Etymological doublets

The words shirt and skirt etymologically descend from the same root. Shirt is a native word, and skirt (as the initial sk suggests) is a Scandinavian borrowing. Their phonemic shape is different, and yet there is a certain resemblance which reflects their common origin. Their meanings are also different but easily associated: they both denote articles of clothing.

Words that originated from the same etymological source, but differ in phonemic shape and in meaning are called etymological doublets. They may enter the vocabulary by different routes. Some of these pairs, consist of a native word and a borrowe d word: shrew, n. (E.) — screw, n. (Sc). Others are represented by two borrowings from different languages which are historically descended from the same root:

e.g. senior (Lat.) – sir (Fr.),

canal (Lat) – channel (Fr.),

captain (Lat.) – chieftan (Fr.)(the leader of a people or clan)

Still others were borrowed from the same language twice, but in different periods:

e.g. corpse [kɔ:ps] a dead body, esp. of a human being (Norm. Fr.)

corps [kɔ:] is a main subdivision of an armed force in the field, consisting of two or more divisions (Par. Fr.)

travel (Norm. Fr.) – travail (painful or laborious effort) (Par.Fr.)

cavalry (in the past) soldierswhofought on horseback (Norm. Fr.) – chivalry is the medieval knightly system with its religious, moral, and social code (Par. Fr.)

gaol variant spelling of jail (Norm. Fr.) – jail (Par. Fr.)

Etymological triplet s are groups of three words of common root. They occur rarely.

e.g. hospital university dormitory (Lat.)

hostel an establishment which provides inexpensive food and lodging (Norm. Fr.)

hotel (Par.Fr.)

to capture (Lat.) – to catch (Norm. Fr.) – to chase (Par. Fr.) (pursue in order to catch or catch up with)

A doublet may also consist of a shortened word, from which it was derived,

e.g. history – story;

fantasy – fancy (фантазія, уява, уявлюваний, уявний образ; ілюзія, мрія примха, каприз);

fanatic – fan;

defense – fence;

courtesy (ввічливість, чемність,люб'язність) – curtsy (реверанс,присідання);

shadow – shade ( тінь; півморок, присмерк; прохолода, холодок).

SEMANTICS

Outline

Meaning. Semantic triangle

Lexical meaning and concept

Types of lexical meaning

Semantic change