Re: This day

>>caeruleancentaur@... writes:
>> P.S. Since "to-" is derived from a demonstrative stem, "today" is
>> really a form of "this day," n'est-ce pas?
>In conlang@yahoogroups.com, MorphemeAddict@... wrote:
>"To" in "today" is the preposition "to, at", not a demonstrative.
>It meant "at day, to day", just as it does today.
Not according to my reading of the American Heritage Dictionary:

[Middle English 'to day,' Old English 'todæg(e),' on this day: TO
+ 'dæge', dative  of 'dæg,' DAY.]

While "to" may currently have a meaning of "to, at," at times, the
AHD says this of its origin (which is what I meant when I said "is
derived from):

[Middle English 'to,' Old English 'to, te."  See 'de' in Appendix.]

'De' in the appendix is called a demonstrative stem.

I believe that the "to" (there should be a macron) in "todæge" is
the dative of "this."  It is not a preposition.  Thus "todæge"
means 'on THIS (dat.) DAY (dat.), not ON the DAY.

Charlie
http:wiki.frath.net/senjecas