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"contagion" while Greek in ending looks like con- (together) and a Greek analogue of "tango, tangere, ... , tactus" (touch). Like whatever happens with two th
by jjtheblunt 4y ago
"contagion" while Greek in ending looks like con- (together) and a Greek analogue of "tango, tangere, ... , tactus" (touch). Like whatever happens with two things touching?
- thaumasiotes 4y ago"Contagion" is not Greek in ending (or in any other part; e.g. the Greek equivalent of con- would be syn-). As you surmise, the word is directly derived from Latin contingo; the "n" which is present in the Latin stem, but not in the nominative singular form of the word, is realized in the English borrowing, just the same way it is in station / vision / legion / etc. etc. etc. etc.
- jjtheblunt 4y agoOh excellent call and i definitely overlooked that (and understand just what you wrote) right under my nose. Gratias ago