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Re: [b-hebrew] etymology

From: Peter Kirk <peter AT qaya.org>
To: "Dr. Joel M. Hoffman" <joel AT exc.com>
Cc: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] etymology
Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2005 11:27:26 +0000

On 21/11/2005 00:30, Dr. Joel M. Hoffman wrote:

...

That's interesting, and it reinforces my point. If "patent"
originally meant "obvious," that etymological bit of knowledge helps
not at all in deducing that in the US today, a "patent" is awarded
only for something that's not obvious.

Before it was a patent, it was not obvious, but as soon as it is a patent, it is "obvious" in the sense that it is published.

Really, don't we all agree here that etymology doesn't tell you what a
word means?

Indeed.

--
Peter Kirk
peter AT qaya.org (personal)
peterkirk AT qaya.org (work)
http://www.qaya.org/

[b-hebrew] etymology, Dr. Joel M. Hoffman, 11/20/2005
- Re: [b-hebrew] etymology, Yitzhak Sapir, 11/20/2005
- Re: [b-hebrew] etymology, Peter Kirk, 11/20/2005
  - Re: [b-hebrew] etymology, Dr. Joel M. Hoffman, 11/20/2005
    - Re: [b-hebrew] etymology, Peter Kirk, 11/21/2005
- <Possible follow-up(s)>
- Re: [b-hebrew] etymology, Dr. Joel M. Hoffman, 11/20/2005
  - Re: [b-hebrew] etymology, Yitzhak Sapir, 11/20/2005
- Re: [b-hebrew] etymology, Karl Randolph, 11/21/2005