Re: GROUPLANG: optional features and case

Hi,

On Tue, 20 Oct 1998, Nik Taylor wrote:

> Christophe Grandsire wrote:
> >         I agree with you. I wonder where this comes from.
>
> According to my handy Dictionary of Word Origins, OF _hoste_ came from
> Latin _hospes_ (gen. _hospitis_), which had the same meaning, is
> believed to be derived from _hostis_ (source of _host_ in the sense of
> large army), which comes from PIE *ghostis, stranger.  *Ghostis is also
> the source of Germanic *gastiz, source of English _guest_, and Greek
> _xe'nos_.  I can see how stranger could acquire the meaning of "guest",
> but "host" is a less obvious derivation.
One of the Runic inscription etched on a horn found in Denmark (or
Germany?!) read: "ek hlewagastiz horna tawido", which was translated- as i
remember- "I, son of Hlewa, made [this] horn". Now it appears it probably
shd have been translated, "I, guest of Hlewa, made this horne": made as a
token of appreciation of Hlewa, the host??!

Regards,
skrintha