Etymologies

1. CHATTEL​ : an item of tangible movable or immovable property except real

estate and things (as buildings) connected with real property

Examples of CHATTEL

chattel​
<at one time, the children of black slaves were also considered ​ >
chattels​
<packed up all her ​ and moved to a new state>

Origin of CHATTEL

chatel​
Middle English ​ property, from Anglo­French — more at ​
CATTLE

First Known Use: 14th century

Synonyms ­ ​
bondman​also​
(​ ​ ), ​
bondsman​ ,​
slave​thrall

Antonyms ­ Freeman

2. peculiar (adj.)

mid­15c., "belonging exclusively to one person," from Latin ​ peculiaris​ "of one's own
peculium​
(property)," from ​ "private property," literally "property in cattle" (in ancient
times the most important form of property), from ​ pecu​ "cattle, flock," related to ​
pecus
pecuniary​
"cattle" (see ​ ). Meaning "unusual" is first attested c. 1600 (earlier
"distinguished, special," 1580s; for sense development, compare ​ idiom​ ). Related:
Peculiarly​ .

3. property (n.)

properte​
c. 1300, ​ , "nature, quality," later "possession, thing owned" (early 14c., a sense
rare before 17c.), from an Anglo­French modification of Old French
propriete​"individuality, peculiarity; property" (12c., Modern French ​ propreté​; see
propriety​ ), from Latin ​proprietatem​ (nominative ​proprietas​) "ownership, a property,
propriety, quality," literally "special character" (a loan­translation of Greek ​idioma​ ),
noun of quality from ​ proprius​ proper​
"one's own, special" (see ​ ). For "possessions,
private property" Middle English sometimes used ​ proper goods​ .​Hot property
"sensation, a success" is from 1947 in "Billboard" stories.
 4. cattle (n.)

mid­13c., "property," from Anglo­French ​ catel​"property" (Old North French ​catel​

, Old
French ​chatel​), from Medieval Latin ​ capitale​"property, stock," noun use of neuter of
Latin adjective ​capitalis​ capital​
"principal, chief" (see ​ (n.1)). Compare sense
development of ​ fee​pecuniary​
,​ . Sense originally was of movable property, especially
livestock; it began to be limited to "cows and bulls" from late 16c.
5. chattel (n.)

chatel​
early 13c., ​ "property, goods," from Old French ​ chatel​"chattels, goods, wealth,
capitale​
possessions, property; profit; cattle," from Late Latin ​ "property" (see​cattle​,
which is the Old North French form of the same word). Application to slaves (1640s) is a
rhetorical figure of abolitionists, etc

6. Mithras

Persian god of light, 1550s, from Latin, from Greek ​ Mithras​, from Avestan ​ Mithra­​ ,
from Indo­Iranian ​ *mitram​ "contract," whence ​*mitras​ "contractual partner, friend,"
conceptualized as a god, or, according to Kent, first the epithet of a divinity and
eventually his name; from PIE root ​ *mei­​ mitre​
"to bind" (see ​ ). Related to Sanskrit
Mitrah​, a Vedic deity associated with Varuna. "His name is one of the earliest Indic
words we possess, being found in clay tablets from Anatolia dating to about 1500 B.C."
[Calvert Watkins, "Dictionary of Indo­European Roots," 2000]. Related: ​ Mithraic​;
Mithraism​ .

7. Cognitive Dissonance

Discomfort experienced by an individual who holds two or more contradictory beliefs,

ideas, or values at the same time, or is confronted by new information that conflicts with
existing beliefs, ideas, or values.

8. congress (n.)

c. 1400, "body of attendants; also "meeting of armed forces" (mid­15c.); main modern
sense of "coming together of people, a meeting" is from 1520s; from Latin​congressus​ "a
congredi​
friendly meeting; a hostile encounter," past participle of ​ "meet with, fight
with," from ​com­​ com­​
"together" (see ​ )+​gradi​ gradus​
"to walk," from​ "a step" (see
grade​ (n.)).

Sense of "meeting of delegates" is first recorded 1670s. Meaning "sexual union" is from
1580s. Used in reference to the national legislative body of the American states since
1775 (though since 1765 in America as a name for proposed bodies). ​ Congress of Vienna
met Nov. 1, 1814, to June 8, 1815, and redrew the map of Europe with an eye to creating
a balance of powers after the disruptions of Napoleon.
 9. definition (n.)

late 14c., "decision, setting of boundaries," from Old French ​ definicion​, from Latin
definitionem​ (nominative ​definitio​
), noun of action from past participle stem of​
definire
define​
(see ​ ).

In logic, meaning "act of stating what something means" is from 1640s; meaning "a
statement of the essential nature of something" is from late 14c.; the special focus on
words developed after c. 1550. Meaning "degree of distinctness of the details in a
picture" is from 1889.

10. [1]​
Consensus reality​ is that which is generally agreed to be ​
[2]​
reality​
, based on a
consensus​
view.

The difficulty with the question stems from the concern that human beings do not in fact
fully understand or agree upon the nature of ​ or ​
knowledge​ ontology​
, and therefore it is
[3]​
[4]​
not possible to be certain beyond doubt what is real.​ Accordingly, this line of logic
concludes, we cannot in fact be sure beyond doubt about the nature of reality.

11. coup (n.)​

coup​
c. 1400, from Old French ​ colp​
,​ colpus​
"a blow, strike" (12c.), from Medieval Latin ​ ,
colapus​
from Vulgar Latin ​ colaphus​
, from Latin ​ "a cuff, box on the ear," from Greek
kolaphos​ coup d'etat​
"a blow, slap." Meaning "a sudden decisive act" is 1852, short for ​ .
In Modern French the word is a workhorse, describing everything from a pat on the
back to a whipping, and is used as well of thunder, gusts of wind, gunshots, and chess
moves.

