Re: Graeco-Latin hybrids

Mark J. Reed wrote:
Mark J. Reed wrote:
> THC> (Matronym, not metronym, is what you meant, I'm sure.)
>
> RAB> I'm darn sure Philip meant 'metronym' - he does know Greek!
>
> BPJ goes by "Philip"?  I didn't know that.
That's how I've known him for as long I can remember on this list (12
years?) - and during that time he has shown that he is as competent a
linguist as many on this list and does have some knowledge of ancient
Greek (as well as Tibetan & IIRC some other exotic tongues).

> Regardless, your reply on his behalf seems to me to be unduly vehement.
> I'm sure Tom meant no offense;
It wasn't the 'incorrect correction' that upset me so much as the
apparently mocking tone of what followed later (which you do not quote).
I think someone of Philip's standing is worthy of rather more respect.

[snip]
> BPJ> What do you mean be "would be"? The word 'metronym' is perfectly good
> BPJ> _English_, as a reference to any half-decent dictionary should show.
> I'm afraid that "half-decent" is not good enough, since neither my copy
> of M-W nor AHD have "metronym".  (At least they don't have "matronym"
> either.)  I guess you need a fully-decent dictionary like the OED.
Nope - Chamber's English Dictionary is sufficient.

I was a bit surprised however that it seems to be only the Danish
version of Wikipedia that gives it:
{quote}
Metronym (egentlig metronymikon). Fra græsk metra (livmoder) og -onyma
(navn).

Familienavn dannet af moderens navn (i modsætning til patronym).
{/quote}

But I have to admit the Danish gives an unusual form of the Greek
accusative (me:tra) which is, however, found in poetry. The 'standard'
declension was:
Nom. mé:te:r
Voc. mê:ter
Acc. me:téra
Gen. me:trós
dat. me:trí

Modern Greek has [mi'tEra].
==================================

Benct Philip Jonsson wrote:
 > R A Brown skrev:
 >
 >> tomhchappell wrote:
[snip]
 >>  > (what would a "metronym" be?
[snip]
 >>  > Naming someone after how tall or heavy he/she is?
 >> Eh??
 >>
 >>  > Naming someone after the closest metropolis?)
 >>
 >> 'metropolis' is Greek for "MOTHER city".
 >
 >
 > Duh?  I wonder if those who write "matronym" (and
 > "matropolis"?)

   :-)

 > think that Ptolemaios Philometer was
 > so named because he brought with him a measure-stick
 > wherever he went?

..to measure his friends with, no doubt  ;)

 >(I'm sure he didn't!)

Aw - you mean he was just a good ol' boy who just loved his Mum?

 > For those that don't know:
 >
 > 'mother' is /mé:te:r/,
 > 'measure' is /métron/
 >
 > in Greek.  That English transcription fails to mark
 > the length distinction doesn't make them the same
 > word, nor does it invalidate either of the two elements.

Yep - just like _te:le_ (far) is the first element of 'telephone' and
'tele- ' (end, purpose) is the first element of 'teleology'.

--
Ray
==================================
ray@carolandray.plus.com
http://www.carolandray.plus.com
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--
Ray
==================================
ray@carolandray.plus.com
http://www.carolandray.plus.com
==================================
MAKE POVERTY HISTORY

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