CHAT: Omen (was Amen)

>From: Dan Sulani <dnsulani@...>
>
>     The Hebrew root aleph-mem-nun basically refers to
>strength, especially along the lines of endurance and stability.
>Thus, |amen| as an expression of confirmation
>(ie "So be it! Let it endure like that!" ).
>
>
That makes a whole lot more sense - I had trouble believing there could be
that much in between two wildly separate linguistic groups (IE & Semitic).
The "So be it!" part also makes sense - I once spent some time with a group
of Sufis - they often read poetry & scripture in both Arabic and in English.
  Whenever they translated "amen" into English, they always said "So be it!"

Okay - so I have another question - call it a rhyming game I guess.  Om may
not be related to Amen, but Om + Amen reminds me of the word omen.  Now that
the amen problem has been licked - what's the origin of the word omen?

Andy


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