English is a language that has been shaped by many different sources. Many English words come from French, especially British English. You can also see the influence of other languages, such as Old Norse, in our everyday language. Furthermore, much of our language comes from the ancient Greco-Roman world.
In this collection you will find interesting words, phrases and stories about their origin, all from the ancient past. You will be surprised to know that some words that we normally use in our daily lives actually come to have meanings deeply rooted in the ancient world.
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- Here are 5 words and phrases we commonly use that actually come from the ancient world:
- Flatter
- Lethargy
- Panic
- Hypnosis
- The cat has your tongue
Here are 5 words and phrases we commonly use that actually come from the ancient world:
Flatter
The phrase is typically used as a way to define someone’s attempt to charm others with praise or flattery. The phrase may have originated in India, where locals practice an ancient religious tradition of showing respect to the gods by throwing clarified butter, called ghee, at statues of the deities to seek their favor.
Lethargy
The word is used to express lack of energy or enthusiasm. The word comes from the Greek word “lethe”, which originally meant inaction due to forgetfulness.
In Greek mythology, Lethe was one of the rivers of the underworld, Hades, where souls went after death. When the newly arrived souls drank its waters, they forgot their past mortal lives. Over time, the meaning of the word changed and ironically the forgetting aspect of the word was forgotten.
Panic
The word is often used to describe a person’s sudden fear and bewildered behavior. The word “panic” comes from the Greek word “panikon”, which means “relating to Pan.”
Pan, a goat-like god in Greek mythology, was associated with shepherds, flocks, forests, and fields. His tendency to create eerie sounds in remote places could strike fear into people’s hearts, making them afraid to even move an inch.
At that time, when someone was in this state of extreme fear, they were described as being in a “panikos” condition, which eventually gave rise to the word “panic.”
Hypnosis
A state of consciousness in which a person loses his power over voluntary action is what we usually describe with this word. Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep, was the twin of Thanatos, the god of death. They lived in the eternal darkness of the underworld, guarded by poppies that induced sleep.
In a famous legend, Hypnos used his powers twice to help the Greek gods in the Trojan War. “Hypnosis” combines “hypno” (dream) and “osis” (condition). Additionally, Morpheus, one of the sons of Hypnos, inspired the term “morphine,” a powerful pain reliever developed in the 19th century.
The cat has your tongue
This phrase is commonly used in cynical conversations to ask or describe a person’s lack of words.
There are some theories about the origin of this phrase. One connects him with the Navy. In the past, a sailor who disrespected a superior could receive a harsh flogging with a whip known as the “cat o’ nine tails.” After such a punishment, obviously, the sailor would not be so willing to talk, hence the saying “the cat (o’ nine tails) held its tongue.”
Another theory goes back even further. In ancient Egypt, those found guilty of blasphemy faced special punishment. Liars had their tongues cut out and fed to nearby cats, an abundance in Egypt. Without a tongue, the guilty could not utter any more blasphemies.
The exact origin of this phrase is uncertain, as some people believe it could simply be a funny but meaningless expression.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn