Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

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

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#22072 03/10/01 02:17 PM
A
Anonymous
Unregistered
Anonymous
Unregistered
A
wow used an interesting word in a recent post, "plaudits". It reminded me of "pundits", and i'm wondering (1)if the "dit" ending means "to say" (i'm assuming there's a Latin word to that effect, since IIRC the french word for speak is 'dit') (2)are there a bunch of other related words that end in "-dit"?

i'm guessing that the first part of my query falls squarely within the YCLIU guidelines, but i figured i'd be lazy since i know of no search engine that would help me find words based on a suffix. anyone??

TIA
~b


#22073 03/10/01 02:50 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Dear bridget96: A while back there was a category for "beheaded words": This looks like a Latin past participle or something, with its end chopped off.

< L plaudite, pl. imper. of plaudere, to applaud6 [usually pl.]
1 an applauding or round of applause



#22074 03/10/01 04:07 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
b37,

most search engines have a wildcard feature, so you can search for *dit, for example. I tried this at OneLook, but most of the resources returned "too many matches" after getting to 'credit' or thereabouts. I did get a few interesting hits though.

pandit - a wise man (in India)
adit - an entrance to a cave (a crossword staple, as I recall)
geddit - this surprise from the Cambridge International is given as: interjection BRITISH INFORMAL; used at the end of a statement to attract attention to an obvious play on words, geddit?

I don't think any of these support your theory.



#22075 03/10/01 04:21 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Dear tsuwm: "geddit" sounds very "non U". A very "uncool" way of crowing after a mediocre quip.


#22076 03/10/01 04:32 PM
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
>"geddit" sounds very "non U". [emphasis added]

so, as these things turn, it's probably very 'U'; geddit?


#22077 03/10/01 04:36 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
W
wow Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,439
wow used an interesting word in a recent post, "plaudits".

You mean to say people actually read my posts? I shall have to keep that in mind!

{getting out her bamboo pole she leaves to go fish for more nice compliments.}
wow


#22078 03/10/01 04:43 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
W
wwh Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Dear tsuwm: Were you crowing, or must I eat crow? Incidentally, I have actually eaten crow. I had a Hungarian friend who was such a remarkable marksman that at a rifle range near the Cape Cod Canal he was able to shoot some young crows, which he said were considered a delicacy in his homeland. He made soup from them, and it was quite acceptable.


#22079 03/11/01 12:46 PM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 163
R
member
Offline
member
R
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 163
Plaudit and pundit are actually from entirely different
parts of the globe.
Pundit:
[a. HindW pa:,it:—Skr. pa:,ita learned, skilled; as n., a learned man. So Pg. pandito, põdito (16–17th c.), F. pandit, formerly pandite, -decte.]
a. A learned Hindu; one versed in Sanskrit and in the philosophy, religion, and jurisprudence of India.
The Pundit of the Supreme Court (in India) was a Hindu Law-Officer, whose duty it was to advise the English Judges when needful on questions of Hindu Law. The office became extinct on the constitution of the ‘High Court’ in 1862.

wwh's explanation of the origin of plaudit is correct.


#22080 03/11/01 11:45 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 86
S
journeyman
Offline
journeyman
S
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 86
Bridget - - You received some good information from our colleagues, but, Cara Dea, no one, up to this point, answered your first question.# (1) about the source Latin verb meaning " to say". As you correctly surmised, there is such a Latin verb - dico, dicere, dixi, dictus - "to say" or "to speak" - which word serves as a base for words of similar meaning in French and, I think, other Romance languages.



Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
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
0 members (), 444 guests, and 3 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 10,510
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