Apo

A discussion of word histories and origins.
Brazilian dude
Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 1464
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 3:31 pm
Location: Botucatu - SP Brazil

Apo

Postby Brazilian dude » Sat Jul 16, 2005 11:50 am

apologia \ap-uh-LOH-jee-uh\ noun

: a defense especially of one's opinions, position, or actions

Example sentence:
The book is being promoted as an inspiring memoir of a self-made man, but it is mostly an apologia for various unpopular professional choices made by its author over the years.

Did you know?
As you might expect, "apologia" is a close relative of "apology." Both words derive from Late Latin; "apologia" came to English as a direct borrowing while "apology" traveled through Middle French. The Latin "apologia" derives from a combination of the Greek prefix "apo-," meaning "away from," and the word "logia," from Greek "logos," meaning "speech." In their earliest English uses, "apologia" and "apology" meant basically the same thing: a formal defense or justification of one's actions or opinions. Nowadays, however, the two are more distinct. The modern "apology" generally involves an admission of wrongdoing and an expression of regret for past actions, while an "apologia" typically focuses on explaining, justifying, or making clear the grounds for some course of action, belief, or position.
Brazilian dude
Languages rule!

tcward
Wordmaster
Posts: 789
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 5:18 pm
Location: The Old North State

Postby tcward » Sat Jul 16, 2005 8:46 pm

...while an "apologia" typically focuses on explaining, justifying, or making clear the grounds for some course of action, belief, or position.
Whence comes apologetics...

-Tim

M. Henri Day
Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 1141
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 8:24 am
Location: Stockholm, SVERIGE

Re: Apo

Postby M. Henri Day » Sat Sep 10, 2005 12:25 pm

...

The modern "apology" generally involves an admission of wrongdoing and an expression of regret for past actions, while an "apologia" typically focuses on explaining, justifying, or making clear the grounds for some course of action, belief, or position.
The classical locus is, of course, «Η Απολογία του Σωκράτη», or Sōkràtes' (actually Platon's) «Apology», which was hardly apologetic in tone....

Henri
曾记否,到中流击水,浪遏飞舟?

anders
Lexiterian
Posts: 405
Joined: Wed Feb 16, 2005 7:46 am
Location: Sweden

Postby anders » Sat Sep 10, 2005 4:16 pm

That's Greek to me. The one I think of is here.
Irren ist männlich

M. Henri Day
Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 1141
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 8:24 am
Location: Stockholm, SVERIGE

Postby M. Henri Day » Sat Sep 10, 2005 4:28 pm

Thanks, Anders ! Good to know that I'm only 2300 years behind the times, instead of 2400....

Henri
曾记否,到中流击水,浪遏飞舟?


Return to “Etymology”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 6 guests