Difference between revisions of "-port- (etymology)"
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| − | Several English words include the element '''-port-'''. These can confuse non-native learners at times, and their history may be interesting to native speakers; so some notes are given here. | + | Several English words include the element '''-port-''', even when ignore those that contain such elements as '''portion''', which comes from ''ptÅ tatiÅne'', 'in the ratio'. Most come from originals with the four letters '''-port-'''. These can confuse non-native learners at times, and their history may be interesting to native speakers; so some notes are given here. They come in essence from three [[Latin]] [[etymological root|root]]s, two linked. ''PortÄre'' means 'to carry, bring' (cf French ''porter''), and is the most productive root. ''Porta'' means a 'door, gate[way]', and, like ''portus'', a 'harbour, haven or port', is derived from an older root ''por'', meaning 'to pierce': the basic meaning of each is 'entry'. |
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There is a Greek verb ''phero'' (φÎÏω), meaning: to bear, carry, convey, suffer, endure, produce, i.e., virtually the same meanings as ''fero''. Like ''fero'', it is a defective verb with forms only for the present and imperfect - ''oiso'' (’οίσω) is used for the future, and ''enenka'' (’ηνεγκα) for the aorist. It regularly produces adjectives with the -''phoros'' (-φόÏος) suffix, such as ''nosephoros'' (νοσηφόÏος, disease-bringing), ''thanatophoros'' (θανατοφόÏος) or ''thanatephoros'' (θανατηφόÏος, death-bringing) and ''hupnophoros'' (‘υπνοφόÏος, sleep-bringing). So although ''Christophoros'' doesn't appear in Liddell and Scott, it is well-formed. | There is a Greek verb ''phero'' (φÎÏω), meaning: to bear, carry, convey, suffer, endure, produce, i.e., virtually the same meanings as ''fero''. Like ''fero'', it is a defective verb with forms only for the present and imperfect - ''oiso'' (’οίσω) is used for the future, and ''enenka'' (’ηνεγκα) for the aorist. It regularly produces adjectives with the -''phoros'' (-φόÏος) suffix, such as ''nosephoros'' (νοσηφόÏος, disease-bringing), ''thanatophoros'' (θανατοφόÏος) or ''thanatephoros'' (θανατηφόÏος, death-bringing) and ''hupnophoros'' (‘υπνοφόÏος, sleep-bringing). So although ''Christophoros'' doesn't appear in Liddell and Scott, it is well-formed. | ||
Revision as of 18:31, 20 September 2009
Several English words include the element -port-, even when ignore those that contain such elements as portion, which comes from ptÅ tatiÅne, 'in the ratio'. Most come from originals with the four letters -port-. These can confuse non-native learners at times, and their history may be interesting to native speakers; so some notes are given here. They come in essence from three Latin roots, two linked. PortÄre means 'to carry, bring' (cf French porter), and is the most productive root. Porta means a 'door, gate[way]', and, like portus, a 'harbour, haven or port', is derived from an older root por, meaning 'to pierce': the basic meaning of each is 'entry'.
There is a Greek verb phero (φÎÏω), meaning: to bear, carry, convey, suffer, endure, produce, i.e., virtually the same meanings as fero. Like fero, it is a defective verb with forms only for the present and imperfect - oiso (’οίσω) is used for the future, and enenka (’ηνεγκα) for the aorist. It regularly produces adjectives with the -phoros (-φόÏος) suffix, such as nosephoros (νοσηφόÏος, disease-bringing), thanatophoros (θανατοφόÏος) or thanatephoros (θανατηφόÏος, death-bringing) and hupnophoros (‘υπνοφόÏος, sleep-bringing). So although Christophoros doesn't appear in Liddell and Scott, it is well-formed.
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