Etymology: The Wiggle-room Theory and a Fun Quiz

Posted by Feb 28 2012, 12:01 am in , , ,

Words are to a writer what a monkey wrench or propane torch is to a plumber.  And, like that plumber, a writer’s only concern is whether the chosen tool can do the job at hand; the who, what, where, why, and how of its existance have no bearing.

What does have bearing, especially for historical or nostalgia writers (plumbers still don’t care), is when.

Thus we have etymology; 1) the history of a particular word or element of a word  2) an account of the origin and development of a word or word element  3) the study of historical linguistic change, esp. as manifested in individual words (1350-1400)*

One thing the definition lacks is the fact etymological dating is based on the first discovered written (recorded) usage.  This a significant distinction.  

Prior to the printing press (around 1440), only the extremely wealthy could afford the hand-copied texts or, later, block-printed books available, therefore few read.  Spelling was not yet standardized, and written communication rested with scribes or secretaries who were, for the most part, church trained.  Thus, it’s a fair guess numerous common words—especially slang, expletives, colloquialisms, etc.—either never made it into written form or took a long time getting there.

Again, written is the benchmark for a word’s etymological date.  That specification, after due consideration–and (in the spirit of honesty) hours wasted trying to find a replacement for a word dated 5 years after my time frame—spawned the Wiggle-room Theory.

Over the centuries, few words made it to the lexicon without first spilling from someone’s mouth.  Hundreds could have existed for decades ere they were recorded anywhere.  Possible exceptions are scientific words, which may have originated in a report, analysis, treatise, or dissertation, words that still make the layperson scratch his or her head and murmur a confused, “Huh?”  Overall, however, wiggle-room is a good bet, etymologically speaking. 

While writing narrative or dialogue, dependent upon a word’s pedigree (or lack thereof), I allow between 25 and 100 years.  It seems a wide span in today’s instant-access world, but when one considers communication difficulties inherent in earlier ages, it shrinks exponentially.  Chances are the older or more colloquial the word, the more available wiggle-room.

I realize few find etymology as fascinating as I, thus to avoid boring you into a zombie-like stupor, I’ve (vastly) over-simplified.  Still, it’s amazing how many anachronistic-sounding words aren’t anachronistic at all—and vice versa.  With that in mind, I’ve devised a short quiz comprised of twenty words I checked while writing my Merlin’s Prophecy series.  

It’s my experience most writers enjoy Test-Your-Knowledge word games—especially if there’s a prize involved.  Some of the answers are bound to surprise you.

This is a test of your current knowledge, not your ability to use a dictionary or the internet. float; right

Please play fair.  These are multiple-choice so you needn’t be a poindexter to give them a try.  (For those who may not know:  Poindexter was the professor in the Felix the Cat cartoons, circa 1920.  His name has come to mean geek, nerd, brainiac, etc., and numerous uncomplimentary things.  Association is one of many ways words enter language.) ;-)

The winner will be picked at random from among those who score 100%.   If there are no perfect scores, the winner will come from among those who missed one and so on until the prize,  a copy of my dear friend and CP’s award-winning debut book, The Memory of You, in the format of the winner’s choice, can be awarded.  (Rubies can play, too, since they have no advantage.) 

Oh, and do keep in mind, the 10th century, for instance, is the span between 900 A.D and 999 A.D.

 Ready?  Good luck!

The Quiz 

Please choose the earliest century during which you think the common words listed below were found in written form.   Post your answers in a numbered column with your comment.  (All attestations come from my trusty dictionary—pictured above.) 

 1.) Mitigate                   a) 14th    b) 16th    c) 18th   d) 20th                   

 2.) Sashay                     a) 14th    b) 16th    c) 17th   d) 19th

 3.) Damask                    a) 11th    b) 13th    c) 15th   d) 17th

 4.) Witches brew           a) 14th    b) 16th    c) 18th    d) 20th

 5.) Record                      a) 10th    b) 12th    c) 14th    d) 16th

 6.) Orgasm                    a) 13th    b) 15th    c) 17th    d) 19th

 7.) Carrion                     a)  8th     b) 10th    c) 12th    d) 14th

 8.) Sarcasm                   a) 10th    b) 12th    c) 14th    d) 16th

 9.) Bandage                   a) 12th    b) 14th    c) 16th    d) 18th

10.) Nebulous                 a) 14th    b) 16th    c) 18th    d) 20th

11.)  Tot                          a) 11th    b) 13th    c) 15th    d) 17th

12.) Fossil                      a) 14th    b) 16th    c) 18th    d) 20th 

13.) Miscreant                a) 14th    b)16th    c) 18th    d) 20th

14.) Penis                       a) 13th    b) 15th    c) 17th    d) 19th 

15.) Jewel Box               a) 13th    b) 15th    c) 17th    d) 19th

16.) Naysayer                a) 12th    b) 14th    c) 16th    d) 18th

17.) Endurance              a) 11th    b) 13th    c) 15th    d) 17th

18.) Aquamarine             a) 13th    b) 15th    c) 17th    d) 19th

19.) Sheath                     a) 10th    b) 12th    c) 14th    d) 16th      

20.) Throttle                    a) 14th    b) 16th    c) 18th    d) 20th  

You can give the quiz a go until 10 p.m. tomorrow night (29 February).  The correct answers , including the specific years, and our winner will be announced in Friday’s blog.