12. coup de grace (n.)

coup de grâce​
1690s, from French ​ , literally "stroke of grace;" the merciful death­blow
coup​
that ends another's suffering (see ​ ).
 13. fiduciary (adj.)

fiduciarius​
1640s, "holding something in trust," from Latin ​ "entrusted, held in trust,"
fiducia​
from ​ "trust, confidence, reliance;" in law, "a deposit, pledge, security," from root
fidere​
of ​ faith​
"to trust" (see ​ fiducia​
). In Roman law, ​ was "a right transferred in trust;"
paper currency sense (1878) is because its value depends on the trust of the public. As a
noun, "one who holds something in trust," from 1630s.

14. trust (n.)​

c. 1200, "reliance on the veracity, integrity, or other virtues of someone or something;

traust​
religious faith," from Old Norse ​ "help, confidence, protection, support," from
*traustam​
Proto­Germanic abstract noun ​ trast​
(cognates: Old Frisian ​ , Dutch ​
troost
trost​
"comfort, consolation," Old High German ​ Trost​
"trust, fidelity," German ​ "comfort,
trausti​
consolation," Gothic ​ *treuwaz­​
"agreement, alliance"), from Proto­Germanic ​ ,
treowian​
source of Old English ​ treowe​
"to believe, trust," and ​ "faithful, trusty" (see
true​
(adj.)).

from c. 1300 as "reliability, trustworthiness; trustiness, fidelity, faithfulness;" from late

14c. as "confident expectation" and "that on which one relies." From early 15c. in legal
sense of "confidence placed in a one who holds or enjoys the use of property entrusted to
him by its legal owner;" mid­15c. as "condition of being legally entrusted." Meaning
Trust­buster​
"businesses organized to reduce competition" is recorded from 1877. ​ is
recorded from 1903.

15. state (v.)

 state​
1590s, "to set in a position," from ​ (n.1); the sense of "declare in words" is first
Stated​
attested 1640s, from the notion of "placing" something on the record. Related:​ ;
stating​
.

16. Eleemosynary

adj

1. ​
of, concerned with, or dependent on charity

2. ​
given as an act of charity

eleēmosyna​
[C17: from Church Latin ​ alms]

17. E∙quiv∙o∙ca∙tion

iˌ
kwivәˈkāSH(ә)n/

noun

noun: ​ ; plural noun: ​

equivocation​ equivocations

1. the use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to avoid committing

oneself; prevarication.
2. "I say this without equivocation"

18. humanity (n.)

late 14c., "kindness, graciousness," from Old French ​ humanité​umanité​

,​ "human nature;
humankind, life on earth; pity," from Latin ​humanitatem​ humanitas​
(nominative​ )
"human nature; philanthropy, kindness; good breeding, refinement; the human race,
mankind," from ​ humanus​ human​
(see ​ ). Sense of "human nature, human form" is c.
1400; that of "human race" first recorded mid­15c.

19. law (n.)

Old English ​lagu​ laga​

(plural ​ lah­​
, comb. form ​ ) "law, ordinance, rule, regulation;
district governed by the same laws," from Old Norse ​*lagu​ "law," collective plural of​
lag
"layer, measure, stroke," literally "something laid down or fixed," from Proto­Germanic
*lagan​ lay​
"put, lay" (see ​ (v.)).

Replaced Old English ​æ​ gesetnes​

and ​ , which had the same sense development as ​ law​.
statute​
Compare also ​ statuere​
, from Latin ​ ; German ​Gesetz​"law," from Old High
German ​gisatzida​
; Lithuanian ​istatymas​ istatyti​
, from ​ "set up, establish." In physics,
Law and order​
from 1660s. ​ have been coupled since 1796.

20. inquisition (n.)

late 14c., "judicial investigation, act or process of inquiring," from Old French
inquisicion​ "inquiry, investigation" (12c.), from Latin ​
inquisitionem
(nominative​ inquisitio​
) "a searching into, legal examination," noun of action from past
participle stem of ​ inquirere​ inquire​
(see ​ ).

In Church history, inquisitors were appointed from 382 C.E. to root out heretics, and ​ the
Inquisition​refers to the ecclesiastical court (Congregation of the Holy Office) appointed
13c. by Innocent III to suppress heresy. It never operated in Britain. The capital letter
form appeared in English only after c. 1500, and usually refers to the office's
reorganization 1478­1483 in Spain as what is commonly called the ​ Spanish Inquisition​ .

21. subside (v.)

1680s, of objects, "to sink to the bottom," from Latin ​ subsidere​ "sit down, settle, sink,
fall; remain; crouch down, squat," from ​sub​ "down" (see​ sub­​
​ )+​ sidere​"to settle,"
sedere​
related to ​ "to sit" (see​sedentary​
​ ). Of liquid surfaces, "to sink to a lower level,
be reduced" from 1706. Related: ​ Subsided​;​subsiding​ .

22. subsidy (n.)

subsidie​
late 14c., from Anglo­French ​ , Old French ​ subside​"help, aid, assistance,
subsidium​
contribution," from Latin ​ "a help, aid, assistance, (military) reinforcements,
subsidere​
troops in reserve," from ​ "to settle down, stay, remain" (see​ subside​
​ ).

23. senate (n.)

c. 1200, "legal and administrative body of ancient Rome," from Old French ​ senat​ or
senatus​
Latin ​ "highest council of the state in ancient Rome," literally "council of elders,"
from ​senex​ senis​
(genitive ​ ) "old man, old" (see ​senile​). Attested from late 14c. in
reference to governing bodies of free cities in Europe; of national governing bodies from
1550s; specific sense of upper house of U.S. legislature is recorded from 1775.

