Word Origins
Dedicated to finding real origins of words in several languages
Edition 4
able
Origin
Indian Tamil balam ‘strength’
Mechanism
a + Indian Tamil balam = English able
above
Origin
Indian Hindi/Urdu oopar ‘on top of’, ‘higher’,’above’
The Transition
English over derives from Indian Hindi/Urdu oopar .
Thus ab + over (from oopar) = English above.
above board
open, without any concealment
Origin
See above
above ground
Origin
See above
above mentioned
Origin
See above
abp
abbreviation for archbishop ‘head bishop’
Origins
Indian Tamil arachan ‘king’
English bishop ‘supervisor of local churches’
Mechanism
Indian Tamil arachan + English bishop = English archbishop
Abraham
First patriarch mentioned in the Bible
Founder of Hebrew nation
Origins
Indian God Brahma “Creator God’
Intermediate
Indian Urdu/Arabic Ibrahim
Ancestor of Arab people
Abraham’s bosom
heaven
Origin
See Abraham
Abram
Ancient name of Abraham
Origins
See Abraham
absent
missing, not in place
Origins
Latin prefix ab ‘away’, ‘off’
Indian Sanskrit stha ‘remain’
Mechanism
Latin ab + Indian Sanskrit stha = English absent
absentee vote
Vote by mail due to being away from your polling station
Origins
English absent (see absent for its origins)
Indian Tamil vayndu ‘want’
Mechanism
One Indian Tamil consonant has both d and t sounds.
So Indian Tamil vayndu can be pronounced as vayntu.
Thus Indian Tamil vayntu becomes English want and vote (cast your ballot for person or issue you want)
Thus English absent + Indian Tamil vayntu = English absentee vote
absentminded
Origins
English absent (see absent for its origins)
Indian Tamil manam ‘mind’
Indian Sanskrit manas ‘mind’
Mechanism
Thus English absent + Indian manam/manas = English absentminded
absentmindedness
Origin
See absentminded
See our previous edition
http://wordorigins.wordpress.com/2006/12/22/hello-world/
Contact us
See our other articles and books
http://www.geocities.com/kmguru2000/Ignorance.doc
OPOL: http://www.authorsonline.co.uk/viewbook.php?bid=419
Roots: http://www.authorsonline.co.uk/viewbook.php?bid=510
jayarava said,
March 24, 2010 at 9:45 am
Another website that goes to show that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.