Friday, April 4, 2014

A-to-Z Challenge: Dread

Here we go again!


This time we (and by we I mean me) are looking at dread.

Dread first showed up in the late twelfth century as a shortened version of the Old English word adraedan, which itself was a shorter version of ondraedan, advise against. The prefix on- means against, while raedan is advise. Oh yeah. Raedan is also the origin word for read, which had a variety of meanings, including advise, discuss, guide, explain and, of course, read. Combined with the against, the word becomes “advise against”, which is a good definition for something to dread.

This might be the first time I’ve ever found two words similar in spelling that are connected in a way that makes sense.

Sources
Tony Jebson’s page on the Origins of Old English

13 comments:

  1. This explains why I thought "reading" was "dreadful" when I was younger... :)

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  2. I'm looking at that word, adraedan, and thinking that the shortened draedan would make a good character name.

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  3. Great way to meet this challenge. I love etymology! New follower here. I'm stopping by from the "A to Z", and I look forward to visiting again.

    Sylvia
    http://www.writinginwonderland.blogspot.com/

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  4. That does make sense. Interesting!

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  5. Dear J.E.: I think word geeks ROCK. And I'm loving your posts. Thank you!

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  6. Adraedan would make a good name. Since I'm always looking for good character names...

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  7. I... I have nothing clever to say to this LOL But I did want you to know I'd read it :)

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  8. You're right - this is the first time I've seen that happen, too. Is satisfying, isn't it?

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  9. Very interesting theme .. looking forward to more.

    now I am your newest follower. if you don't mind could you please return the favour:

    Vikas Khair

    Story Teller
    My Third Eye
    The Sixth Sense
    Books are Magical
    For the Love of the Movies

    Thank you very much in advance.

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  10. It's interesting how that all morphed into dread.

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