federal

Use this forum to suggest Good Words for Professor Beard.
William Hupy
Senior Lexiterian
Posts: 611
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:14 pm

federal

Postby William Hupy » Wed Nov 12, 2014 11:59 am

This word shares the same root as the Latin for "fides", meaning faithful. How does this play with the meaning of confederate? I do not desire to start another civil war, but the latter has come to mean a looser form of national government, which seems to be an issue that our great country will struggle with for a long time.
William A. Hupy

Perry Lassiter
Great Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 3333
Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:41 pm
Location: RUSTON, LA
Contact:

Re: federal

Postby Perry Lassiter » Sat Nov 15, 2014 5:53 pm

It has from the beginning, and the constitution is the solution they came up with. It's a compromise by committee, and they knew it would have to grow, thus enabling the amendment process. Confederation referred first to the original confederation of 13 states, and later to the rebellion that wanted to revert to such a confederation where the federal government would have less power. I think the word confederate meaning "with faith in another(s)" is opposed to federal, which refers to the central encompassing government. The war for states and individual rights vs federal regulation and taxation continues.
pl

Perry Lassiter
Great Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 3333
Joined: Wed Jan 03, 2007 12:41 pm
Location: RUSTON, LA
Contact:

Re: federal

Postby Perry Lassiter » Sat Nov 15, 2014 5:56 pm

You got me interested, so:
1640s, as a theological term (in reference to "covenants" between God and man), from French fédéral, an adjective formed from Latin foedus (genitive foederis) "covenant, league, treaty, alliance," from PIE *bhoid-es-, from root *bheidh- "to trust" (which also is the source of Latin fides "faith;" see faith).

Secular meaning "pertaining to a covenant or treaty" (1650s) led to political sense of "formed by agreement among independent states" (1707), from use of the word in federal union "union based on a treaty" (popularized during formation of U.S.A. 1776-1787) and like phrases. Also from this period in U.S. history comes the sense "favoring the central government" (1788) and the especial use of the word (as opposed to confederate) to mean a state in which the federal authority is independent of the component parts within its legitimate sphere of action. Used from 1861 in reference to the Northern forces in the American Civil War.
pl


Return to “Good Word Suggestions”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 30 guests