Word originsWord origins

What is in a word ?What is in a word ?

To know the origin of To know the origin of words is to know how words is to know how men think, how they men think, how they

made their civilisations.made their civilisations.

Key ideaKey idea

For ExampleFor Example

►Politics – comes from the word ‘polis’ Politics – comes from the word ‘polis’ meaning ‘city state’ or ‘community’meaning ‘city state’ or ‘community’

►Democracy – ‘demos’ meaning people Democracy – ‘demos’ meaning people and ‘kratis’ meaning ‘power’.and ‘kratis’ meaning ‘power’.

►Gymnasium – from ‘gumnasion’ Gymnasium – from ‘gumnasion’ meaning ‘exercise naked’ meaning ‘exercise naked’

Each of these words could only come from the Ancient Greeks, as before their time, none of these ideas existed. So when you use the word ‘Democracy’ - it comes straight from that era – over 3000 years ago.

We make words today, that are particular to our time and place. Every year The Oxford English Dictionary adds a few words to its pages that have become part of our language as they are in common use and express meaning today in our lives NOW

2121stst Century Words Century Words

►Chillybin – a box for keeping things cold – Chillybin – a box for keeping things cold – if you were going on a picnic. if you were going on a picnic.

►Supersize – larger than average, Supersize – larger than average, extremely largeextremely large

►Fanboy – a male fan, especially one who Fanboy – a male fan, especially one who is obsessed with comics, sciencefiction, is obsessed with comics, sciencefiction, or popmusic.or popmusic.

►Can you think what their origins might be Can you think what their origins might be ??

Back to the Greeks ….Back to the Greeks ….

► Here are some Here are some Greek word ‘roots’ – Greek word ‘roots’ – can you think what can you think what they might mean ?they might mean ?

► -bapti-bapti► -nano-nano► -bol-bol► -mania-mania

► BaptismBaptism► NanosecondNanosecond► Ball, bowlBall, bowl► ManiacManiac

What’s My Meaning !What’s My Meaning !

Let’s play this game. Let’s play this game.

Get into pairs – take your word, look it up, write Get into pairs – take your word, look it up, write the definition on one side of the card, and the the definition on one side of the card, and the word on the other (its Greek root underlined). word on the other (its Greek root underlined). Then take another piece of card and find an Then take another piece of card and find an alternative definition and make another card. alternative definition and make another card.

In teams of 8 (ie 4 pairs) present to another In teams of 8 (ie 4 pairs) present to another team of 8, your words, and see if you can team of 8, your words, and see if you can guess which is the real meaning. Keep a guess which is the real meaning. Keep a score. score.