Re: res nata

On Fri, 12 Dec 2003, Adam Walker wrote:

> Can anyone explain the origin of this phrase to me?
> My Spanish etymological dict tells me that res
> nata/rem natam is the source of the Spanish "nada"
> (and thus, I would assume, the Portugese "nada") and
> the French "rien" (and I assume the Catalan "res"),
>
> But I can't figure out where the "nata" part comes
> from.  It can't be na:ta/gna:ta which means "daughter"
> can it?  Is it a form of the verb nato:?  Is it
> related to birth? or fish? or buttocks?
>
> Also, what is the source of the Italian/Sicilian
> niente/nente and the Romanian nimic?
>
> Adam of the many questions
Tristan of but one: what's it all mean?

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