24. senator (n.)

c. 1200, "member of an (ancient) senate," from Old French ​ senator​(Modern French
sénateur​ senator​
), from Latin ​ "member of the senate," from ​ senex​"old; old man" (see
senate​ ). An Old English word for one was ​ folcwita​. As "member of a (modern)
governing body" from late 14c.; specifically in U.S. use from 1788. Fem. form ​ senatress
attested from 1731. The ​ Senators​
was the name of the professional baseball team in
Washington, D.C., from 1891 to 1971.

25. police (n.)

c. 1530, at first essentially the same word as ​policy​ (n.1); from Middle French ​police
(late 15c.), from Latin ​politia​"civil administration," from Greek ​polis​ polis​
"city" (see ​ ).

Until mid­19c. used in England for "civil administration;" application to "administration

of public order" (1716) is from French (late 17c.), and originally in English referred to
France or other foreign nations. The first force so­named in England was the Marine
Police, set up 1798 to protect merchandise at the Port of London. ​ Police state​"state
regulated by means of national police" first recorded 1865, with reference to Austria.
Police action​in the international sense of "military intervention short of war, ostensibly
Police officer​
to correct lawlessness" is from 1933. ​ is attested from 1800. ​Police station
is from 1817.

26. police (v.)

policer​
"to keep order in," 1580s, from Middle French ​ police​
, from ​ police​
(see ​ (n.)).
Policed​
Meaning "to keep order by means of police" is from 1837. Related: ​ policing​
;​ .

27. polis (n.)

"ancient Greek city­state," 1894, from Greek ​ polis​"city, one's city; the state, citizens,"
from PIE ​*pele­​ "citadel; enclosed space, often on high ground" (cognates: Sanskrit ​ pur​
,
puram​ "city, citadel," Lithuanian ​pilis​
"fortress").

28. poll (v.1)

poll​
"to take the votes of," 1620s, from ​ Polled​
(n.). Related: ​ polling​
;​ .A​deed poll​ "deed
executed by one party only," is from earlier verbal meaning "cut the hair of," because the
deed was cut straight rather than indented (see ​indent​ ).

29. poll (v.2)

poll​
"to cut, trim," late 14c., "to cut short the hair" (of an animal or person), from ​ (n.).
Of trees or plants from 1570s. Related: ​ Polled​;​polling​
.

30. poll (n.)

"head," early 14c., ​polle​ "hair of the head; piece of fur from the head of an animal," also
"head," from Middle Low German or Middle Dutch ​ pol​"head, top." Sense extended
early 14c. to "person, individual." Meaning "collection of votes" is first recorded 1620s,
from notion of "counting heads;" meaning "survey of public opinion" is first recorded
1902. ​Poll tax​
, literally "head tax," is from 1690s. Literal use in English tends toward the
part of the head where the hair grows.

31. ochlocracy (n.)

"government by the rabble," 1580s, from French ​ ochlocratie​(1560s), from Greek

okhlokratia​ (Polybius) "mob rule," the lowest grade of democracy, from ​ kratos​ "rule,
power, strength" (see ​­cracy​ )+​okhlos​"mob, populace," perhaps literally "moving
mass," from PIE ​ *wogh­lo­​ *wegh­​
, from root ​ "to go, transport" in a vehicle (see
weigh​ ). For sense development, compare ​ mob​ Ochlocratic​
(n.). Related: ​ ;
ochlocratical​. Greek also had ​okhlagogos​"mob­leader, ochlagogue."

32. Obscurantism

Is the practice of deliberately preventing the facts or the full details of some matter from
becoming known. There are two common historical and intellectual denotations to
Obscurantism​ : (1) deliberately restricting knowledge—opposition to the spread of
knowledge​, a policy of withholding knowledge from the ​ public​
; and, (2) deliberate
obscurity—an ​ abstruse style​ (as in ​ and ​
literature​ art​
) characterized by deliberate
vagueness.

33. signal (n.)

late 14c., "visible sign, indication," from Old French ​ signal​ seignal​
,​ "seal, imprint, sign,
mark," from Medieval Latin ​ signale​ "a signal," from Late Latin ​ signalis​
(adj.) "used as a
signal, pertaining to a sign," from Latin ​ signum​ sign​
"signal, sign" (see ​ (n.)). Restricted
sense "agreed­upon sign (to commence or desist, etc.) is from 1590s. Meaning
"modulation of an electric current" is from 1855.

34. sign (v.)

c. 1300, "to make the sign of the cross," from Old French ​ signier​
"to make a sign (to
someone); to mark," from Latin ​ signare​ "to set a mark upon, mark out, designate; mark
with a stamp; distinguish, adorn;" figuratively "to point out, signify, indicate," from
signum​ sign​
(see ​ (n.)). Sense of "to mark, stamp" is attested from mid­14c.; that of "to
affix one's name" is from late 15c. Meaning "to communicate by hand signs" is recorded
from 1700. Related: ​ Signed​
;​signing​.

35. sign (n.)

early 13c., "gesture or motion of the hand," especially one meant to communicate
something, from Old French ​ signe​"sign, mark," from Latin ​ signum​ "identifying mark,
token, indication, symbol; proof; military standard, ensign; a signal, an omen; sign in
the heavens, constellation," according to Watkins, literally "standard that one follows,"
from PIE ​ *sekw­no­​ *sekw­​
, from root ​ sequel​
(1) "to follow" (see ​ ).

36. credit (n.)

