Morality is an old-fashioned word, which signifies a code of conduct handed down over the generations. This code of conduct forms the basis of a particular society’s values. Morality is thus rooted in time and tradition. It tends to be a collective concept…
Read MoreThe basic meaning of the root verb—putare—in the word ‘reputation’ is ‘to prune’, as in pruning vines. It can also mean ‘to purify’ and is related to the Latin words putus and purus, both meaning ‘pure’. Reputare would thus be ‘to prune again’ or ‘to repurify’…
Read MoreThe Latin word invidere, from which our words ‘envy’ and ‘invidious’ come, is a compound of the word videre meaning ‘to see’ or ‘to look at’. The prefix in- here gives the sense of ‘to keep one’s eye fixed on an object (with sentiments of secret jealousy)’….
Read MoreOur word Nature comes from the Latin noun ‘natura’, which itself comes from the verb nascor, natus sum meaning ‘to be born’. Therefore the word natura has the primary meaning of ‘birth’. Its secondary meaning is ‘nature’, both as the order and constitution of the universe and as the natural disposition or character of a person, creature or thing…
Read MoreLatin Illuminations: I shall be taking a different English word each week and attempting to cast new light on its meaning by looking at the Latin word or words from which it derives. I begin with the word ‘Altitude’.
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