As I was researching my refutation of some dastardly folk etymologies (see post blow) I came accross one of the obsolete meanings of the noun "cop." One of the entries for "cop" in OED is devoted to spiders--a related word that is still used is "cobweb." The etymology shows that the Old English word for spider was "attercop."
Now, does that word ring any bells? A prize to the one who answers correctly...
Hint: they hate it when you call them that.
Sunday Potter Quiz: ‘The Scar’
8 hours ago
8 comments:
You're such a nerd...
What kind of prize are we talking? Is it worth me spending my time looking it up? I almost did anyway out of sheer curiosity, but then I fought hard and suppressed that urge, knowing that you'll eventually tell us anyway. Unless, of course, the prize is really that great.
Boromir! I dared to hope that my question would draw you into the discussion.
I have not made a thorough study of Finnish, Quenya, Welsh, or Sindarin; but based on what I've read about Tolkien's language play, he probably invented new words that used the same sounds as those natural languages and roughly followed their grammar.
For example, if I were to make up a language, let's call it Chakkadian, inspired by my study of Hebrew, I might make up words like:
yazor = wolf
geleh = mother
taka = eat
sa = your
"Taka yazor galsa" = "A wolf ate your mother.
In Hebrew, that sentence would sound something like:
"Akhal zeov emkha"
Ate wolf mom.your
A prize, right, I promised a prize. Umm....how 'bout I pronounce a blessing on your firstborn?
ooh, as honored as I would be to have you bless my child, I think I'll pass and wait for it. Thanks anyway, though!
You're such a nerd...
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