1520s, from Middle French ​ crédit​ credito​

(15c.) "belief, trust," from Italian ​ , from Latin
creditum​ "a loan, thing entrusted to another," from past participle of ​ credere​ "to trust,
credo​
entrust, believe" (see ​ ). The commercial sense was the original one in English
creditor​
(​ is mid­15c.). Meaning "honor, acknowledgment of merit," is from c. 1600.
Academic sense of "point for completing a course of study" is 1904. Movie/broadcasting
Credit rating​
sense is 1914. ​ credit union​
is from 1958; ​ is 1881, American English.

37. commercialism (n.)

commercial​
"principles and practice of commerce," 1849, from ​ ­ism​
(adj.) + ​ .

38. investment (n.)

1590s, "act of putting on vestments" (a sense now found in ​ investiture​); later "act of
being invested with an office, right, endowment, etc." (1640s); and "surrounding and
invest​
besieging of a military target" (1811); see ​ +​­ment​. Commercial sense is from
1610s, originally of the finances of the East India Company; general use is from 1740 in
the sense of "conversion of money to property in hopes of profit," and by 1837 in the
sense "amount of money so invested; property viewed as a vehicle for profit." For
evolution of commercial senses, see ​ invest​.

39. fiat (n.)

fiat​
1630s, "authoritative sanction," from Latin ​ "let it be done" (used in the opening of
Medieval Latin proclamations and commands), third person singular present
fieri​
subjunctive of ​ be done, become, come into existence," used as passive of ​ facere
"to make, do" (see ​factitious​). Meaning "a decree, command, order" is from 1750. In
English the word also sometimes is a reference to ​fiat lux​"let there be light" in Gen.
i:3.

40. factitious (adj.)

1640s, "made by or resulting from art, artificial," from Latin ​ facticius​/​

factitius
"artificial," from ​ factus​ "elaborate, artistic," past participle adjective from ​ facere​ "to
make, do; perform; bring about; endure, suffer; behave; suit, be of service" (source of
French ​ faire​ , Spanish ​hacer​), from PIE root ​ *dhe­​ "to put, to set, to do" (cognates:
Sanskrit ​dadhati​ "puts, places;" Avestan ​ dadaiti​ "he puts;" Old Persian ​ ada​ "he made;"
dai­​
Hittite ​ "to place;" Greek ​ tithenai​"to put, set, place;" Lithuanian ​ deti​"to put;" Polish
dziać się​ "to be happening;" Russian ​ delat'​ "to do;" Old High German ​ tuon​ , German ​ tun​
,
Old Saxon, Old English ​ don​ "to do;" Old Frisian ​dua​ , Old Swedish ​ duon​ , Gothic ​gadeths
"a doing;" Old Norse ​ dalidun​ "they did"). Related: ​Factitiously​ factitiousness​
;​ .
 41. court (n.)

late 12c., from Old French ​cort​(11c., Modern French ​ cour​) "king's court, princely
residence," from Latin ​cortem​ cors​
, accusative of ​ cohors​
(earlier ​ ) "enclosed yard," and by
extension (and perhaps by association with ​ curia​ "sovereign's assembly"), "those
assembled in the yard; company, cohort," from ​ com­​ "together" (see ​com­​ ) + stem ​
hort­
related to ​hortus​
"garden, plot of ground" (see ​yard​ (n.1)). Sporting sense is from 1510s,
originally of tennis. Legal meaning is from late 13c. (early assemblies for justice were
overseen by the sovereign personally).

42. land (n.)

Old English ​land, lond​, "ground, soil," also "definite portion of the earth's surface, home
region of a person or a people, territory marked by political boundaries," from
Proto­Germanic ​ *landom​ (cognates: Old Norse, Old Frisian Dutch, Gothic ​ land​,
German ​ Land​ ), from PIE ​*lendh­​"land, heath" (cognates: Old Irish ​ land​, Middle Welsh
llan​"an open space," Welsh ​ llan​
"enclosure, church," Breton ​ lann​"heath," source of
French ​lande​; Old Church Slavonic ​ ledina​ "waste land, heath," Czech ​ lada​ "fallow
land").

Etymological evidence and Gothic use indicates the original sense was "a definite
portion of the earth's surface owned by an individual or home of a nation." Meaning
early extended to "solid surface of the earth," which had been the sense of the root of
Modern English ​ earth​ land​
. Original sense of ​ in English is now mostly found under
country​ lay of the land​
. To take the ​ is a nautical expression. In the American English
exclamation ​ land's sakes​ land​
(1846) ​ is a euphemism for ​ Lord​ .

43. marriage (n.)

c. 1300, "action of marrying, entry into wedlock;" also "state or condition of being
husband and wife, matrimony, wedlock;" from Old French ​ mariage​ "marriage; dowry"
(12c.), from Vulgar Latin ​ *maritaticum​ maritatus​
(11c.), from Latin ​ , past participle of
maritatre​ "to wed, marry, give in marriage" (see ​ marry​ (v.)). The Vulgar Latin word
maritaggio​
also is the source of Italian ​ , Spanish ​ maridaje​
.
Meaning "a union of a man and woman for life by marriage, a particular matrimonial
union" is early 14c. Meanings "the marriage vow, formal declaration or contract by
which two join in wedlock;" also "a wedding, celebration of a marriage; the marriage
ceremony" are from late 14c. Figurative use (non­theological) "intimate union, a joining
as if by marriage" is from early 15c.
[W]hen two people are under the influence of the most violent, most insane, most
delusive, and most transient of passions, they are required to swear that they will
remain in that excited, abnormal, and exhausting condition until death do them part.
[G.B. Shaw, preface to "Getting Married," 1908]
Marriage counseling​ Marriage bed​
recorded by 1939. ​ , figurative of marital intercourse
bed of marriage​
generally, is attested from 1580s (​ is from early 15c.).

