[net.misc] An interesting word derivation

karn (03/08/83)

I came across an interesting etymology for a word most of us are
familiar with: "cretin".  Its from the Latin for "Christian", via
a French dialect.

Interesting.  I wonder how many other common words have such interesting
roots.

lab (03/19/83)

The statement on "cretin" was incomplete, cf Webster's New World Dict.:

"[< Fr. dial form of chretien, Christian, hence human being]"

Further, note that it derived during the well-named Dark Ages, when
the Anabaptists were persecuted.

Too, it's been a while since I saw a drinking "bout" at a "symposium."