Etymology is the study of the history of words. By extension, the etymology of a word means its origin and development throughout history.
As writers, we research many topics and locations, whether real or imagined. But do we ever take into consideration the time spent on choosing the right word for a specific occasion or purpose?
Time spent researching the multiple connotations of a word can be surprisingly rewarding, which leads to my word choice for the day: ENVY.
The first records of the word envy come from the 1200s, from the Latin invidia, a derivative of the Latin verb invidēre, meaning “to envy” or, more poetically, “to eye maliciously.”
The sub-title of my second mystery is Envy Spawns Grief. I did some research of the word's multiple applications before settling on the title. My Merriam-Webster Pocket Dictionary, copyright 1964 (only looks like it's from the 1200s; obviously had to craft a cardboard cover for it!) describes envy as: grudging desire for, or discontent at, the sight of another's excellence or advantages; also: an object of envy. A second entry lists envy as a verb: to feel envy toward or on account of.
Don't you love when a definition of a word uses the word in the definition!?!
In my Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, I had highlighted the word envy, along with two of its 40+ listed synonyms: coveting and resentment. Those two words fairly sum up the impetus for the mystery's main plot storyline and its climactic ending.
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| I definitely need to get a new thesaurus! |
