3 ms·
>Similarly "smart" (allegedly dumb German word) is derived via German smerzan, Latin mordere, Greek smerdnos (according to my dictionary). What exactly do you
by tty 15y ago
>Similarly "smart" (allegedly dumb German word) is derived via German smerzan, Latin mordere, Greek smerdnos (according to my dictionary).
What exactly do you mean when you say "derived via German smerzan"? Smerzan and smart have the same origin in common West Germanic, whereas the other two have their origin in common PIE (along with Slavic 'Sm(e)rt' meaning 'death').
If what you meant to say is that the word is derived from Greek smerdnos (via Latin and German), then you're reading your dictionary wrong because those are simply etymologically related words.
- zwp 15y agoThis was indeed my interpretation. I read this (second clause) as a linear chronology: "Old english smeortan; related to Old High German smerzan, Latin mordere to bite, Greek smerdnos terrible" Thank you for the correction.