|
|
#10184
11/12/2000 12:57 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Rupert Brooke wrote to a friend in 1914, and used the word polypist. He wrote, "...so polypist and yet benevolent...". He added what to me was an amazing and amusing note: "=of many faiths, not bespattered by a parrot, O Greekless!"
Did he make this word up, or perhaps mis-spell a real word? I can't find it, nor come up with anything close to it.
|
|
|
#10185
11/12/2000 2:57 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,788 |
This looks to be to be a home-made word, probably inspired by the epithet "papist" converted to a pun by substituting "poly" (many, diverse, varietous) for "pap" (referring to the Bishop of Rome). I especially appreciate the comment on parrot urine, however.
|
|
|
#10186
11/13/2000 8:31 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027 |
polypist was most probably composed from poly ( greek, =many) and pisteuo (greek,= I believe)
|
|
|
#10187
11/13/2000 11:11 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
Thank you, wsieber! Certainly sounds likely.
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,916
Posts230,312
Members9,209
| |
Most Online4,606 Sep 17th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|