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Re: GROUPLANG: optional features and case

From:R. Skrintha <srik@...>
Date:Wednesday, October 21, 1998, 8:40
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