44. slave (n.)

late 13c., "person who is the chattel or property of another," from Old French ​ esclave
(13c.), from Medieval Latin ​ Sclavus​ "slave" (source also of Italian ​schiavo​, French
esclave​ , Spanish ​esclavo​ Slav​
), originally "Slav" (see ​ ); so used in this secondary sense
because of the many Slavs sold into slavery by conquering peoples.
This sense development arose in the consequence of the wars waged by Otto the Great
and his successors against the Slavs, a great number of whom they took captive and sold
into slavery. [Klein]
Meaning "one who has lost the power of resistance to some habit or vice" is from 1550s.
Applied to devices from 1904, especially those which are controlled by others (compare
slave jib​ in sailing, similarly of locomotives, flash bulbs, amplifiers). ​ Slave­driver​ is
attested from 1807; extended sense of "cruel or exacting task­master" is by 1854. ​ Slate
state​in U.S. history is from 1812. ​ Slave­trade​is attested from 1734.

Old English ​Wealh​ "Briton" also began to be used in the sense of "serf, slave" c.850; and
Sanskrit ​dasa­​
, which can mean "slave," apparently is connected to ​ dasyu­​ "pre­Aryan
inhabitant of India." Grose's dictionary (1785) has under ​ Negroe​ "A black­a­moor;
figuratively used for a slave," without regard to race. More common Old English words
þeow​
for slave were ​ þeowian​
(related to ​ þræl​
"to serve") and ​ thrall​
(see ​ ). The Slavic
words for "slave" (Russian ​ rab​, Serbo­Croatian ​rob​
, Old Church Slavonic ​ rabu​) are from
*orbu​
Old Slavic ​ , from the PIE root ​ *orbh­​ orphan​
(also source of ​ ), the ground sense of
which seems to be "thing that changes allegiance" (in the case of the slave, from himself
to his master). The Slavic word is also the source of ​robot​ .
 45. public (adj.)

late 14c., "open to general observation," from Old French ​ public​(c. 1300) and directly
from Latin ​ publicus​"of the people; of the state; done for the state," also "common,
general, public; ordinary, vulgar," and as a noun, "a commonwealth; public property,"
altered (probably by influence of Latin ​ pubes​ "adult population, adult") from Old Latin
poplicus​ populus​
"pertaining to the people," from ​ people​
"people" (see ​ (n.)).

Early 15c. as "pertaining to the people." From late 15c. as "pertaining to public affairs;"
meaning "open to all in the community" is from 1540s in English. An Old English
folclic​
adjective in this sense was ​ Public relations​
.​ first recorded 1913 (after an isolated
use by Thomas Jefferson in 1807). ​ Public office​"position held by a public official" is
from 1821; ​public service​is from 1570s; ​public interest​from 1670s. ​Public­spirited​ is
from 1670s. ​Public enemy​ is attested from 1756. ​Public sector​
attested from 1949. ​ Public
funds​(1713) are the funded debts of a government.

Public school​ is from 1570s, originally, in Britain, a grammar school endowed for the
benefit of the public, but most have evolved into boarding­schools for the well­to­do.
The main modern meaning in U.S., "school (usually free) provided at public expense
and run by local authorities," is attested from 1640s. For ​public house​ pub​
, see ​ .

46. school (n.1)​

"place of instruction," Old English ​ scol​ schola​
, from Latin ​ "intermission of work, leisure
for learning; learned conversation, debate; lecture; meeting place for teachers and
students, place of instruction; disciples of a teacher, body of followers, sect," from Greek
skhole​ "spare time, leisure, rest ease; idleness; that in which leisure is employed; learned
discussion;" also "a place for lectures, school;" originally "a holding back, a keeping
skhein​
clear," from ​ "to get" (from PIE root ​ *segh­​"to hold, hold in one's power, to
have;" see ​scheme​ ­ole​
(n.)) + ​ by analogy with ​ bole​ stole​
"a throw," ​ "outfit," etc.

The original notion is "leisure," which passed to "otiose discussion" (in Athens or Rome
the favorite or proper use for free time), then "place for such discussion." The Latin
word was widely borrowed (Old French ​ escole​, French ​école​
, Spanish ​ escuela​, Italian
scuola​ , Old High German ​ scuola​
, German ​ Schule​ skola​
, Swedish ​ sgiol​
, Gaelic ​ , Welsh
ysgol​, Russian ​shkola​
). Translated in Old English as ​ larhus​
, literally "lore house," but
this seems to have been a glossary word only.
Meaning "students attending a school" in English is attested from c. 1300; sense of
"school building" is first recorded 1590s. Sense of "people united by a general similarity
of principles and methods" is from 1610s; hence ​ school of thought​(1864). ​
School of
hard knocks​ "rough experience in life" is recorded from 1912 (in George Ade); to ​
tell
tales out of school​"betray damaging secrets" is from 1540s. ​ School bus​
is from 1908.
School days​ is from 1590s. ​School board​ from 1870.

school (v.2)

school​
"collect or swim in schools," 1590s, from ​ Schooled​
(n.2). Related: ​ schooling​
;​ .

47. education (n.)

1530s, "childrearing," also "the training of animals," from Middle French ​ education
educationem​
(14c.) and directly from Latin ​ (nominative ​educatio​
) "a rearing, training,"
noun of action from past participle stem of ​ educare​ educate​
(see ​ ). Originally of
instruction in social codes and manners; meaning "systematic schooling and training for
work" is from 1610s.

