I was listening to Neal Boortz the other day and he began discussing the word testimony which got me to looking.
They all seem to spring from the Latin testis which got me wondering, and I think ol' Neal may be right in his attestation.
He said that it all comes from the ancient method of taking an oath. As there were no Bibles yet to place one's hands on, people, when taking an oath used to place their hand upon one's, ahem, (cough) testicles. There is Biblical support for this in the Old Testament, as well as other secular sources.
I think with the root word for the list of words in the subject being the same, I think Boortz is right.
As an aside, with the issues around Illinois' former governor, their current senator, etc., it has been suggested the word testimony be changed to testifony...
Testimony, Testify, Testament, Testis, Testes
- Slava
- Great Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 8124
- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:31 am
- Location: Finger Lakes, NY
I believe this is a twisted, if not reverse, etymology. These words all come from the same root, but aren't necessarily so interconnected. From what I understand, testes are what give testimony to the manhood of the male child. I'm not too convinced by the position of the hands bit, either. That comes off as being too pat, as folk etymology often is.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
-
- Great Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 4423
- Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2009 6:16 pm
- Location: Land of the Flat Water
Re: Testimony, Testify, Testament, Testis, Testes
[quote="skinem"]I was listening to Neal Boortz the other day and he began discussing the word testimony which got me to looking.
They all seem to spring from the Latin testis which got me wondering, and I think ol' Neal may be right in his attestation.
He said that it all comes from the ancient method of taking an oath. As there were no Bibles yet to place one's hands on, people, when taking an oath used to place their hand upon one's, ahem, (cough) testicles. There is Biblical support for this in the Old Testament, as well as other secular sources.
I think with the root word for the list of words in the subject being the same, I think Boortz is right.
[quote]
Found in the story of Abraham in Genesis.
They all seem to spring from the Latin testis which got me wondering, and I think ol' Neal may be right in his attestation.
He said that it all comes from the ancient method of taking an oath. As there were no Bibles yet to place one's hands on, people, when taking an oath used to place their hand upon one's, ahem, (cough) testicles. There is Biblical support for this in the Old Testament, as well as other secular sources.
I think with the root word for the list of words in the subject being the same, I think Boortz is right.
[quote]
Found in the story of Abraham in Genesis.
-----please, draw me a sheep-----
-
- Great Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 2578
- Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 3:56 pm
- Location: Crownsville, MD
The Maven at Random House weighed in on Slava's side (on Valentine's Day, of all days!).
Regards//Larry
"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee
"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee
- Slava
- Great Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 8124
- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:31 am
- Location: Finger Lakes, NY
Nice to know I'm not completely off my rocker. Sliding, I'm sure, but not off it yet.The Maven at Random House weighed in on Slava's side (on Valentine's Day, of all days!).
It is, still and all, an interesting collection of words, all with a common background, that most of us would never think of as being related.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
-
- Senior Lexiterian
- Posts: 619
- Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 10:21 am
- Location: New York City area
- Contact:
There is a scripture (I'd have to look it up) where Abraham is cited as putting his hand "on his inner thigh" to swear to something.I believe this is a twisted, if not reverse, etymology. These words all come from the same root, but aren't necessarily so interconnected. From what I understand, testes are what give testimony to the manhood of the male child. I'm not too convinced by the position of the hands bit, either. That comes off as being too pat, as folk etymology often is.
EDIT: I didn't look at the replies -- I see LukeJavan has already "testified" to this.
huevos
In further "support" of Skinem's provacitive theory about early methods of oath taking, a Google search of "p lace hands on testicles while swearing oath" yields a trove. If this method were employed, it would perhaps explain why oaths were taken infrequently and certainly with more sincerity. One imagines the Presidential Oath of Office, for instance...
- Slava
- Great Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 8124
- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:31 am
- Location: Finger Lakes, NY
Re: huevos
Whatever certain people may think, not everyone has the cajones to take such an oath. What happens when we get a female president?In further "support" of Skinem's provacitive theory about early methods of oath taking, a Google search of "p lace hands on testicles while swearing oath" yields a trove. If this method were employed, it would perhaps explain why oaths were taken infrequently and certainly with more sincerity. One imagines the Presidential Oath of Office, for instance...
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
Return to “Good Word Suggestions”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests