My own favorite in this vein is the origin of the word "symposium".
This from the OED
***********
symposium
symposium simpou.ziAm. Also 7-9 -ion. Pl. -ia (rarely -iums).
[a. L. symposium, ad. Gr. sumposion, f. sumpothj fellow-drinker
(cf. sumpinein to drink together), f. sun sym- + pothj drinker
(cf. potimoj drinkable, poton drink). ]
1.
a. A drinking-party; a convivial meeting for drinking, conversation,
and intellectual entertainment: properly among the ancient Greeks,
hence generally.
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I never could get AERA to change their format for symposia to
accommodate this definition............djc
>A comment/question, once removed from the author:
>
>>
>>cool, vos Graeci use what word in modern Greek I wonder. sittubas, here is a
>>shot in the dark wild idea, given that this is greek - but using latin roots
>>would sittu bas mean situated beneath? i.e. the idea of an index to mark
>>what is situated beneath? just a thought.
>>
>
>Bill Barowy, Associate Professor
>Lesley College
>29 Everett Street, Cambridge, MA 02138-2790
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>_______________________
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> and watch yourself softly become the author of something beautiful."
>[Norman Maclean in "A river runs through it."]
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