48. trivium (n.)​

1804, from Medieval Latin ​ trivium​(9c.) "grammar, rhetoric, and logic," the first three of
the seven liberal arts in the Middle Ages, considered initiatory and foundational to the
other four: arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music. From Latin ​ trivium​ , in classical
Latin "place where three roads meet; a frequented place; public street, highway" (see
trivial​).

49. liberal arts​

late 14c., translating Latin ​artes liberales​
; the seven attainments directed to intellectual
enlargement, not immediate practical purpose, and thus deemed worthy of a free man
liberal​
(​ in this sense is opposed to ​servile​ mechanical​
or ​ ). They were divided into the
trivium​ ­­ grammar, logic, rhetoric (see ​ trivial​ quadrivium​
) ­­ and the ​ ­­ arithmetic,
geometry, music, astronomy.

50. occultation (n.)​

 occultationem​
early 15c., "disguise or concealment of identity," from Latin ​ (nominative
occultatio​ occultare​
), noun of action from past participle stem of ​ "to hide, conceal,"
frequentative of ​occulere​ occult​
(see ​ ).

51. occult (adj.)​

1530s, "secret, not divulged," from Middle French ​ occulte​and directly from Latin
occultus​ occulere​
"hidden, concealed, secret," past participle of ​ "cover over, conceal,"
ob​
from ​ ob­​
"over" (see ​ celare​
) + a verb related to ​ *kel­​
"to hide," from PIE root ​ (2) "to
cell​
cover, conceal" (see ​ ). Meaning "not apprehended by the mind, beyond the range of
understanding" is from 1540s. The association with the supernatural sciences (magic,
alchemy, astrology, etc.) dates from 1630s.

52. apocalypse (n.)​

late 14c., "revelation, disclosure," from Church Latin ​apocalypsis​ "revelation," from
Greek ​apokalyptein​ apo­​
"uncover, disclose, reveal," from ​ "from" (see ​ apo​­) +
kalyptein​ Calypso​
"to cover, conceal" (see ​ ). The Christian end­of­the­world story is
part of the revelation in John of Patmos' book ​ "Apokalypsis"​ (a title rendered into
English as ​ "Apocalypse"​ c. 1230 and ​"Revelations"​ by Wyclif c. 1380).

Its general sense in Middle English was "insight, vision; hallucination;" meaning "a
cataclysmic event" is modern. As agent nouns, ​apocalypst​ apocalypt​
(1829), ​ (1834), and
apocalyptist​ (1835) have been tried.

53. authority (n.)​

autorite​
early 13c., ​ "book or quotation that settles an argument," from Old French
auctorité​ "authority, prestige, right, permission, dignity, gravity; the Scriptures" (12c.;
Modern French ​ autorité​), from Latin ​auctoritatem​ (nominative ​ auctoritas​) "invention,
advice, opinion, influence, command," from ​ auctor​ "master, leader, author" (see
author​ (n.)).

­c­​
Usually spelled with a ​ in English till 16c., when it was dropped in imitation of the
French. Meaning "power to enforce obedience" is from late 14c.; meaning "people in
Authorities​
authority" is from 1610s. ​ "those in charge, those with police powers" is
recorded from mid­19c.
 54. mortgage (n.)​
morgage​
late 14c., ​ , "conveyance of property as security for a loan or agreement," from
Old French ​ morgage​ mort gaige​
(13c.), ​ , literally "dead pledge" (replaced in modern
Frech by ​ hypothèque​ ), from ​mort​ "dead" (see ​mortal​ gage​
(adj.)) + ​ "pledge" (see
wage​ (n.)). So called because the deal dies either when the debt is paid or when
payment fails. Old French ​ mort​ is from Vulgar Latin ​ *mortus​ "dead," from Latin
mortuus​ mori​
, past participle of ​ mortal​
"to die" (see ​ ­t­​
(adj.)). The ​ restored in English
based on Latin.

55. conspiracy (n.)​

mid­14c., from Anglo­French ​ conspiracie​, Old French ​ conspiracie​"conspiracy, plot,"
from Latin ​conspirationem​ (nominative ​conspiratio​ ) "agreement, union, unanimity,"
noun of action from ​conspirare​ conspire​
(see ​ ); earlier in same sense was ​
conspiration
conspiration​
(early 14c.), from French ​ (13c.), from Latin ​ conspirationem​. An Old
facengecwis​
English word for it was ​ . As a term in law, from 1863. ​ Conspiracy theory​ is
from 1909.

56. theoretical (adj.)​

1610s, "contemplative," with ​ ­al​ theoreticus​
(1) + Late Latin ​ "of or pertaining to theory,"
from Greek ​theoretikos​ "contemplative, speculative, pertaining to theory" (by Aristotle
praktikos​
contrasted to ​ ), from ​theoretos​ "that may be seen or considered," from
theorein​"to consider, look at" (see ​ theory​ ). Meaning "pertaining to theory, making
deductions from theory not from fact" (opposed to ​ practical​
) is from 1650s; earlier in
theorical​
this sense was ​ (c. 1500). Meaning "ideal, hypothetical" is from 1790s (implied
theoretically​
in ​ ). Related: ​theoretician​.

57. theorist (n.)​

theory​
"one given to theory and speculation," 1590s; see ​ +​­ist​
.

58. voluntarism (n.)​

1838, "theory or principal of using voluntary action rather than coercion (in politics,
voluntary​
religion, etc.), from ​ ­ism​
+​ Voluntaryism​
. (​ in the religious sense, as
opposed to establishmentarianism, is recorded from 1835.) In philosophy, "theory that
the will is the basic principle," 1896, from German ​ Voluntarismus​ (Tönnies, 1883).
 59. president (n.)​
late 14c., "appointed governor of a province; chosen leader of a body of persons," from
Old French ​ president​ praesidentum​
and directly from Latin ​ (nominative ​ praesidens​ )
praesidere​
"president, governor," noun use of present participle of ​ "to act as head or
chief" (see ​preside​).

