LL-L: Etymology" (was "Language politics") LOWLANDS-L, 12.MAR.2000 (05) [E]

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From: R. F. Hahn [sassisch at yahoo.com]
Subject: Etymology

Colin Wilson asked:

> PS Does anyone know the derivation of "pamphlet"? A "small pamph"
> doesn't sound quite right, somehow.

Well, actually it's a "small pamphilus" (< Greek _pan-philos_ 'beloved by all')
namely a _pamfilet_ contracted to _pamflet_ in Middle English.  Apparently, this
Old French loanword goes back to the 12th century amatory poem _Pamphilus seu de
Amore_ (Pamphilus, or Concerning Love), which was rather popular at the time and
has come to be synonymous with an unbound, short, widely distributed (short)
treatise or other type of writing.

I've based this on information found in a number of etymological notes.

Regards,

Reinhard/Ron

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