{"id":62,"date":"2016-08-01T19:26:26","date_gmt":"2016-08-01T23:26:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/?post_type=chapter&p=62"},"modified":"2017-07-06T15:44:39","modified_gmt":"2017-07-06T19:44:39","slug":"%c2%a7111-interesting-words","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/chapter\/%c2%a7111-interesting-words\/","title":{"raw":"\u00a7111. Interesting Words","rendered":"\u00a7111. Interesting Words"},"content":{"raw":"

Appropriately enough, the \u201cstudy of humankind\u201d\u2014anthropology<\/i>\u2014appears to be the earliest of the \u201c-ologies\u201d to have entered the English language, in 1593. Originally, it was used to describe human enquiry in the broadest sense; its modern application to a more limited field dates from about 1860. There are now hundreds of academic disciplines and other studies that use this Greek word-building element, -\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03b9\u03b1. If you are confronted with one that is unfamiliar to you, the challenge, of course, will be to identify the etymological meaning of the element that precedes the \u201c-ology.\u201d Even in the 20th century, the tradition is generally maintained that this element should be derived from Greek; recent hybrids like the jewellers\u2019 gemmology<\/i> (< L gemma<\/b>) are rather exceptional.<\/p>\r\n

You have met the noun base of metrology<\/i>, the study of weights and measures. The study of causes, either medical or mythical, is aetiology<\/i> (etiology<\/i>).[footnote] G \u03b1\u1f30\u03c4\u03b9\u03b1 (\u201ccause\u201d) > L aetia<\/strong>; English usage varies on the further reduction of the diphthong ae<\/em> > e<\/em>.[\/footnote] Of particular interest to theologians and philosophers is eschatology<\/i>, the study of last things\u2014such as death and final judgement. Here are a few other examples that have a good Greek pedigree:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
dendrology<\/i><\/span><\/td>\r\nthe study of trees<\/span><\/i><\/td>\r\nombrology<\/i><\/td>\r\nthe study of rain<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
limnology<\/i><\/td>\r\nthe study of lakes<\/td>\r\npenology<\/i><\/span><\/td>\r\nthe study of punishment<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
herpetology<\/i><\/span><\/td>\r\nthe study of reptiles<\/td>\r\noenology<\/i><\/td>\r\nthe study of wine<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
eremology<\/i><\/td>\r\nthe study of deserts<\/td>\r\ncartology<\/i><\/a>[footnote]From its Latinate spelling, this form might be identified as a hybrid; if strictly Greek, it ought to have been chartology<\/em>. The word is modelled on cartography<\/em> (1859), which was also spelled chartography<\/em>.[\/footnote]<\/td>\r\nthe study of maps<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n

Compounds ending in -meter <\/i>(< G \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd) are measurement devices. The first element of barometer<\/i> means \u201cweight\u201d or \u201cpressure\u201d; the instrument measures air pressure. Although their measurement function differs, the hybrid speedometer<\/i> is an etymological equivalent of a tachometer<\/i>. What does an anemometer <\/i>measure? A sphygmomanometer<\/i>?<\/p>\r\n

Many of us suffer from phobias. The film Arachnophobia <\/i>popularized one such affliction, named after \u1f00\u03c1\u03b1\u03c7\u03bd\u03b7 or \u1f00\u03c1\u03b1\u03c7\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2, the 1st declension Greek word for \u201cspider.\u201d According to an aetiological myth, Arachne was an arrogant young weaver, who was changed into a spider because of her foolish wish to rival the goddess of weaving, Athena. Though phobias are a serious matter, some of the descriptive labels are tongue-in-cheek. You may have encountered tris-kai-deka-phobia<\/i>, a morbid fear of the number thirteen. Laurence J. Peter (author of The Peter Principle<\/i>) defined papyro<\/i>phobia<\/i> (< G \u03c0\u03b1\u03c0\u03c5\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2, L papyrus<\/b>) as \u201can abnormal desire for a clean desk.\u201d (In a brilliant play on pyromania<\/i>, he also coined the word papyromania<\/i>, \u201cthe compulsive accumulation of papers.\u201d) Other facetious and improbable coinages have included zonasphalophobia <\/i>(\u201cfear of seat-belts\u201d), opsogalactophobia<\/i> (\u201cfear of omelettes\u201d), and even pectocarpochylophobia <\/i>(\u201cfear of Jello\u201d).<\/p>\r\n

To judge by Greek compound derivatives, the opposite of love (\u03c6\u03b9\u03bb-) may be either fear (\u03c6\u03bf\u03b2-) or hate (\u03bc\u03b9\u03c3-).[footnote] The parenthetical forms are the Greek roots, which may occur in both noun and verb bases. For our purposes, we needn\u2019t worry whether the source of the compound was a noun or a verb.[\/footnote] Thus we have the antonyms anglophile<\/i> and anglophobe<\/i>\u2014one who loves or fears the English. Often the phil-<\/i> element comes first, as in philharmonic<\/i>, \u201cloving harmony\u201d (\u1f01\u03c1\u03bc\u03bf\u03bd\u03b9\u03b1), philhellene<\/i>, \u201clover of Greece,\u201d and philanthropist,<\/i> \u201clover of humanity.\u201d The opposite of philanthropist<\/i> is misanthrope. <\/i>An aberration as old as time (alas!) is misogyny<\/i>, male hatred of women (root \u03b3\u03c5\u03bd-). There now exists a counterpart word misandry<\/i>, female hatred of men (root \u1f00\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1-). It would be a better world if all members of both sexes practised philanthropy<\/i> (\u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03c9\u03c0\u03b9\u03b1).<\/p>","rendered":"

