Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#43636 10/04/01 10:39 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027
wsieber Offline OP
old hand
OP Offline
old hand
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 1,027
Dear Experts,
Starting from the fact that German has only one word, Entwicklung, for the two english terms, evolution and development, I wonder if these two words might possibly have a common root. The dictionaries trace back evolution to latin evolvere ("roll out"), but development only as far as Old French (en-)volopper. But you notice that both contain the root "- vol- " (also present e.g. in volute). This has me speculate that both words originate from the unrolling .. of a script roll??


#43637 10/04/01 02:31 PM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 872
M
old hand
Offline
old hand
M
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 872

Regardless Wsieber, I think that that is a neat reconstruction.


#43638 10/05/01 04:16 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
B
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
B
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
The American Heritage Dictionary speculates (http://www.bartleby.com/61/76/D0177600.html ) on a possible Celtic origin for voloper:

ETYMOLOGY: French développer, from Old French desveloper : des-, dis- + voloper, to wrap (possibly of Celtic origin).




Bingley


Bingley

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,665
Members9,187
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Karin, JeffMackwood, artguitar, Jim_W, Rdbuffalo
9,187 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 117 guests, and 2 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
wofahulicodoc 10,767
tsuwm 10,542
LukeJavan8 9,936
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5