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Another beauty. I never before heard the eytmology of "ovation". Plutarch says:
"in their triumph, to immolate an ox, but in their ovation, a sheep: hence they named it Ovation, from the Latin ovis."
(Ovis meaning sheep)
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Carpal Tunnel
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I was thinking about posting this, but the AHD derives it from ovatus, past participle of ovare to rejoice.
Plutarch's Latin etymologies should be treated with caution. He says himself:
But for me, I live in a little town, where I am willing to continue, lest it should grow less; and having had no leisure, while I was in Rome and other parts of Italy, to exercise myself in the Roman language, on account of public business and of those who came to be instructed by me in philosophy, it was very late, and in the decline of my age, before I applied myself to the reading of Latin authors. Upon which that which happened to me, may seem strange, though it be true; for it was not so much by the knowledge of words, that I came to the understanding of things, as by my experience of things I was enabled to follow the meaning of words. But to appreciate the graceful and ready pronunciation of the Roman tongue, to understand the various figures and connection of words, and such other ornaments, in which the beauty of speaking consists, is, I doubt not, an admirable and delightful accomplishment; but it requires a degree of practice and study, which is not easy, and will better suit those who have more leisure, and time enough yet before them for the occupation.
Bingley
Bingley
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Carpal Tunnel
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Dear Bingley: If "ovare" = to rejoice was in use in Plutarch's time, it is surprising that he would not have known of it, and based his etymology on it. What are the chances of "ovare" having been drived from the use of the seep in the ceremony?
At least he didn't derive it from the female gonad.
Also good that he didn't say "ovare" meant to throw rotten
eggs at unpopular person.
And Smith's hundred year old dictionary in that UKan.edu
site I sent you, Bingley, says this:
"The word ovatio seems clearly to be derived from the kind of victim offered." And he would have known "ovare".
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Carpal Tunnel
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Lewis and Short's Latin dictionary doesn't say anything about the derviation of ovatio, but says for the defective verb ovare: [cf. Sanscr. root u-, avate, to roar; Gr. au)/w, a)vuw , to shout], to exult, rejoice. and notes that its general use is mainly poetical, with the more specific idea of "celebrate an ovation" being used in prose. http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y24A21825 So, you pays your money and makes your choice. Bingley
Bingley
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