LL-L "Etymology" 2007.11.17 (04) [E]

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L O W L A N D S - L  -  15 November 2007 - Volume 04
Song Contest: lowlands-l.net/contest/ (- 31 Dec. 2007)
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From: Jacqueline Bungenberg de Jong <Dutchmatters at comcast.net>
Subject: LL-L "Morphology" 2007.11.16 (09) [E]

Ron contributed: * This is found in words like "delicate" and "delicious",
also to the archaic words "delice" (= "delight"), "delicies" ("delights",
'joys"), "delicities" ("delights", 'joys") and "to deliciate" ("to delight",
"to enjoy oneself"). "Delight" looks like it too, but the *OED* claims it
comes from a misspelled rendition of Middle English *delit* from Old French
*delit*, from Latin *deliter*. But isn't that related also?
Alright Ron. That than can have the special meaning of the "delight" ????
 some people feel when getting up in the morning. Jacqueline

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From: Elsie Zinsser <ezinsser at icon.co.za>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2007.11.16 (05) [E]

Hi all,

Thanks, Ron, for explaining the origin of 'cute'.

Paul, I have acquired an 'Alaskan husky' last year, and apart from the fact
that he is amazingly bright, he actually looks much more like a coyote than
like a husky. He believes 'working breed' means catching a dove every
morning and devouring feathers and all!

Regards,
Elsie Zinsser
From: Paul Finlow-Bates <wolf_thunder51 at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Re: LL-L "Etymology" 2007.11.16 (03) [E]

From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject:

Elsie asked under "Morphology":

So where does the word cute come from?

It comes from "acute" (< Latin acut-), originally meaning "sharp (at the
end/angle)", later expanding semantically to "abrupt" and "dramatic" and
"dire", as in "an acute (~ sharp) increase", "an acute shortage". This
developed to "sharp" with regard to "wit", appearing in literature in the
early part of the 18th century. In this sense it is preserved in expressions
such as "a cute remark" or "You think you're so cute, don't you?"

In colloquial American English, the semantics of this expanded to include
"attractive", possibly via "admirably quick-/keen-witted". This appeared in
literature in the early part of the 19th century. This sense predominates
now. Not too long ago it was limited to the sense of "sweet" or "precious",
especially of small or young creatures (including children) and female
humans. In the meantime, it has come to include the sense of "sexually
attractive" with reference to both genders.

Via literature and especially the via entertainment media, it has been
spreading to other English dialects.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

I remember reading about sled dogs in Alaska, and the writer commenting how
native people liked to cross-breed their animals with wolves every few
generations.  The explanation, which confused her at first, was that it made
them "more cute". That was the last word she would have applied to working
Alaskan dogs!  Then she realised they meant "acute" as in sharper.  A case
of meanings going full circle!

•

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