LL-L "Etymology" 2004.09.23 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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From: Kevin Caldwell <kcaldwell31 at comcast.net>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2004.09.22 (06) [E]

> From: Brooks, Mark <mark.brooks at twc.state.tx.us>
> Subject: Etymology
>
> Hello everyone:
>
> I have been reading the news lately and have come across a word that I
> have
> been curious about many times in the past.  The word is "ruthless."  I
> have
> never heard it used in any other way, i.e., I've never heard the word
> "ruthfull" or just "ruth."  Is there some other Lowlands language that has
> a
> relative of it?  Is it used in the sense of "full of ruth?"  Thanks.
>
> Mark Brooks

Actually, the words "ruth" and "ruthful" exist, though they are rarely used.

American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edition, defines them as
follows:

Ruth  1. Compassion or pity for another  2. Sorrow or misery about one's own
misdeeds or flaws [ME < _rewen_, to rue < OE _hreowan_]

Ruthful  1. Full of sorrow; rueful  2. Causing sorrow or pity.

Kevin Caldwell

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From: John Duckworth <jcduckworth2003 at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Etymology


Hello, Lowlanders!

Mark wrote:

"I have been reading the news lately and have come across a word that I
have been curious about many times in the past.  The word is ruthless."  I
have never heard it used in any other way, i.e., I've never heard the word
"ruthfull" or just "ruth."  Is there some other Lowlands language that has a
relative of it?  Is it used in the sense of "full of ruth?"  "

THe word _ruthful_ is used, as is the noun _ruth_ from which it is derived.
_Ruth_ means either compassion for what someone else is going through, or
regret for one's own actions.

These words go back to Middle English _ruthe_, which is derived from the
verb _ruen_ ('to rue', 'to regret'), compare Old English _hrēowan_ (to
affect with grief) and _hrēowian_ (to regret). .There was also another
related word in Middle English, _rewe_, which is the same as the Modern
English _rue_ (which can be either a verb or a noun): from the Old English
_hrēow_. A cognate in Old High German is _hriuwa_ (sorrow).
Back on Lowlands territory we have Old Saxon _hriuwi_, meaning 'sad', and
various forms related to it: _hriulaeko_, _hriuwig_, _hriuwigmaed_, and so
on, all meaning more or less 'sad'. There is a use in the poem 'The
Heliand': _than stod thar ôk Iohannes iongro Cristes hriuui undar his hêrran
uuas him is hugi sêrag._  (I can't quite make out the meaning. Can you help,
Ron?) Compare also Middle Dutch _ruwelik_ (sad). I was trying to delve into
the recesses of my much-befuddled brain to think of some Dutch cognates, but
I am not sure.I know there is a word _ruw_, but I can't quite remember what
it means. Is it cognate with the other words I have mentioned?

John Duckworth

Preston, UK

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From: Troy Sagrillo <meshwesh at bigfoot.com>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2004.09.22 (06) [E]

on 23.09.2004 12.08 AM, Mark <mark.brooks at twc.state.tx.us> wrote:

> I have been reading the news lately and have come across a word that I
have
> been curious about many times in the past.  The word is "ruthless."  I
have
> never heard it used in any other way, i.e., I've never heard the word
> "ruthfull" or just "ruth."  Is there some other Lowlands language that has
a
> relative of it?  Is it used in the sense of "full of ruth?"

According to the AHD, "ruth" is:

NOUN:
1. Compassion or pity for another.  2. Sorrow or misery about one's own
misdeeds or flaws.

 ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English ruthe, from Old Norse hrygdh (influenced by Old English
hre:ow, sorrow, regret).

http://www.bartleby.com/61/74/R0357400.html

I can't say I remember ever running a cross it "in the wild."

Cheers,

Troy

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From: Global Moose Translations <globalmoose at t-online.de>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2004.09.22 (06) [E]

Mark Brooks wrote:
> I have been reading the news lately and have come across a word that I
have
> been curious about many times in the past.  The word is "ruthless."  I
have
> never heard it used in any other way, i.e., I've never heard the word
> "ruthfull" or just "ruth."  Is there some other Lowlands language that has
a
> relative of it?  Is it used in the sense of "full of ruth?"  Thanks.

I have always assumed that "ruth" is an obsolete noun form which is
connected with "to rue".

Gabriele Kahn

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