Today's word, stat, is interesting. Statim (the accusative of statis, used adverbially, a noun dervied from sto, stare, steti, statum 'to stand; (older) to set' (which is related to sisto, sistere, stiti 'to place, put, set'). Statim in Latin had two meanings: 'firmly, steadily, steadfastly' and 'forthwith, instantly, on the spot' (from which latter we get stat). There's also stet which is a hortatory subjunctive 'let it stand' still used as a proofreader's mark (e.g., written next to a crossed-out word to indicate that it should not be crossed out).

Whoops, and a tip of the hat to Dr Bill for pointing the word of the day out to me this morning.

statis, used adverbially, a noun dervied from sto, stare, steti, statum 'to stand; (older) to set'
Um--is this where we get our word 'status' (said the ignorant one)?

is this where we get our word 'status'

Yes, status is the masculine nominative singular of the fourth form (past participle) of the verb sto. State comes from status also. Interesting thing about the dictionary citation forms for verbs in Latin is that I learned to cite the fourth form in the masc. nom. sg. ending, but most dictionaries give the neuter nom./acc. sg. Might be a difference between the UK and the US or the UK and the rest of Europe.

I was mulling this entry over again, and was struck by stead (which is cognate with German Stadt and Yiddish shtetl < PIE *st@-ti-). For folks who worry about such locutions as very unique and emptier, there's steadfast for standing still. How can fast mean both 'quick (in motion)' and 'fixed'? (Easy answer, cuz it's language.) It seems that fast is related to Vulgar Latin *passo 'to step' < Latin passus 'step' (< pando, pandi) 'to spread out, extend, throw open', and whence pas 'not' in French, can you fathom it? [also related]). The later meaning of fast qua quick is from the verb to fasten 'to fix in place'. All this moving and standing still. And, yes, German statt 'in stead of, in place of' is related also. Do not pass go, go past, or stand fast.

Um (again)--first question, having also given the above more thought: would 'statis quo' be a legitimate phrase in Latin, and if so, did it begin its usage in English spelled that way and then transmogrify into status quo? (Aside: is mogrify a word?)

Secondly--I'm sorry, but I really do not understand this: whence pas 'not' in French, can you fathom it? [also related]). The later meaning of fast qua quick is from the verb to fasten 'to fix in place'. Are you saying that the French 'pas' came from 'passo' or 'passus'? 'Not' from 'step'? And in your next sentence, the 'qua' flummoxed me completely; does it mean quick? If so, I am lost trying to relate it to 'to fix in place'.

We have talked here before about words that can carry opposing meanings, but I'll be darned if I can remember the term for them.

German Stadt and Yiddish shtetl

so homey, does that be like homestead?

statis quo

Well, no, statis as a noun is not recorded, so it's an older noun that faded away. Status quo is probably how the phrase started out.

No, French pas is from passus, just like VL *passo is. And the word fathom is related to both past and fast. Je ne sais pas is literally, 'I not know step'. Ne/pas and ne/rien bith being kinds of double negatives.

Qua, as Anu points out today in AWAD, means basically as. So fast as quick, not fixed.

Sorry, my syntax got so snarled up. I was just enjoying myself. Must calm down a little and self-edit before pressing the button.

so homey, does that be like homestead?

Genau! 'Cept, of course, Heimatstadt means 'home town'.

We have talked here before about words that can carry opposing meanings..

perhaps:
enantiodromic - characteristic of something which has become its opposite

enantiodromic - characteristic of something which has become its opposite

Thanks, tsuwm, I hadn't seen this word before, though I have heard of amphibolous and Janus words ... I wonder about the -o- ...

OED2 gives the Gk. enantiodromia (englished, of course), running in contrary ways;
from enantios + dromos (opposite + running).

and here's where I got the notion:
http://www.users.bigpond.com/burnside/contradicting.htm

Burnside differentiates between a word which shows "historical drift" (enantiodromic) and one which "maintains... two opposite meanings side by side", which he characterizes as a Janus word or amphibolous.

enantios

Enantios for antios which is a sort of nominalized preposition. LSJ only gives on citation for enantiodromia: from Plutarch's Placita philosophorum, (ed. Diels, Doxographi Graeci).

Thanks again.

stead statt stat

Nice one, jheem.

Nice one

As the Persians/Iranians say in Farsi: mersi. I hear they also call bad things bad.

Yes--thank you. Next question: does 'drom-' or 'dromic' have something to do with meaning round, or circular? I thought of palindrome; then velodrome.

Wups: Qua, as Anu points out today in AWAD The nth time I've embarrassed myself here by not knowing the W. of the D.

does 'drom-' or 'dromic' have something to do with meaning round, or circular?

It's Greek for running: dromos 'racecourse', dramein 'to run'. Plaindromes are running backwards, and hippodromes are for losing your moolah in. And to tie in the Olympics: Greek dromax 'good at running'.

dramein

drama?

drama?

No, drama is from Greek dra:n 'to do, perform' < PIE *der@-, *dra:- 'to work'. Dromos is from *drem- 'to run'. Close, though.

thanks, jheem. guess that play didn't have a very long run...

What do fancydromes do? {duck}

What do fancydromes do?

Well, they cain't throw. And they walk kinda funny, too. But their cuffs never get wet during hurricane sason.

Murder for a jar of red rum, (when they find out that), Mom's Dad & Dad's Mom?

Sincerely,
Evil Olive

PS: Do geese see God?

PS: Do geese see God?

Who dare goose the geed?

Do geese see God?
Pretty good, pal, in dromedary fashion.

Pretty good, pal, in dromedary fashion.