Helen Writings
The word repair has an unusual and complex etymology including many related words and many varied derivations that today would seem totally unrelated to each other.
[spin] We first find the common meaning of repair appearing in English in 1387. Before that, the word derived from the O.F. word reparer and before that from the Latrin word reparare meaning to restore or put back in order.
The word is compounded from re “again” and parare meaning “make ready” or “prepare” The use of repair as a noun is first seen around 1595.
Of interest is the relationship between parare and the word pare, which also derives from parare. The modern word pare means to trim by cutting close, and was first seen around 1320. This word likewise derives from parare.
In the etymology of pare, it is noted that parare is related to the Latin word parere, meaning to produce bring forth or give birth to. This word originally derives from from the PIE base *per- “to bring forward, bring forth. Parere is also related to the Lithuanian word apriu meaning “to brood” and to the Gk word “poris’ calf or bull, the Old High German word farr, and the German word farre meaning bullock. And the Old English world fearr, meaning bull, and the Sanskrit word prthukah, meaning child calf young of an animal, and the Czech word spratek meaning brat urchin or premature calf. The exact connection between birth or bringing forth and the bull is not clear, other than the fact that a bull is a symbol of fertility in many ancient cultures.
The study of the vast history of parere reveals a startling connection to the Semetic languages. In Semitic languages parah means a cow and the related word peru means to give birth. Since proto-European and the the Semitic languages had branched off at an earlier time, one has to wonder if per is a universal word, or whether there was a linguistic cross connection later on, after the languages had branched apart.
Thanks to A-1 Plumbing of Baltimore for sponsoring this report. A-1 is a Baltimoire plumbing company company that specializes in plumbing repairs of all kinds.
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Tags: language
Posted in Repairing · January 17th, 2010 · Comments (0)