I find often times that the etymology of the word in the "A.Word.A.Day" email informs me of the roots of a given word, and then lists other words supposed to share the same root, which don't seem to be very related at all.

For example, today's word, "diktat."
Quote:
From German Diktat (command, order, dictation), from Latin dictatum (something dictated), from dictare (to dictate), frequentative of dicere (to say). Ultimately from the Indo-European root deik- (to show, to pronounce solemnly), which is also the source of words such as judge, verdict, vendetta, revenge, indicate, dictate, paradigm, interdict, and fatidic


I can see clearly that words such as "verdict" and even "indicate" contain the root "deik," but a word like "judge?" Or "revenge?" Where is the "deik" in those words?

I find myself wishing that Anu would spot these difficult-to-see correlations and maybe help me out somehow; perhaps by pointing out where the similarity lies.

Does anyone else here ever think that or is it just me?

Mitch

Last edited by mitchpowell; 03/03/2011 9:46 AM. Reason: refresh profile pic
"Eventually, everything connects."