Middle English in the 14th century as apotecarie initially meaning a storekeeper or pharmacist who compounded and stored non-perishable goods like herbs and medicines. The spelling was later updated around 1600 to reflect its classical roots.

See 'apothecary' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Greek.

See more loan words from 1300s.

The Greek origins of the word 'argon'

'Argon' is a word borrowed from Greek 'aergon'. The word entered the English language some time around 1894.

argon [noun] [1894]

A colorless odorless inert gaseous element found in the air and in volcanic gases and used especially in welding, laser...
Etymology: Greek, neuter of 'argos' idle, lazy, from 'a-' + 'ergon' work; from its relative inertness.

Topics: Science:Chemistry.

Origin: From Greek to English.

See 'argon' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Greek.

See more loan words from 1800s.

When you say 'amen' are you speaking Hebrew?

'Amen' is a word borrowed from Hebrew 'amen'. The word entered the English language some time before the 12th century.

amen [interjection] [before 12th century]

Used to express solemn ratification (as of an expression of faith) or hearty approval (as of an assertion)
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Greek 'amēn' from Hebrew 'āmēn'.

Topics: Linguistics, Religion:Faith.

Origin: From Hebrew to English.

note: Linguistic Path: Hebrew (אָמֵן / āmēn) → Ancient Greek (ἀμήν) → Late Latin (amen) → Old English.Meaning & History: The word derives from the Semitic root a-m-n which means to be trustworthy - confirm support or believe. When used as an exclamation at the end of prayers or blessings it functions adverbially to mean so be it truly or certainly.

See 'amen' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Hebrew.

See more loan words from before 1200.

Do you speak a little French when you say 'argot'?

'Argot' is a word borrowed from French 'argot'. The word entered the English language some time around 1842.

argot [noun] [1842]

An often more or less secret vocabulary and idiom peculiar to a particular group
Etymology: French.

Topics: Linguistics.

Origin: From French to English.

note: Entered English in the mid-19th century from French originally referring to the secret jargon slang or specialized vocabulary used by 17th-century Parisian thieves beggars and rogues for concealment.

See 'argot' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from French.

See more loan words from 1800s.

The German origins of the word 'Schrecklichkeit'

'Schrecklichkeit' is a word borrowed from German 'Schrecklichkeit'.

Schrecklichkeit

(details not available)
Meaning: policy of terrorizing an enemy.

Etymology: Borrowed from German Schrecklichkeit frightfulness.

Topics: Linguistics, Military:Warfare.

Origin: From German to English.

note: Meaning: Policy of terrorizing an enemy. Etymology: Borrowed from German Schrecklichkeit frightfulness. Path: German > English.

See 'Schrecklichkeit' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from German.

See more loan words from (unknown date).

Do you speak a little Spanish (Mexico) when you say 'alpaca'?

'Alpaca' is a word borrowed from Spanish (Mexico) 'alpaca'. The word entered the English language some time around 1811.

alpaca [noun] [1811]

• a domesticated mammal (Lama pacos) especially of Peru that is probably descended from the guanaco
• wool of the alpaca
• a thin cloth made of or containing this wool
• a rayon or cotton imitation of this cloth

Etymology: Spanish, from Aymara 'allpaqa'.

Topics: Society:Culture.

Origin: From Spanish to English.

See 'alpaca' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Spanish (Mexico).

See more loan words from 1800s.

When you say 'cochineal' are you speaking Greek?

'Cochineal' is a word borrowed from Greek 'kokkos'. The word entered the English language some time around 1582.

cochineal [noun] [1582]

• a red dye consisting of the dried bodies of female cochineal insects
• cochineal insect

Etymology: Middle French & Spanish; Middle French 'cochenille' from Old Spanish 'cochinilla' cochineal insect
Topics: Animals:Insects
Origin: From French to Spanish to Latin to Greek to English
note: From French cochenille or Spanish cochinilla from Latin coccinus scarlet from Greek kokkos berry (the insect bodies were mistaken for grains or berries).

See 'cochineal' on the Loan Words Map

See more loan words from Greek.

See more loan words from 1500s.