Word for the Wise, January 28

[Uadzit]

Topic: Good & evil

A goodhearted soul debating the nature of good and evil asked us to pass judgment on a tale of how those very old words came into being. The theory had something to do with good being a linguistic derivative of god, while evil and the Devil were related in some Romantic (as in Romantic language) sort of way such as of evil appearing as d'evil.

We're not going to discredit the entire argument—that would be evil—but we will say that a good part of it doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Let's begin with the god and good aspects. Etymologists believe that the ancestor of the Germanic word god meant something like "that which is invoked" or "that which is offered a sacrifice"; while the ancient kin of the Germanic good meant something like"fitting, suitable."

Hold fast to those words used to invoke good deities as we delve into deviltry and evil. Like good and god, evil is a Germanic word. Lexicographers believe it has an ancestor in a Gothic word meaning "up." How does that fit in? From an old idea that evil is beyond the limits of accepted conduct.

Devil, meanwhile, has its origin in a Greek verb meaning "to throw across"; "discredit"; "slander." The original Greek diabolos named a "slanderer." Slander is itself a very old word whose now-obsolete senses include "a cause of sin" or "obstacle to virtue"; and "disgrace, shame, or reproach that falls on one, usually by reason of personal acts or character."

Questions or comments? Write us at wftw@aol.com Production and research support for Word for the Wise comes from Merriam-Webster, publisher of language reference books and Web sites including Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition.  

[chessiejo]

a man came to King David who
was at that time running into exile from fear of his rebellious son Absalom (who had good grounds for his rebellion).

David invited him to join his forces, but the man replied

"i am too old! i cannot discern between good and evil! i cannot even get aroused by the dancing girls."

so, apparently, good and evil have to do with gbeing able to appreciate sexuality.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/commentaries/comm_view.cfm?AuthorID=1&contentID=6782&commInfo=25&topic=2 Samuel
http://repository.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp/dspace/handle/2433/56696  

[chessiejo]

perhaps Gotham's deity takes the dark form of the medieval concept,
the "Cloud of Unknowing"


http://www.ccel.org/ccel/anonymous2/cloud.html  

[Ninja Otaku Gurl]

question sweatdrop  

[chessiejo]

the thing about language is

playing with words can be fun

but the things they point to can be really deep indeed.  

[leader of the rebelion]

interesting  

[Bishielurfer]

This is a bit off-topic, but this reminds me of the movie "History of Language". It's very interesting and focuses on English, but it also discusses theories of how cavemen learned to speak. It's very interesting.
Language is so fascinating. biggrin  

[bluecherry]

Very interesting, particularly the meanings of the words "god" and "good." Could you perhaps, if you notice this, point to the resources on the history/roots of those words? Provide a citation one can go look back at? :3 Is it just something put up on Mariam Webster and if so perhaps where do they get their information?  

[chessiejo]

Bishielurfer

This is a bit off-topic, but this reminds me of the movie "History of Language". It's very interesting and focuses on English, but it also discusses theories of how cavemen learned to speak. It's very interesting.
Language is so fascinating. biggrin

i agree.

it seems to be innate, something every person is born with, however it develops after that.