[net.nlang] Answer to my Puzzle

jss (01/29/83)

I had only two responses to my puzzle:

"two english words, spelled the same, pronounced the same, different
meanings, different etymologies, one derived from German, the other
from Latin, used as a pun by Shakespeare."

The correct response was "grave", from German Graben, a hole in the
ground, and from Latin gravis, serious. In Romeo & Juliet, Mercutio's
dying speech includes "Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a
grave man."

The nearly correct response was "lie", with a reference to act III of
Hamlet. However, both meanings of "lie" are from German (lugen, to
prevaricate, and liegen, to lie there). I *think* the reference in
Hamlet is to "Lady, shall I lie in your lap?", which I believe is
not a pun, but a double entendre (explained at great length by
Shakespeare in the next several lines, and including a real pun on
"nothing").

I am embarrassed that i have misplaced the names and addresses of the
responders: i put them into a file and can't seem to dredge it up.
it passed my eyes recently while i was trying to edit something else,
but now it seems to be hiding. apologies to both of you.

(i am obviously not a unix-wizard)

judith schrier
!decvax!brunix!jss