Re: [aroid-l] Etymology of AROID

From: "W. George Schmid" hostahill at bellsouth.net> on 2002.10.16 at 22:55:33(9556) Hi Ric, The entry you are referring to is in the Lewis and Short Latin Dictinary: aros, also aron or arum = wake robin: Arum dracunculus Linn.: quod aron vocant Plin. Unfortunately, Pliny referred to Arum dracunculus Linn. (not wake robin = Trillium) that is now called Dracunculus vulgaris, a plant well known to the ancient Greeks and native to the Central and Eastern Mediterranean region. The common name wake robin is now exclusively used to apply to our native trillium (RHS Index) so is not applicable in this case. What we have here is Latin scholars colliding with botanists. The word aron first appeared in Theophrastus (b.372 BC - the successor to Aristotle), who wrote the two important botanical treatises in ancient times. One (On the History of Plants) is the source of many of our modern scientific plant names that was heavily referenced by modern botanist/namers like Linne. W. George Schmid +More Hosta Hill - Tucker Georgia USA Zone 7a - 1188 feet AMSL 84-12'-30" West_33-51' North ----- Original Message ----- To: Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2002 1:52 PM Subject: [aroid-l] Etymology of AROID <= ARUM <= ARON > Well, I've lost the earlier comments now, but here's the gist: > > A post noted that "aroid" derived from the Latin word "arum," which means > lily. > Either the same post or a response said that "arum" derived from the Ancient > Greek "aron" (which is where etymological comments end in most > dictionaries). > Another post reasonably asked for the meaning of the Ancient Greek, "aron." > > Now, this is me: > > From what I find, the Latin "arum" was more specifically applied to one > plant, the wake robin (Trillium erectum), the Ancient Greek word for which > was "aron." Later, the Latin "arum" was generalized to include all lilies. > Aroid, therefore, etymologically, means lily-like: "ar[um]" (lily) plus the > suffix "-oid," which means "like or resembling." > > There's my best effort. Oh, the thrill and inescapable lure of pedantry. > > Ric > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > Broadband? Dial-up? Get reliable MSN Internet Access. > http://resourcecenter.msn.com/access/plans/default.asp >

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