Wordsmith Talk |
About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us | |||
Register Log In Wordsmith.org Forums General Topics Q&A about words barbarianism
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
There is a step missing in this etymology, I think. In Latin "barbarian" only means "non-Roman" and was not originally pejorative.
The Greek/Latin word "barba" means "beard" (cf. English "barber"), and since Greek and Roman soldiers were required to be clean-shaven (until the Emperor Hadrian grew a beard), it seems likely this is the direct origin of the word "barbarian". Perhaps "barba" then came from the "bar bar" sound made by those that didn't speak Greek.
Entire Thread Subject Posted By Posted barbarianism sachin 03/20/00 12:48 PM Re: barbarianism kritter 03/20/00 05:41 PM Re: barbarianism cadaver 03/20/00 09:10 PM Re: barbarianism chjones 03/22/00 06:49 PM Re: barbarianism Kostas 04/03/00 12:26 AM
Moderated by Jackie
Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics Forums16Topics13,913Posts229,350Members9,182 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 (), 773 guests, and 1 robot. Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days) A C Bowden 22ddrinnan 1
Top Posters wwh 13,858Faldage 13,803Jackie 11,613wofahulicodoc 10,549tsuwm 10,542LukeJavan8 9,918Buffalo Shrdlu 7,210AnnaStrophic 6,511Wordwind 6,296of troy 5,400
Forum Rules · Mark All Read Contact Us · Forum Help · Wordsmith.org