 *Definition and date courtesy of the dictionary pictured  Page 460 Copyright 1995, 1992, 1991 by Random House, Inc.

 

46 Comments

Comments

46 Responses to “Etymology: The Wiggle-room Theory and a Fun Quiz”

  1. Shoshana Brown says:
    February 28, 2012 at 1:26 am

    Oooh fun. I know I’m going to do terribly on this–just hoping for 25%. :)
    Here goes nothing.
    1. c
    2. b
    3. a
    4. a
    5. c
    6. c
    7. c
    8. d
    9. a
    10. c
    11. c
    12. c
    13. b
    14. a
    15. b
    16. b
    17. b
    18. a
    19. a
    20. a

    Reply
  2. Gillian says:
    February 28, 2012 at 8:37 am

    Ok, I don’t really have a clue, so looking forward to the answers! :)

    1.a
    2.b
    3.a
    4.a
    5. c
    6. c
    7.a
    8. c
    9. a
    10.c
    11.a
    12.c
    13.a
    14.a
    15.a
    16. a
    17.c
    18.b
    19.a
    20.a

    I already have Laurie’s book, what a treasure it is!

    Reply
    • Gwynlyn MacKenzie says:
      February 28, 2012 at 1:03 pm

      If you win, Gillian, I’ll see what I can do about an alternate prize. It doesn’t seem fair to put you out of the running because you were a sweetheart and purchased the book. I’m glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  3. Hope Ramsay says:
    February 28, 2012 at 10:10 am

    I love words but I hate tests. I love Laurie’s book more. And you missed your calling as a professor, professor. ;)

    Reply
    • Gwynlyn MacKenzie says:
      February 28, 2012 at 1:06 pm

      It’s a curse, Hope. Sometimes I sound like a sanctimonious prig, but I blame it on years and years and years of taking care of children. My crew had excellent vocabularies while in school, however! ;-)

      Reply
  4. Elizabeth Essex says:
    February 28, 2012 at 10:30 am

    I’m not even going to attempt the test because it will fire up the word-nerd in me, and I will then spend hours looking each of them up on the OED instead of working on my revisions.

    But I have to say I’m becoming a big fan of the ‘wiggle room’ theory. I’ve gotten dinged by reviewers for using a word that wasn’t strictly period correct, but since it was slang, from now on I’m now using your theory as my Official Policy.

    Thanks for a fun post! :)
    Cheers!

    Reply
    • Gwynlyn MacKenzie says:
      February 28, 2012 at 1:10 pm

      Feel free, Elizabeth. Being a bit of a word-nerd myself, (okay, maybe more than a bit *g*), I know what you mean. I have spent literally hours checking and double-checking only get dinged for words that were correct to the period but SOUNDED anachronistic. I think, when the answers go up, there are a few surprises in store.

      Reply
  5. Ashlyn Macnamara says:
    February 28, 2012 at 10:42 am

    I’m not going to do the quiz, because, while I have an idea for some of those (as a historical writer), I’m clueless about some of the others.

    I do know what you’re talking about with your wiggle room, though, and I agree. More than that, the further back you go in time, the less likely a modern English speaker would understand your characters if you gave an accurate portrayal of their speech patterns. Who is going to have the patience to read through a book where the characters speak like those in the Canterbury Tales or Beowulf. At some point, you’re translating into modern English for clarity and readability. Definitely avoid words so modern they pull the reader out of the story. Insert a few period terms for atmosphere. But don’t stop and agonize over every last word.

    Reply
    • Gwynlyn MacKenzie says:
      February 28, 2012 at 1:15 pm

      Ashlyn, Did you check out the video I posted on Facebook about The Three Little Pigs? The comedian tells the story in Shakespearean English. Had my sweetheart and me rolling. It also proves you are correct; today’s reader wouldn’t never bother reading anything too accurate to the time (as the comedian eloquently demonstrates). It really is too funny.

      Take the test anyway, doll. It’s just for fun, and Laurie’s book is worth the read. You might be surprised by a few of those words.

      Reply
  6. Laurie Kellogg says:
    February 28, 2012 at 11:46 am

    You know how KNOWLEDGEABLE I am in history, Gwyn. But I’ll take a shot.