In Middle English of heads of religious houses, hospitals, colleges and universities. First
use for "chief executive officer of a republic" is in U.S. Constitution (1787), from earlier
American use for "officer in charge of the Continental Congress" (1774), a sense derived
from that of "chosen head of a meeting or group of persons," which is from Middle
English. It had been used of chief officers of banks from 1781, of individual colonies
since 1608 (originally Virginia) and heads of colleges since mid­15c. Slang shortening
prez​is recorded from 1883. Fem. form ​ presidentess​ is attested from 1763.

60. vice (n.1)​

"moral fault, wickedness," c. 1300, from Old French ​ vice​ "fault, failing, defect,
irregularity, misdemeanor" (12c.), from Latin ​ vitium​"defect, offense, blemish,
imperfection," in both physical and moral senses (in Medieval Latin also ​ vicium​; source
also of Italian ​vezzo​ "usage, entertainment"), from PIE ​ *wi­tio­​, from root ​*wei­​(3)
"vice, fault, guilt."
Horace and Aristotle have already spoken to us about the virtues of their forefathers and
the vices of their own times, and through the centuries, authors have talked the same
way. If all this were true, we would be bears today. [Montesquieu]
Vice squad​ "special police unit targeting prostitution, narcotics, gambling, etc.," is
attested from 1905, American English. ​ Vice anglais​"fetish for corporal punishment,"
literally "the English vice," is attested from 1942, from French. In Old French, the seven
deadly sins were ​ les set vices​
.

61. society (n.)​

1530s, "companionship, friendly association with others," from Old French ​ societe
"company" (12c., Modern French ​ société​ societatem​
), from Latin ​ societas​
(nominative ​ )
"fellowship, association, alliance, union, community," from ​ socius​
"companion" (see
social​ (adj.)).

Meaning "group, club" is from 1540s, originally of associations of persons for some
specific purpose. Meaning "people bound by neighborhood and intercourse aware of
living together in an ordered community" is from 1630s. Sense of "the more cultivated
part of any community" first recorded 1823, hence "fashionable people and their
doings." The ​Society Islands​ were named 1769 by Cook on his third Pacific voyage in
Royal Society​
honor of the ​ , which financed his travels across the world to observe the
transit of Venus.

62. Liberia​
African nation, begun as a resettlement project of freed American slaves in 1816 by the
American Colonization Society, the name chosen by society member and U.S. senator
Robert Goodloe Harper (1765­1825) from Latin ​ liber​ liberal​
"free" (see ​ ).

liberal (adj.)​
mid­14c., "generous," also, late 14c., "selfless; noble, nobly born; abundant," and, early
15c., in a bad sense "extravagant, unrestrained," from Old French ​ liberal​
"befitting free
men, noble, generous, willing, zealous" (12c.), from Latin ​ liberalis​"noble, gracious,
munificent, generous," literally "of freedom, pertaining to or befitting a free man," from
liber​"free, unrestricted, unimpeded; unbridled, unchecked, licentious," from PIE
*leudh­ero­​ , probably originally "belonging to the people" (though the precise semantic
development is obscure; compare ​ frank​ (adj.)), and a suffixed form of the base ​ *leudh­
"people" (cognates: Old Church Slavonic ​ ljudu​ , Lithuanian ​liaudis​
, Old English ​leod​,
German ​ Leute​ "nation, people;" Old High German ​ liut​
"person, people").

With the meaning "free from restraint in speech or action," ​ liberal​

was used 16c.­17c. as
a term of reproach. It revived in a positive sense in the Enlightenment, with a meaning
"free from prejudice, tolerant," which emerged 1776­88.

In reference to education, explained by Fowler as "the education designed for a

gentleman (Latin ​ liber​
a free man) & ... opposed on the one hand to technical or
professional or any special training, & on the other to education that stops short before
manhood is reached" (see ​ liberal arts​ ). Purely in reference to political opinion,
"tending in favor of freedom and democracy" it dates from c. 1801, from French ​ libéral​
,
originally applied in English by its opponents (often in French form and with
suggestions of foreign lawlessness) to the party favorable to individual political
freedoms. But also (especially in U.S. politics) tending to mean "favorable to
government action to effect social change," which seems at times to draw more from the
religious sense of "free from prejudice in favor of traditional opinions and established
institutions" (and thus open to new ideas and plans of reform), which dates from 1823.
Conservative​ n.​
,​ A statesman who is enamored of existing evils, as distinguished from
the Liberal, who wishes to replace them with others. [Ambrose Bierce, "Devil's
Dictionary," 1911]

liberal (n.)​
1820, "member of the Liberal party of Great Britain," from ​ liberal​ (adj.). Used early
20c. of less dogmatic Christian churches; in reference to a political ideology not
conservative or fascist but short of socialism, from c. 1920.
This is the attitude of mind which has come to be known as liberal. It implies vigorous
convictions, tolerance for the opinions of others, and a persistent desire for sound
progress. It is a method of approach which has played a notable and constructive part in
our history, and which merits a thorough trial today in the attack on our absorbingly
interesting American task. [Guy Emerson, "The New Frontier," 1920]

