Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site dcdwest.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!benson From: benson@dcdwest.UUCP Newsgroups: net.nlang Subject: Re: Latin and culture Message-ID: <106@dcdwest.UUCP> Date: Wed, 29-Feb-84 13:51:03 EST Article-I.D.: dcdwest.106 Posted: Wed Feb 29 13:51:03 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 2-Mar-84 22:28:16 EST References: <5920@decwrl.UUCP> Organization: ITT DCDWEST (San Diego) Lines: 16 I must concur with jayembee. Knowing the etymology of words is fun and occasionally will help you out of a tight spot. Most of the time, the meanings of words have changed over the years and the culture along with it. The ancient roots will often lead you away from the modern meaning. Consider 'consider', from the Latin considerare, lit. to observe the stars. The etymology does not lead one to the current sense of the word. Studying Latin or Greek (or Aramaic or Sanscrit or Swedish) is an end in itself. There are good writers, interesting ideas, and the intense fun of translation. To increase your vocabulary in English and improve your writing style, I would recommend reading good English authors with a good dictionary in hand. Peter Benson decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!benson