    1. a
    2. b
    3. a
    4. a
    5. b
    6. c
    7. a
    8. c
    9. b
    10. a
    11. a
    12. a
    13. b
    14. b
    15. c
    16. c
    17. a
    18. a
    19. b
    20. b

    Reply
  7. Colleen Katana says:
    February 28, 2012 at 1:31 pm

    Oh man, this is going to be horrible. I was TOTALLY blind guessing on every single answer. The score is going to just be embarrassing!
    ::Deep breath:: here are my answers!
    1)c
    2)b
    3)d
    4)a
    5)d
    6)c
    7)b
    8)d
    9)a
    10)c
    11)a
    12)d
    13)c
    14)a
    15)b
    16)d
    17)d
    18)c
    19)a
    20)b

    Reply
  8. Darynda Jones says:
    February 28, 2012 at 3:48 pm

    Oh fun! And what a great post, Gwyn!!! I agree with your Wiggle-room Theory completely! Just a fantastic lesson. Here is my pathetic attempt. hehehe

    1. A
    2. D
    3. B
    4. B
    5. A
    6. C
    7. B
    8. D
    9. C
    10. D
    11. D
    12. D
    13. A
    14. B
    15. A
    16. A
    17. D
    18. D
    19. B
    20. B

    Reply
  9. Elisa Beatty says:
    February 28, 2012 at 8:04 pm

    This is fun, Gwynlyn!!

    Count me as another word-nerd. I love the history of English, and always have fun with my students when we talk about Anglo-Saxon and Norman French and the rise of Middle English. I also love the attribution of so many new words to Shakespeare (for some reason, “assassinate” and “bumper” always stick in my head).

    I know I’m going to be fooled by the dates on lots of these words, but I’ll take a shot in the dark (you give us all WAY too much credit when you guess anybody might get 100%!!! As someone else said, I’ll be thrilled if I get 25%…and I think this I’m-gonna-get-my-ass-handed-to-me factor might be what’s keeping some folks from taking a stab at it):

    1. a
    2. d
    3. b
    4. b
    5. b
    6. c
    7. a
    8. a
    9. c
    10. c
    11. a
    12. b
    13. c
    14. b
    15. c
    16. b
    17. b
    18. d
    19. b
    20. a

    Reply
  10. Liz Talley says:
    February 28, 2012 at 9:43 pm

    Very interesting, and as I looked at them, I realized I hadn’t a clue to any of them. Think there’s a good reason I’m not writing historical anymore. Have no instincts where words were used…other than I know sometimes it surprises me. Okay, here’s my attempt.

    1. c
    2. b
    3. c
    4. a
    5. c
    6. d
    7. b
    8. a
    9. b
    10. b
    11. d
    12. a
    13. a
    14. b
    15. c
    16. a
    17. b
    18. b
    19. a
    20. c

    Reply
  11. Diana Layne says:
    February 28, 2012 at 9:51 pm

    oh, I waited too late to come by, no way is my brain gonna work right now, lol. Maybe in the morning.

    Reply
  12. Jenn! says:
    February 29, 2012 at 9:07 am

    Great quiz, Professor MacKenzie. I’ll be looking forward to seeing the answers.

    Jenn!

    Reply
  13. Diana Layne says:
    February 29, 2012 at 10:45 am

    sleep didn’t help, I’m still clueless. Not that I have to worry, cuz I ain’t getting 100% (snort), but I don’t need to be in the drawing for Laurie’s book because I have it!

    Here’s my attempt, do not laugh. :)

    1. c
    2. b
    3. c
    4. a
    5. a
    6. d
    7. a
    8. d
    9. c
    10. d
    11. a
    12. c
    13. a
    14. b
    15. a
    16. a
    17. d
    18. b
    19. a
    20. b

    Reply
  14. delia says:
    February 29, 2012 at 7:10 pm

    If this was a scantron test, I’d definitely be using the Christmas Tree Method to answer these. I thought my vague remembrance of college Latin and medieval history/literature would help but I was wrong :)
    1.b
    2.d
    3.b
    4.b
    5.a
    6.a
    7.a
    8.b
    9.d
    10.c
    11.d
    12.c
    13.a
    14.a
    15.c
    16.c
    17.a
    18.a
    19.a
    20.c

    Reply
  15. Virginia Nelson says:
    February 29, 2012 at 8:05 pm

    Ok here goes, Being a history major…well that was way to many years ago..
    1. A
    2. D
    3. B
    4. D
    5. B
    6. C
    7. C
    8. D
    9. C
    10. A
    11. D
    12. B
    13. A
    14. C
    15. D
    16. D
    17. C
    18. C
    19. A
    20. A

    Reply

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