alt.languages.englishShow header Prev. Next
Re: Some Unusual Facts about English http://groups.google.com
SherLok Merfy (brewhaha@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca) 2006/06/15 23:14

Jeff wrote:
www.oddwonder.com/english.htm

It says that "hypocrite" translates from the greek word for actor, and
no doubt it has
become that synonym for that, even if it means politician in English.
I've long taken it as
a compound of "hypo" and "critic", meaning under-critical, so that a
standard from a
critic doesn't apply to herself, and also meaning under-essential, as
if the world contains too many hypocrites.
_______
Law_Of_Collaborative_Arithmetic:
When adding up committees,
there is a rule of thumb,
that talents make a diff'rence,
and follies make a sum.
http://www.mynumo.com/SherLok (for the tune of it)


Follow-ups:1234567
Next Prev. Article List         Favorite