Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Nir cohen - Prof. Mat." <nir AT ccet.ufrn.br>]

karl,


>>> nir: > As in my response to rolf,  at issue is historical and contextual
> consideration about changes in etymology.
> In fact, most lexicographers give several options for a word,
> which may be quite Mutually Incompatible.
>

>>> karl: Why only in Biblical Hebrew? I don’t find that in other languages. 

a list of different meanings is indeed the practice in every 
serious dictionary in every language, old or new.  otherwise the exact meaning
of the word is missed by an over-simplified "single meaning"
of the type produced by your type of analysis.

you may start with the merriam webster english dictionary. the 
definition of the word "call" there  takes a couple of pages, of 
which i quote below only the initial part. at the end they also give the
historical linguistic evolution of the word in languages of the same group.

nir cohen

---------------------------------------

Definition of CALL
intransitive verb
1
a : to speak in a loud distinct voice so as to be heard at a distance : shout
<call for help> 

b : to make a request or demand <call for an investigation> 

c of an animal : to utter a characteristic note or cry 

d : to get or try to get into communication by telephone <just called to say
hello> —often used with up 

e : to make a demand in card games (as for a particular card or for a show of
hands) 

f : to give the calls for a square dance

2: to make a brief visit <called to pay his respects> <called on a friend>
transitive verb

1a (1) : to utter in a loud distinct voice —often used with out <call out a
number> 

(2) : to announce or read loudly or authoritatively <call the roll> <call off
a row of figures> 

(3) : to announce the play-by-play of (as a football game) 

b (1) : to command or request to come or be present <was called to testify> 

(2) : to cause to come : bring <calls to mind an old saying> 

c : to summon to a particular activity, employment, or office <was called to
active duty> <was called to the bar of justice> 

d : to invite or command to meet : convoke <call a meeting> 

e : to rouse from sleep or summon to get up 

f (1) : to give the order for : bring into action <call a strike against the
company> <call a pitchout> 

(2) : to manage by giving the signals or orders <that catcher calls a good
game> g (1) : to make a demand in bridge for (a card or suit) 

(2) : to require (a player) to show the hand in poker by making an equal bet 

(3) : to challenge to make good on a statement 

(4) : to charge with or censure for an offense <deserves to be called on 
that> 

h : to attract (as game) by imitating the characteristic cry 

i : to halt (as a baseball game) because of unsuitable conditions 

j : to rule on the status of (as a pitched ball or a player's action) <call
balls and strikes> <call a base runner safe> 

k : to give the calls for (a square dance) —often used with off 

l (1) : to demand payment of especially by formal notice <call a loan> 

(2) : to demand presentation of (as a bond or option) for redemption 

m (1) : to get or try to get in communication with by telephone <call the
doctor to make an appointment> 

(2) : to generate signals for (a telephone number) in order to reach the party
to whom the number is assigned <call 911> 

(3) : to make a signal to in order to transmit a message <call the flagship>

2a : to speak of or address by a specified name : give a name to <call her 
Kitty> 

b (1) : to regard or characterize as of a certain kind : consider <can hardly
be called generous> (

2) : to estimate or consider for purposes of an estimate or for convenience
<call it an even dollar> 

c (1) : to describe correctly in advance of or without knowledge of the event
: predict 

(2) : to name or specify in advance <call the toss of a coin>

3: to temporarily transfer control of computer processing to (as a subroutine
or procedure) 

— call a spade a spade
1: to call a thing by its right name however coarse
2: to speak frankly

— call for
1: to call (as at one's house) to get <I'll call for you after dinner>

2: to require as necessary or appropriate <the job calls for typing skills>
<the design calls for three windows>


etc etc etc

*** then it brings a HISTORICAL SURVEY OF THE WORD: 

Origin of CALL
Middle English, from Old Norse kalla; akin to Old English hildecalla battle
herald, Old High German kallōn to talk loudly, Old Church Slavic glasŭ voice
First Known Use: before 12th century