Votive

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Dr. Goodword
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Votive

Postby Dr. Goodword » Thu Sep 09, 2021 7:28 pm

• votive •


Pronunciation: vo-div • Hear it!

Part of Speech: Adjective

Meaning: 1. Expressing a vow or pledge. 2. Responding to a vow or pledge.

Notes: Here is another word from the same source as vote, whose meaning is far removed from vote. Votive has an adverb, votively, but no noun votivity.

In Play: Votive is most often associated with offerings: "Charley spent his weekends in Las Vegas, casting his wealth like votive offerings in the glittering shrines of Fortuna." This adjective may be used as a noun referring to a votive candle or lamp: "Marta always lit a votive for her late mother when in church."

Word History: Today's Good Word is French votive, the feminine of votif "votive", which is the French makeover of Latin votivus. Votivus is the adjective for votum "vow, pledge, solemn promise", the neuter singular of the past participle, votus, of vovere "to vow, pledge, solemnly promise". Vote is the English remake of votum and vow is the English remake of Old French voe (Modern French vœu), a reduction of vovere. Vovere goes back to PIE wegwh-/wogwh- "to promise solemnly, preach, pledge", source also of Sanskrit vaghat- "someone offering a votive" and Greek eukhe "vow, wish". (Today's surprising Good Word came up in a discussion between Grand Panjandrums Perry Dror, Samuel Keays, Larry Brady, and "Sluggo" way back in 2006.)
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Slava
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Re: Votive

Postby Slava » Thu Sep 09, 2021 9:02 pm

Should you care to read the source material, here it is.

The other vote-related, but non-voting, word is votary.
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bbeeton
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Re: Votive

Postby bbeeton » Fri Sep 10, 2021 11:27 am

Apparently also from this stem is "ευχαριστώ" (eukharisto), the Greek expression for "thank you". In turn, there appears to be an obvious relation to the Christian sacrament.

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Slava
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Re: Votive

Postby Slava » Fri Sep 10, 2021 12:09 pm

Apparently also from this stem is "ευχαριστώ" (eukharisto), the Greek expression for "thank you". In turn, there appears to be an obvious relation to the Christian sacrament.

How so? I get eucharist as being from PIE *gher- "to like, want", not PIE wegwh-/wogwh- "to promise solemnly, preach, pledge".
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

Philip Hudson
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Re: Votive

Postby Philip Hudson » Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:41 pm

I wouldn't touch this subject with a ten foot pole.
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bbeeton
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Re: Votive

Postby bbeeton » Fri Sep 10, 2021 9:40 pm

Thanks for the correction, Slava. Can this then be considered a "false friend"? And if so, I suppose one should "beware of Greeks bearing gifts".


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