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 2 of 2 1 2
#85162 10/31/02 07:30 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline OP
Carpal Tunnel
OP Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Love is a poikilochromatic thing.


#85163 11/01/02 01:27 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
B
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
B
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
In reply to:

"Teknonymy
-The naming of the parent from the child. "


Does this mean the child names the parent, as in a nickname of some kind?


We are all familiar with the practice of naming children after the parents as in the surname Johnson, the Russian system of patronymics and so on. Teknonymy is the opposite, naming a parent after the child, as for example calling Mary, the Mother of God.

Apparently in some cultures, and I forget the details so please don't ask, it is quite common to refer to someone once they have become a parent as mother or father of x, rather than use their own name.

Bingley



Bingley
#85164 11/01/02 01:41 AM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
B
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
B
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
For those without a Greek dictionary to hand, the Liddel and Scott entry on poikilos tracing the developments in meaning can be found here:
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/cgi-bin/ptext?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0057:entry=#84296


Bingley


Bingley
#85165 11/01/02 02:06 AM
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
In reply to:

Teknonymy is the opposite, naming a parent after the child, as for example calling Mary, the Mother of God.


Many thanks, Bingley! I'd hoped someone would straighten me out.

WW


#85166 11/01/02 11:24 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Abu is Arabic for father. When part of a name (you could google abu to find many examples) it normally means that the son has gained some fame, perhaps even being better known than the father. At least that's how I remember it.


#85167 11/01/02 02:15 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
if you use the lookup feature at Bingley's Greek dictionary link, you can eventually fine this:

I. many-coloured, spotted, mottled, pied, dappled, of leopards, fawns, Hom., etc.
II. of robes, wrought in various colours, broidered, Il., etc.; en poikilois kallesin, of a rich carpet, Aesch.; so, ta poikila id=Aesch.
2. of metal work, teuchea p. chalkôi in-wrought with brass, Il., etc.: but, p. desmos intricate, Od.
3. hê stoa hê poikilê, the Poecile or great hall at Athens adorned with paintings of the battle of Marathon by Polygnotus, Aeschin., etc.
III. metaph. changeful, various, diversified, manifold, Aesch., Plat.;-- p. mênes the changing months, Pind.
2. of Art, p. humnos a song of changeful strain or full of diverse art, id=Pind.; so, poikilon kitharizôn id=Pind.
3. intricate, complex, Hdt., Soph., etc.: --adv., poikilôs audômenos speaking in double sense, Soph.
b. of abstruse knowledge, intricate, subtle, poikilon ti eidenai Eur.; ouden p. nothing abstruse or difficult, Plat.:--so, of persons, subtle, wily, Aesch.; p. gar hanêr Ar.
4. changeable, changeful, unstable, Arist.:-- poikilôs echein to be different, Xen.


the moral of our fable: even the Greeks transferred meanings..


#85168 11/01/02 04:15 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
F
veteran
Offline
veteran
F
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
'keep up appearances'
'hold onto their self-respect'
'cover their asses'


Seems to me that these are by no means synonyms or poecilonyms for one another.

"Keeping up appearances" implies a certain dishonesty, that things are not as they appear. Usually applied to people who are trying (with limited success) to "keep up with the Joneses".

"Holding on to self-respect" implies struggling rather nobly in the face of adversity. Wearing rags, but clean rags.

"Covering your arse" is quite similar to covering your tracks, leaving nothing to connect you with what some may see as dodgy dealings. It's usually sensible, but isn't generally something of which people are openly proud.


#85169 11/01/02 05:29 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
>Seems to me that these are by no means synonyms or poecilonyms for one another.

whew, shona, talk about wrenching a thread back to the original hijack'd post. the fact is, that post was *seeking something to replace CYA..


Page 2 of 2 1 2

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,271
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
1 members (A C Bowden), 285 guests, and 4 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 10,502
LukeJavan8 9,915
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