So, I've always vaguely wondered why three of the four seasons have a single simple name ("Spring" "Summer" "Winter") while the fourth has two, both "Fall" and "Autumn".
Checking the dictionary, I didn't find the answer. But I did learn that 'autumn' is Etruscan (though we got it from the French, who got it from the Romans), and means autumn.
I suspect that makes it pretty much the only Etruscan word in common usage in modern English
Live and learn.
--John R.
current reading: THIS PROGRESS by Bernard Acworth (still)
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John D. Rateliff
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2 comments:
Now you've got me wondering why there are two words for autumn! Incidentally, there are a number of other common words in English apparently from Etruscan (see here for a start).
Hi Jason
You're quite right: had I investigated further, I would have discovered that there's quite a list of Etruscan or potentially Etruscan words in common English use today. Makes me wonder if "Etruscan" were not the Pelasgian of Latin: a precursor speech of unknown origin to which can be assigned words otherwise difficult of explanation.
--JDR
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