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ArchivesRe: Names with a meaning anotnimous with "chaste"?
in reply to a message by Getb2
Well, "sexually experienced" is not a synonym with "prostitute," but I think in the great majority of human cultures it would have been considered worse to be a prostitute than to be blind.
Also, in terms of Cecilia you are confusing the etymology of the name with the meaning that was intended when it was first given. Cecilia goes back to the time when ancient Romans were so sexist that women were simply given the feminine form of their family name as their given name. The family name "Cecilius" goes back to a word that meant "blind," but no one ever named a daughter "Cecilia" with the idea of blindness as a motive. It simply meant "daughter of the Cecilius family" when it was first given. And of course after ancient Roman times people were thinking of the figure of St. Cecilia, not "blindness," when they gave daughters the name.
Also, in terms of Cecilia you are confusing the etymology of the name with the meaning that was intended when it was first given. Cecilia goes back to the time when ancient Romans were so sexist that women were simply given the feminine form of their family name as their given name. The family name "Cecilius" goes back to a word that meant "blind," but no one ever named a daughter "Cecilia" with the idea of blindness as a motive. It simply meant "daughter of the Cecilius family" when it was first given. And of course after ancient Roman times people were thinking of the figure of St. Cecilia, not "blindness," when they gave daughters the name.
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Replies
Well, I emphatically disagree that what people are thinking about when they choose a name is "meaningless." It actually has a lot more meaning to their lives and the lives of their children than any ancient etymology does.
And I don't think a large percentage of people in most cultures over the last few centuries have "survivalists."
And I don't think a large percentage of people in most cultures over the last few centuries have "survivalists."
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most people pick a name from a babyname website that is mostly blatant lies, or from babyname books that are on the same level... the second greatest quantity pick names based on how they sound... third come the namesakes....
and names weren't invented in the last few centuries... survivalists existed at the time that names where being invented on a quicker rate
and names weren't invented in the last few centuries... survivalists existed at the time that names where being invented on a quicker rate
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What do you mean by "survivalists"?
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people who survived through harsh circumstances and who appreciated survival.
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Right, ok. That's not actually what "survivalist" means or what it would convey to a native English speaker. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Survivalism
"Being a prostitute would have been worse than being blind? not to survivalists."
I will answer this using your intended meaning (people living a subsistence lifestyle whose daily life was a struggle).
For people living a hand-to-mouth existence in Roman times (or most other times before today), literacy would have been minimal to non-existent. The meaning of any name given might never have been known to the family, much less have been of any importance.
Further up the social scale, it's important to remember that there's a difference between a natural affliction and a lifestyle choice. People went blind quite frequently, and "blind" could also have a positive metaphorical meaning in some circumstances; but generally it was not the fault of the person going blind. Sexual promiscuity, on the other hand, was a deliberate negative moral choice which could lead to serious social consequences for the whole family.
"Being a prostitute would have been worse than being blind? not to survivalists."
I will answer this using your intended meaning (people living a subsistence lifestyle whose daily life was a struggle).
For people living a hand-to-mouth existence in Roman times (or most other times before today), literacy would have been minimal to non-existent. The meaning of any name given might never have been known to the family, much less have been of any importance.
Further up the social scale, it's important to remember that there's a difference between a natural affliction and a lifestyle choice. People went blind quite frequently, and "blind" could also have a positive metaphorical meaning in some circumstances; but generally it was not the fault of the person going blind. Sexual promiscuity, on the other hand, was a deliberate negative moral choice which could lead to serious social consequences for the whole family.
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Actually, in many cultures, many name meanings are obvious even to "non-literate" people ...
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The name Étaín is possibly derived from Old Irish ét "jealousy"... Isn't that term negative?
I know what survivalist means, nonetheless from the strict deffinition the meaning I gave it wasn't too far fetched considering that the modern meaning of survivalist wasn't applicable in the far past.
Literacy wasn't required to know the meaning of names...
তন্ময় ভট্টাচার্য্য has already provided name that have a name that can be considered antonimous with chaste.
I know what survivalist means, nonetheless from the strict deffinition the meaning I gave it wasn't too far fetched considering that the modern meaning of survivalist wasn't applicable in the far past.
Literacy wasn't required to know the meaning of names...
তন্ময় ভট্টাচার্য্য has already provided name that have a name that can be considered antonimous with chaste.
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*sigh*
Do you actually want answers or just to argue with people? Because frankly the nature of your responses has put you firmly on my "not worth talking to" list.
Do you actually want answers or just to argue with people? Because frankly the nature of your responses has put you firmly on my "not worth talking to" list.
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Do you have statistical data on this? I would be really curious to know what percentage of parents today pick names from baby name books or websites. I have a feeling it is actually quite small.
And certainly, in the past, say up to the last quarter of the 20th century, name websites did not exist and the usage of name books was pretty negligible.
And certainly, in the past, say up to the last quarter of the 20th century, name websites did not exist and the usage of name books was pretty negligible.
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nope statistical data so, take my words with a grain of salt, but if I am wrong the fact remains that people almost never use etymology (or correct etymology) to decide their children's names.
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By the way, in English the official spelling is "antonymous."
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I made a typo... and you correct my ortography? To err is human... But thanks anyway.
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Well, you know we all did end up with the misspelled word appearing over 30 times on the board home page. My eyes were starting to ache, so I was glad that the correction was finally made.
You certainly did not hesitate to correct people immediately when you thought they were mistaken.
And it's "orthography." 8-)
You certainly did not hesitate to correct people immediately when you thought they were mistaken.
And it's "orthography." 8-)
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correcting a title is easier than correcting the body of the message, thanks for the correction 'though.
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