Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

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

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3
#184781 05/14/09 05:03 PM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876
old hand
OP Offline
old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876
After seeing a word in French, a light bulb went on, but I don't know if I'm right. Since there are such awesome experts here, I thought I'd ask. Do the words "winter" and "hibernate" share etymologies? Thanks! :0)

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
hmm.
from etymonline:
Quote:
winter
O.E., "fourth season of the year," from P.Gmc. *wentruz (cf. O.Fris., Du. winter, O.S., O.H.G. wintar, Ger. winter, Dan., Swed. vinter, Goth. wintrus, O.N. vetr "winter"), possibly from PIE *wed-/*wod-/*ud- "wet" (see water), or from *wind- "white" (cf. Celt. vindo- "white"). The Anglo-Saxons counted years in "winters," cf. O.E. ænetre "one-year-old." O.N. Vetrardag, first day of winter, was the Saturday that fell between Oct. 10 and 16. The verb meaning "to pass the winter (in some place)" is recorded from 1382. Winterize is from 1938, on model of earlier summerize (1935). Wintergreen as a type of plant is recorded from 1548.

and
Quote:
hibernation
1664, from L. hibernationem (nom. hibernatio "the action of passing the winter," from hibernare "to winter," from hiems "winter," from PIE *gheim- "snow, winter" (cf. Skt. heman "in winter," Hittite gimmanza, Gk. kheima, O.C.S. zima, Lith. ziema "winter"). Hibernate is first attested 1802.


strange that "gheim=winter" isn't mentioned in the etymology for winter....

and coincidentally, I've been listening to Bon Iver


formerly known as etaoin...
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876
old hand
OP Offline
old hand
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 876
And what is French for winter?

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
hiver

which is why I thought you brought up hibernate?

Last edited by etaoin; 05/14/09 05:39 PM.

formerly known as etaoin...
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
hiver and invierno share the same root, she added helpfully.

Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Bon Iver sang the Emma Song in a lift in the Amsterdam Paradiso theater last year. A song.
(Behind) Closed Doors

Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 132
G
member
Offline
member
G
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 132
Quote:
strange that "gheim=winter" isn't mentioned in the etymology for winter....


*ghei- is not the source of the word "winter", so it's not strange at all.

Last edited by goofy; 05/14/09 09:00 PM.
goofy #184791 05/14/09 09:19 PM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Originally Posted By: goofy
Quote:
strange that "gheim=winter" isn't mentioned in the etymology for winter....


*ghei- is not the source of the word "winter", so it's not strange at all.


?
so, doesn't your kink confirm that "gheim" IS the base for winter?


formerly known as etaoin...
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
so, doesn't your kink confirm that "gheim" IS the base for winter?

No, goofy's link shows that the PIE root glossed as winter is the origin of Latin hiems 'winter], hibernus] 'pertaining to winter', (it's also the source of Sanskrit hima 'cold, frost; snow' whence Himalayas the mountain range). Some derive English winter (and the other Germanic words like German Winter) from PIE *kweid- 'white, light'.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
zmjezhd #184796 05/15/09 05:17 AM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,295
Looks like right from the PIE root the diversion and confusion starts?
Today's word has in it's tail another winter word:

brumal:
[From Latin brumalis (pertaining to winter), from brevima dies (shortest day or winter solstice), from brevis (short). Other words that are derived from the same Latin root are abbreviate, abridge, brevity, breve, and brevet.] Those Romans...

Page 1 of 3 1 2 3

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,328
Members9,182
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
Ineffable, ddrinnan, TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV
9,182 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 719 guests, and 0 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,539
LukeJavan8 9,916
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