|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526
veteran
|
|
veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526 |
Note: M-W says 'pseudo' is from Late Latin.
Every other source I've seen says it's Greek. Seems like an obvious mistake, but I suppose it's possible that Greek was it might have come to us from through some circuitous route.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
It's Greek. You don't get ps word initially in Latin. It may have come through Latin as many a word did. There's a play by Plautus called Pseudolus. The title character is a smart slave. This is the basis for the Zero Mostel character in the movie of the Sondheim musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. I have a dictionary of Late Latin; I'll take a look-see.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
??
pseudo-
[ME, fr. LL, fr. Gk, fr. pseudes, fr. pseudesthai to lie] [MWCD-10]
Cf. post-classical Latin pseudo- [OED2]
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290 |
OK, I've look it up in Alexander Souter's A Glossary of Later Latin to 600 AD. There's about 1 1/3 columns of words beginnig in pseudo-, e.g., pseudoapostolus 'false apostle' to pseudothyrum 'false (secret) door'. Name that keeps cropping up is [Sophronius Eusebius] Hier[onymus] aka Jerome, he of the Vulgate. So, it became a kind of prefix with the Church Fathers.
Ceci n'est pas un seing.
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,915
Posts230,281
Members9,208
| |
Most Online4,606
Sep 17th, 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
