Genetic Descent

[Eduard Selleslagh]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Leo A. Connolly" <connolly at memphis.edu>
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2001 6:10 AM

> _gustar_ comes from Latin _gusta:re_, which has many obvious cognates in
> other IE languages.  However, _gusta:re_ was construed as an active verb
> meaning 'take a taste of something':

> Caesar vinum    gustavit.
> NOM    wine-ACC tasted
> 'Caesar tasted the wine.'

> As far as I know, this usage has been lost in Spanish, with _gustar_
> adopting both the syntax and meaning of Lat. _place:re_.

[snip]

> Leo Connolly

[Ed Selleslagh]

In French, 'goûter' still reflects Latin 'gustare', 'to taste'.

Portuguese uses 'gustar' in the same semantic sense as Spanish, but the
construction is still that of Lat. 'gustare': no indirect object.

Ed.