The Greek & Latin Roots of English (43 page)

Tempi
is the plural form of the Italian noun
tempo
. What is its Latin root?

Let's Hear It for the Maestro

The shout of
encore
, meaning more, or again, is derived from the Latin phrase
in hanc horam
(at this time; still, yet). What is the derivation of
maestro
?

From A to Z

The first note on the musical scale in the medieval period was designated by the Greek letter
gamma
, while the final note was called
ut
. Thus, the word
gamut
, a contraction of
gamma
and
ut
, was used to denote the entire scale of tones. Today, the word is used to mean the entire range of any area, as in the phrase, “his emotions ran the gamut from grief to rage.”

ATHLETICS, COMPETITION, AND EXCELLENCE

Theater was not the only form of entertainment available to the Greeks and Romans, and the competitive spirit extended into the realm of physical activity. Wrestling, jumping, discus and javelin throwing, and racing were all part of public contests sponsored by the state or by wealthy citizens. Heracles, the mythical Greek hero known for his remarkable strength, was credited with founding the Olympic games; and although they were dedicated to Zeus, the contests in the stadium provided an area for the demonstration of human excellence. The entrants competed on behalf of their cities, and victors often received the same kind of public prestige (and rewards) as modern athletes.

Floor mosaic, depicting a gladiatorial contest, from a second century CE Roman villa in Nennig, Germany

Sometimes, the original purpose of the contest seems to have been lost. Roman gladiatorial combat, for example, probably had begun as part of funeral ritual, but by the time of the emperors, sponsorship of these violent spectacles had become merely a means for politicians to win popular support and to keep the populace happy.

Leisure, the Freedom from Activity, Is Legal

The etymology of the word
leisure
is the Latin
licet
= it is permitted.

Setting a Record

According to Greek tradition, when the Athenians defeated the Persians at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE, the runner Pheidippides raced the twenty-six miles back to Athens to announce the good news.
Marathon
now denotes any long race, while the ending
-thon
has been used to coin many new words, all having the sense of endurance, such as telethon or walkathon.

Approval Ratings

When a fighter fell in the arena, Roman spectators often expressed their feelings. Traditionally, the gesture of
thumbs up
indicated that the gladiator should be spared by his opponent;
thumbs down
meant that the victor should show no mercy. The Roman satirist Juvenal declared that the citizens of Rome had become so decadent that they cared only for
panem et circenses
, “bread and circuses,” that is, free food and public entertainment, provided by ambitious politicians eager to buy votes.

Some New Beginnings

You have already learned (p. 50) that
-sco
indicates what is called an inceptive verb, meaning that the action has just begun, or is continuing. Here are a few more verbs that belong in this category:

Monumental head from the tomb of Antiochus, first-century BCE ruler of Commagene, on Mt. Taurus in Turkey

NAME _______________________________________________________

Answer each question or fill in the blank with the literal meaning of the italicized word. Make sure that the sentence is grammatically correct. If you are unsure of the meaning, check your unabridged dictionary.

A. Fine Arts and City Planning

1. A domesticated animal should live in your ___________.

2. By looking at the
itinerary
, I knew which___________ he had taken.

3. What is the difference in meaning between
urban
and
urbane
?

      ____________________

      ____________________

4. Their
indecorous
behavior was _______________ at all ___________ for the occasion.

5. What is the shape of London's Piccadilly
Circus
? ________________

6. I don't know why my boss was so angry when she found me napping in my
cubicle;
after all, it was designed for ________________.

7. When he threatened to
defenestrate
me, I moved away ____________the_______________ .

8. As I saw the
portals
close, I knew I'd never get beyond those______________ .

9. I went to see the
murals
he had painted, but they had torn down the________________.

10. What activity took place in the Roman
Forum
that gives the word its current usage?______________

11. The house had a rustic charm that can only be found in the ______________.

12. The legislative branch of the U.S. government is
bicameral
. That means that it has______________.

13. Although she gave her rationale for acting this way, I still don't understand her___________ .

14. If it is
incumbent
upon you to do a task, the responsibility ________________you. What is another current usage of this word?_______________

15. What Latin word is the etymological connection between
increase
and
crescent
?___________What is the current usage of each word?

   a._________________

   b._________________

16. A mnemonic device helps you____________something.

17. I was pleased to get a pay increment, because that meant my salary would __________.

18. When my mother reiterated her instructions for the tenth time, I told her she was going__________over the same___________ again and again.

19. The restrictions placed on the speakers imposed by the chairman___________further debate.

20. Their
collaboration
was a failure, because they were unable to____________ __________________ .

21. I found him in a
recumbent
position. What was he doing?_____________

22. The words
edifice
and
edification
have the same root but very different meanings. Check your dictionary to see if you can figure out the history of both words.

B. Literature, Theater, Music

23. It was clear he had won
plaudits
for his performance: everyone was___________ him.

24. Everyone's
character
has its own particular_______________.