legerdemain

Use this forum to discuss past Good Words.
Susan
Junior Lexiterian
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:05 am
Location: Harrisburg, PA

legerdemain

Postby Susan » Thu Dec 28, 2006 11:36 pm

I recently read that "levitate" was associated with "Levi" or "levites"--the Hebrew priestly tribe that carried the Ark of the Covenant. Any truth to this?
"Wherever they burn books, they will also, in the end, burn people." Heinrich Heine

skinem
Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 1197
Joined: Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:33 pm
Location: Middle Tennessee

Postby skinem » Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:22 am

Hmmm...dunno.
But, here's what I could find.

lev·i·tate
Pronunciation: 'le-v&-"tAt
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -tat·ed; -tat·ing
Etymology: levity
intransitive verb : to rise or float in or as if in the air especially in seeming defiance of gravitation
transitive verb : to cause to levitate

Main Entry: lev·i·ty
Pronunciation: 'le-v&-tE
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin levitat-, levitas, from levis light in weight -- more at LIGHT
1 : excessive or unseemly frivolity
2 : lack of steadiness : CHANGEABLENESS

ETYMOLOGY:
Latin levits, from levis, light; see legwh- in Indo-European roots

Perry
Great Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 2306
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:50 am
Location: Asheville, NC

Postby Perry » Fri Dec 29, 2006 11:17 am

The etymology would seem to speak against this Biblical connection. Anyway, I suppose that you can say that the covenant lifts the people, rather than the other way around.
"Time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening all at once. Lately it hasn't been working."
Anonymous

skinem
Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 1197
Joined: Thu Apr 27, 2006 4:33 pm
Location: Middle Tennessee

Postby skinem » Fri Dec 29, 2006 12:21 pm

The etymology would seem to speak against this Biblical connection. Anyway, I suppose that you can say that the covenant lifts the people, rather than the other way around.
I thought you might know, Perry.

You're right about the covenant, although the people lifted it frequently and often. When I was a kid, I always felt sorry for Uzzah...

Perry
Great Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 2306
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:50 am
Location: Asheville, NC

Postby Perry » Fri Dec 29, 2006 1:59 pm

Well actually, the tabernacle (or covenant) is said to have been carried or born, not lifted (Numbers 9:17). Other times is it said to have travelled or set forth (Numbers 10:35).
"Time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening all at once. Lately it hasn't been working."
Anonymous


Return to “Good Word Discussion”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 44 guests