larceny

Use this forum to suggest Good Words for Professor Beard.
eberntson
Lexiterian
Posts: 457
Joined: Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:48 am
Location: Cambridge, Mass
Contact:

larceny

Postby eberntson » Sat Jan 12, 2013 10:40 pm

: the unlawful taking of personal property with intent to deprive the rightful owner of it permanently

Origin

Middle English, from Anglo-French larecin theft, from Latin latrocinium robbery, from latron-, latro mercenary soldier, probably from Greek *latrōn, from latron pay
First Known Use: 15th century
EBERNTSON
Fear less, hope more;
eat less, chew more;
whine less, breathe more;
talk less, say more,
and all good things will be yours.
--R. Burns

User avatar
Slava
Great Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 8040
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:31 am
Location: Finger Lakes, NY

Re: larceny

Postby Slava » Thu Aug 29, 2013 9:20 pm

OK, I admit it, I have been slow here. Why has it taken me over 7 months to twig to the connection of larceny and mercenary? :oops:

Tying in to mercenary is merchant, and with a root of mercēd, where does that leave the car?

It's great how word histories interweave.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

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

Re: larceny

Postby Perry Lassiter » Thu Aug 29, 2013 11:16 pm

Not sure the English words larceny and mercenary are connected. But I am pretty sure ladron is Spanish for thief.
pl

User avatar
Slava
Great Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 8040
Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:31 am
Location: Finger Lakes, NY

Re: larceny

Postby Slava » Thu Aug 29, 2013 11:32 pm

Not sure the English words larceny and mercenary are connected. But I am pretty sure ladron is Spanish for thief.
mid-15c., from Anglo-Fr. larcin (late 13c.), from O.Fr. larrecin "theft," from L. latrocinium "robbery," from latro (gen. latronis) "robber, bandit," also "hireling, mercenary,"
There is more, but this is the relevant part.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

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

Re: larceny

Postby Perry Lassiter » Fri Aug 30, 2013 2:42 pm

Mercenary is a translation from latro, not a derivation.
pl

Philip Hudson
Great Grand Panjandrum
Posts: 2784
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2006 4:41 am
Location: Texas

Re: larceny

Postby Philip Hudson » Sat Aug 31, 2013 2:50 am

Perry: Yep.
It is dark at night, but the Sun will come up and then we can see.


Return to “Good Word Suggestions”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 25 guests