The OJCL Torch Winter 2016 | Page 7

Winter 2016 Treasure Hunting Through Etymology Medieval. Voyage. Oboe. To many, these words have no relation at all. Typically, a person would be unable to make any connections about how they could be related in the slightest. But think again, and look a bit more closely. What exactly could relate them all together? Latin. Medieval derives from aevum, meaning age. Voyage derives from via, meaning road. And oboe derives from altus, meaning high. The English dictionary owes much of its intricate language to Latin and Greek. The more you analyze the derivation, the more interesting it becomes. As the world progresses, definitions of words become modernized. This leads to a fascinating path of derivation. It almost seems like a secret code, a hidden message embedded amongst a phrase, sentence, or paragraph. That makes studying etymology challenging, but also very rewarding. Etymology is the study of the origins of words. Looking at their history and how their form and meaning have evolved over time is enriching. Through etymology, we are able to explore the cultural context of a word, its various usages, the people behind creating the word, what life was like when that word was birthed, and more. Have you ever wondered where a word came from? Take the word “taxicab,” for example. We think of a taxicab as a yellow car that transports people to and from a location. However, it derives from the Latin word for goat. Goat? Yes, goat. How? In 1907, a man named Harry Nathaniel Allen imported the first gas-powered taxicabs from France to New York City. He coined the term “taxicab” as a contraction of “taximeter cabriolet.” Zooming in on the word “cabriolet,” I learned that this was a type of horse-drawn carriage, from the French word “cabrioler” (meaning to leap), from Italian “capriolare” (meaning “to jump”), and originally from the Latin “capreolus” (meaning “wild goat”). So there you have it. You will learn amazing facts when you dive deep into a word! Investigating the origins of a word breathes new life and fresh insight. So classy Classicists, I encourage you to hunt for treasures, exploring the world of words. By Joseph Delamerced, Summit Update Your Wardrobe: Roman Style Step 1: Obtain a bedsheet. While not the most luxurious of materials, the bed sheet is the most common and versatile material used in DIYing a toga. Step 2: Take the corner of your sheet in one hand. Leave about 6-8" at the end. Hold it in front of one of your shoulders. Step 3: Wrap sheet around your body and under one arm. Step 4: Bring up the second corner. After bringing it across your chest, under your right arm, and around your back, bring the second corner up over your back to the top of your shoulder. Step 5: Tie in a double knot, safety pin, or Roman style pin. Step 6: Finish your convention-ready look with Roman jewelry and your convention name tag. The Summit clan at NJCL Convention in 2015 By Caroline Klette, Summit VII