28 January 2010

your etymology lesson: ventriloquism


(p. 855)

ventriloquism n. 1797, formed as a descriptive noun to ventriloquist, with substitution of the suffix -ism. The word has replaced older ventriloquy—ventriloquist n. 1656, formed from English ventriloquy + -ist—ventriloquy n. 1584, formed from Late Latin ventriloquus ventriloquist + English -y. Late Latin ventriloquus (Latin venter, genitive ventris, belly + loqui speak) was patterned on Greek engastrímythos, literally, speaking in the belly.

Wait, whaaaat?

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hahahaha, these are awesome!

"bird. no reason."

:)

-Mel

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