Latin and Classical Greek — Journal

Nature

Our 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…

Latin IlluminationsCharles BeauclerkJanuary 11, 2023Charles Beauclerk, Latin and Classical Greek, the meaning of natureComment

Paradise

The Greek word παραδεισος (paradeisos) first appears in the writings of Xenophon (c.428-c.354 BC), for instance in his ‘Anabasis’ (c.370 BC), where the author refers to the park attached to Cyrus the Younger’s palace at Celaenae near the sauce of the Maeander river in Phrygia.

ClassicsCharles BeauclerkJanuary 25, 2019Latin and Classical Greek, etymology, paradeisos, Xenophon, Cyrus the Younger, Anabasis, Old PersianComment