Root Words / Word Meanings - Ever blow your mind?

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edro

edro

Lifer
Apr 5, 2002
24,326
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Every now and then, my mind is blown when I realize the root word of a common word I have used for many years.

frequency - My mind has always been split between "science world" and "layman's world" for this word.
In science/engineering, it is the oscillations of magnetic energy. In layman terms, it is how often something happens.

BAM! Just today, the two worlds combined and I realized that they ARE THE SAME! Electrical frequency just means how frequent the waves appear!!!

Does this happen to anyone else?
It is slightly embarrassing... but it is a really cool feeling when it clicks.

I'll try to think of other examples.
 
KeithTalent

KeithTalent

Elite Member | Administrator | No Lifer
Administrator
Nov 30, 2005
50,231
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116
The other day I learned the word cuckold is derived from the female cuckoo bird and their habit of having many mates.

KT
 
IronWing

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
72,055
32,303
136
California comes from the latin cali meaning hot, the same root as calorie, and forni meaning ones who are copulating, same root as fornicate.
 
SKORPI0

SKORPI0

Lifer
Jan 18, 2000
18,469
2,409
136
ImpulsE69 said:
Does Florida mean "Sinkholes" in some language?
Click to expand...

http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/Florida/FloridaNameOrigin.html

What does "Florida" mean? Florida was named Pascua Florida by explorer Ponce de Leon on Easter in 1513. Translation: means "Flowery Easter" or "Flowering Easter" (after Spain's "Feast of the Flowers" Easter celebration).
Click to expand...

http://www.jokes4us.com/miscellaneousjokes/worldjokes/floridajokes.html
http://www.ahajokes.com/florida_jokes.html
 
Kadarin

Kadarin

Lifer
Nov 23, 2001
44,296
16
81
edro said:
Every now and then, my mind is blown when I realize the root word of a common word I have used for many years.

frequency - My mind has always been split between "science world" and "layman's world" for this word.
In science/engineering, it is the oscillations of magnetic energy. In layman terms, it is how often something happens.

BAM! Just today, the two worlds combined and I realized that they ARE THE SAME! Electrical frequency just means how frequent the waves appear!!!

Does this happen to anyone else?
It is slightly embarrassing... but it is a really cool feeling when it clicks.

I'll try to think of other examples.
Click to expand...

Amplitude/Amplify
 
mmntech

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
12
0
The city of Des Moines, Iowa allegedly gets its name from the native word "mooyiinkweena", which translates to "shit face".
 
zinfamous

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,603
30,870
146
Chicago comes from the name the natives gave to the area: "Che kwa gwo" (the spelling must be way off, but I recall it sounding like that).

It means "stinky onion." It was a smelly swamp where only the white people thought worthwhile to settle. :D
 
DrPizza

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
167
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
edro said:
Every now and then, my mind is blown when I realize the root word of a common word I have used for many years.

frequency - My mind has always been split between "science world" and "layman's world" for this word.
In science/engineering, it is the oscillations of magnetic energy. In layman terms, it is how often something happens.

BAM! Just today, the two worlds combined and I realized that they ARE THE SAME! Electrical frequency just means how frequent the waves appear!!!

Does this happen to anyone else?
It is slightly embarrassing... but it is a really cool feeling when it clicks.

I'll try to think of other examples.
Click to expand...
I'll bet learning physics would have been a hell of a lot easier if you made that connection right off the bat.
 
SlitheryDee

SlitheryDee

Lifer
Feb 2, 2005
17,252
19
81
Only when they don't match up. If you read a lot you get used to seeing words you don't understand, breaking them down in your mind based on root words, and then seeing if your assumption bears out in the rest of the text. I did that with the word frequency when I read the title and then the first part of the op and what I came up with in my mind was almost word for word what the op finished with.
 
SlitheryDee

SlitheryDee

Lifer
Feb 2, 2005
17,252
19
81
Craig234 said:
By the way guys, I'll recommend a book for those interested in this stuff.

Not a book on etymology.

There's a book that's all about some words in other languages that describe things important in those cultures for which they have a word hard to translate to English.

Very interesting, in my opinion.

I'm thinking it's called "They have a word for it", but not positive.
Click to expand...

That book sounds somewhat frustrating. You know you're getting the sense of an idea, but maybe not.

I'm looking for it now.

Edit: Is this it?
 
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