WORD HISTORIES IX

From The Mensa Book of Words

           Dr. Abbie Salny

 

FORENSIC

The word "forensic" originates from the Latin word "forensis," meaning "of the forum" or "public." In ancient Roman times, the forum was a public space where legal matters were debated and cases presented. Forensic science and forensic debate, while related, are distinct. Forensic science involves the application of scientific methods to legal matters, focusing on the analysis an interpretation of evidence. Forensic debate is a form of competitive speech and debate, often involving argumentation and public speaking skills. The connection probably stems from the public debate over legal matters in the Roman forum.

 

LADY 

Despite the current connotation of gentility attached to the word, it originally meant the dough kneader in the household, or the female in charge of the house. "Lord" originally meant bread guardian. 

LARVA

It comes from the Greek word for "mask" - as the immature form masked the later development. 

MEANDER

From the Greek MAIANDROS, the name of a winding river in what is now Turkey and called the Menderes River

 

MELANCOHOLY

One of the four humors in the ancient theory of temperaments developed by Hippocrates, specifically black bile (melaina chole). When  the humors were out of balance, sickness developed. An excess of black bile was thought to cause sadness, gloom, and a tendency toward depression.

 

PARAPHERNALIA

The original meaning of paraphernalia was the possessions a married woman could claim as her own. Everything else belonged to her husband.

 

SUPERCILIOUS

From the Latin "supercilium" for eyebrow.  "Supercilious" is often associated with the haughty look of raised eyebrows.

 

TABOO 

The people of Polynesia had complex rules relating to who could speak to whom, who could marry whom, the exact relationship of in-laws, and so forth. The word was so convenient and filled an unfilled niche in English so thoroughly that it was immediately adopted as an English word - meaning anything forbidden.

 

TIP

The traditional belief that TIP means "to insure promptness" has been debunked by etymologists, as there is no evidence to support it. (This is also true of COP as "constable on patrol.") In fact, the word "tip" is from the language of thieves - meaning to give someone a useful piece of advice. It has retained its original meaning in such phrases as "tip him off."