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2011 08 11 / PERPETUAL word of the day : perpetual ~1300 perpetual - ~1100 ofr. perpetuel - lat. perpetualis "universal" / perpetuus "continuous, universal" / perpetis/perpes "lasting" per- "through" + petere "to seek, go to, aim at" - etymonline links it to petition from lat./gr. petomai "to fly, hover, rush" & petannymi "unfold, open, widen", i add lat./gr. petra "stone, rock, mountain" Petrus & petrified & gr. pessoo "cook, bake, ripen, digest" there's also gr. pessaema "a downfall, a drop", gr. petalon "leaf" a petal probably smthng which is seemingly lasting due to contraction & unfolding & contraction again like tree leafs falling down in autumn & growing back in spring, like plant petals folding in the evening & spreading in the morning, folding in the rain & spreading in the sun, like wings of a bird flying, like sails being unfolded to move with the wind supposedly the meaning changed already between greek & latin from flying like a bird unfolding the wings & flapping with the wings, to rush, move quickly, just fly it could be onomatopes, mimicking the sound of a bird flying up with the sudden dry clap, flap of wings - PAT - FLAP -------------------------------------------------------- |
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my own little blind spot |