Appropriately enough, the \u201cstudy of humankind\u201d\u2014anthropology<\/i>\u2014appears to be the earliest of the \u201c-ologies\u201d to have entered the English language, in 1593. Originally, it was used to describe human enquiry in the broadest sense; its modern application to a more limited field dates from about 1860. There are now hundreds of academic disciplines and other studies that use this Greek word-building element, -\u03bb\u03bf\u03b3\u03b9\u03b1. If you are confronted with one that is unfamiliar to you, the challenge, of course, will be to identify the etymological meaning of the element that precedes the \u201c-ology.\u201d Even in the 20th century, the tradition is generally maintained that this element should be derived from Greek; recent hybrids like the jewellers\u2019 gemmology<\/i> (< L gemma<\/b>) are rather exceptional.<\/p>\n

You have met the noun base of metrology<\/i>, the study of weights and measures. The study of causes, either medical or mythical, is aetiology<\/i> (etiology<\/i>).[1]<\/sup><\/a> Of particular interest to theologians and philosophers is eschatology<\/i>, the study of last things\u2014such as death and final judgement. Here are a few other examples that have a good Greek pedigree:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
dendrology<\/i><\/span><\/td>\nthe study of trees<\/span><\/i><\/td>\nombrology<\/i><\/td>\nthe study of rain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
limnology<\/i><\/td>\nthe study of lakes<\/td>\npenology<\/i><\/span><\/td>\nthe study of punishment<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
herpetology<\/i><\/span><\/td>\nthe study of reptiles<\/td>\noenology<\/i><\/td>\nthe study of wine<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
eremology<\/i><\/td>\nthe study of deserts<\/td>\ncartology<\/i><\/a>[2]<\/sup><\/a><\/td>\nthe study of maps<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Compounds ending in -meter <\/i>(< G \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u03c1\u03bf\u03bd) are measurement devices. The first element of barometer<\/i> means \u201cweight\u201d or \u201cpressure\u201d; the instrument measures air pressure. Although their measurement function differs, the hybrid speedometer<\/i> is an etymological equivalent of a tachometer<\/i>. What does an anemometer <\/i>measure? A sphygmomanometer<\/i>?<\/p>\n

Many of us suffer from phobias. The film Arachnophobia <\/i>popularized one such affliction, named after \u1f00\u03c1\u03b1\u03c7\u03bd\u03b7 or \u1f00\u03c1\u03b1\u03c7\u03bd\u03b7\u03c2, the 1st declension Greek word for \u201cspider.\u201d According to an aetiological myth, Arachne was an arrogant young weaver, who was changed into a spider because of her foolish wish to rival the goddess of weaving, Athena. Though phobias are a serious matter, some of the descriptive labels are tongue-in-cheek. You may have encountered tris-kai-deka-phobia<\/i>, a morbid fear of the number thirteen. Laurence J. Peter (author of The Peter Principle<\/i>) defined papyro<\/i>phobia<\/i> (< G \u03c0\u03b1\u03c0\u03c5\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2, L papyrus<\/b>) as \u201can abnormal desire for a clean desk.\u201d (In a brilliant play on pyromania<\/i>, he also coined the word papyromania<\/i>, \u201cthe compulsive accumulation of papers.\u201d) Other facetious and improbable coinages have included zonasphalophobia <\/i>(\u201cfear of seat-belts\u201d), opsogalactophobia<\/i> (\u201cfear of omelettes\u201d), and even pectocarpochylophobia <\/i>(\u201cfear of Jello\u201d).<\/p>\n

To judge by Greek compound derivatives, the opposite of love (\u03c6\u03b9\u03bb-) may be either fear (\u03c6\u03bf\u03b2-) or hate (\u03bc\u03b9\u03c3-).[3]<\/sup><\/a> Thus we have the antonyms anglophile<\/i> and anglophobe<\/i>\u2014one who loves or fears the English. Often the phil-<\/i> element comes first, as in philharmonic<\/i>, \u201cloving harmony\u201d (\u1f01\u03c1\u03bc\u03bf\u03bd\u03b9\u03b1), philhellene<\/i>, \u201clover of Greece,\u201d and philanthropist,<\/i> \u201clover of humanity.\u201d The opposite of philanthropist<\/i> is misanthrope. <\/i>An aberration as old as time (alas!) is misogyny<\/i>, male hatred of women (root \u03b3\u03c5\u03bd-). There now exists a counterpart word misandry<\/i>, female hatred of men (root \u1f00\u03bd\u03b4\u03c1-). It would be a better world if all members of both sexes practised philanthropy<\/i> (\u03c6\u03b9\u03bb\u03b1\u03bd\u03b8\u03c1\u03c9\u03c0\u03b9\u03b1).<\/p>\n

  1. G \u03b1\u1f30\u03c4\u03b9\u03b1 (\u201ccause\u201d) > L aetia<\/strong>; English usage varies on the further reduction of the diphthong ae<\/em> > e<\/em>. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  2. From its Latinate spelling, this form might be identified as a hybrid; if strictly Greek, it ought to have been chartology<\/em>. The word is modelled on cartography<\/em> (1859), which was also spelled chartography<\/em>. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  3. The parenthetical forms are the Greek roots, which may occur in both noun and verb bases. For our purposes, we needn\u2019t worry whether the source of the compound was a noun or a verb. ↵<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>","protected":false},"author":20,"menu_order":3,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"Chapter 17: Compound Words in Greek","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[52],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-62","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","chapter-type-numberless"],"part":57,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/62","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/62\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":566,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/62\/revisions\/566"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/57"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/62\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=62"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=62"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/greeklatinroots2\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=62"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}