63. socialism (n.)​

1837, from French ​ socialisme​ (1832) or formed in English (based on ​ socialist​) from
social​ ­ism​
(adj.) + ​ . Perhaps first in reference to Robert Owen's communes. "Pierre
Leroux (1797­1871), idealistic social reformer and Saint­Simonian publicist, expressly
claims to be the originator of the word ​ socialisme​" [Klein, also see OED discussion]. The
word begins to be used in French in the modern sense c. 1835.
socialist (n.)​
"one who advocates socialism," 1827, from French ​ socialiste​
, or else a native formation
based on it, in reference to the teachings of Comte de Saint­Simon, founder of French
socialism. The word begins to be used in French in the modern sense c. 1835. ​ Socialista​
,
with a different sense, was applied 18c. to followers and pupils of Dutch jurist Grotius
(1583­1645), from his use of ​ socialistus​Socialist realism​
.​ attested from 1934.
I find that socialism is often misunderstood by its least intelligent supporters and
opponents to mean simply unrestrained indulgence of our natural propensity to heave
bricks at respectable persons. [George Bernard Shaw, "An Unsocial Socialist," 1900]

64. revisionism (n.)​

 revision​
1903, from ​ ­ism​
+​ . Originally in Marxist jargon, "rejection of gradual
Revisionist​
introduction of socialism." ​ is from 1850 (adj.); 1854 (n.); in the historical
sense from 1934, originally with reference to the causes of World War I.

65. communism (n.)​

"social system based on collective ownership," 1843, from French ​ communisme​ (c.
1840) from ​ commun​ (Old French ​ comun​; see ​common​ ­isme​
(adj.)) + ​ ­ism​
(see ​ ).
Originally a theory of society; as name of a political system, 1850, a translation of
German ​ Kommunismus​ (itself from French), in Marx and Engels' "Manifesto of the
Communist Party." Compare ​ communist​ . In some cases in early and mid­20c., a term
of abuse implying anti­social criminality without regard to political theory.
Each [i.e. ​socialism, communism, anarchism​ ] stands for a state of things, or a striving
after it, that differs much from that which we know; & for many of us, especially those
who are comfortably at home in the world as it is, they have consequently come to be the
positive, comparative, & superlative, distinguished not in kind but in degree only, of the
terms of abuse applicable to those who would disturb our peace. [Fowler]

66. entertainment (n.)​

1530s, "provision for support of a retainer; manner of social behavior," now obsolete,
along with other 16c. senses; from ​entertain​ ­ment​
+​ . Meaning "the amusement of
someone" is from 1610s; sense of "that which entertains" is from 1650s; that of "public
performance or display meant to amuse" is from 1727.

67. diversion (n.)​

early 15c., "diverse condition;" c. 1600 "act of diverting," from Middle French ​ diversion​,
from Late Latin ​ diversionem​ (nominative ​diversio​ ), noun of action from past participle
stem of Latin ​divertere​ divert​
(see ​ ).

Sense of "amusement, entertainment" is first recorded 1640s. Hence, ​ divertimento

(1823), from the Italian form; originally "a musical composition designed primarily for
entertainment."

68. music (n.)​

musike​
mid­13c., ​ , from Old French ​musique​ (12c.) and directly from Latin ​ musica​"the
musica​
art of music," also including poetry (also source of Spanish ​ musica​
, Italian ​ , Old
High German ​ mosica​ Musik​
, German ​ muziek​
, Dutch ​ musik​
, Danish ​ ), from Greek
mousike (techne)​ mousikos​
"(art) of the Muses," from fem. of ​ "pertaining to the Muses,"
Mousa​
from ​ "Muse" (see ​muse​ (n.)). Modern spelling from 1630s. In classical Greece,
any art in which the Muses presided, but especially music and lyric poetry.

The use of letters to denote music pitch probably is at least as old as ancient Greece, as
their numbering system was ill­suited to the job. Natural scales begin at C (not A)
because in ancient times the minor mode was more often used than the major one, and
the natural minor scale begins at A.

Music box​ music hall​

is from 1773, originally "barrel organ;" ​ is from 1842, especially
"hall licensed for musical entertainment" (1857). To ​ face the music​ "accept the
consequences" is from 1850; the exact image is uncertain, one theory ties it to stage
performers, another to cavalry horses having to be taught to stay calm while the
regimental band plays. To ​ make (beautiful) music​ with someone "have sexual
intercourse" is from 1967.
musical (adj.)​
early 15c., "pertaining to music; tuneful, harmonious; adept at making music," from
Middle French ​ musical​ musicalis​
(14c.) and directly from Medieval Latin ​ , from Latin
musica​ (see ​music​ Musical box​
). ​ musical chairs​
is from 1829. Children's game ​ is
attested from 1877, hence use of ​ musical​ as a modifier meaning "changing rapidly from
one to another possessor" (1924). Related: ​ Musically​
.

68. training (n.)​

mid­15c., "protraction, delay," verbal noun from ​train​ (v.). From 1540s as "discipline
and instruction to develop powers or skills;" 1786 as "exercise to improve bodily vigor."
Training wheels​ as an attachment to a bicycle is from 1953.

69. intern (n.)​

1879, American English, "one working under supervision as part of
professional training," especially "doctor in training in a hospital," from
French ​interne​"assistant doctor," literally "resident within a school," from
Middle French ​interne​ "internal" (see ​intern​(v.)). The verb in this sense is
attested from 1933. Related: ​Interned​ ;​interning​.

70. discipline (n.)​

early 13c., "penitential chastisement; punishment," from Old French
descepline​ (11c.) "discipline, physical punishment; teaching; suffering;
martyrdom," and directly from Latin ​ disciplina​"instruction given,
teaching, learning, knowledge," also "object of instruction, knowledge,
science, military discipline," from ​ discipulus​ disciple​
(see ​ (n.)).

71. degree (n.)​

degré​
early 13c., from Old French ​ (12c.) "a step (of a stair), pace, degree (of
relationship), academic degree; rank, status, position," said to be from
Vulgar Latin ​ *degradus​
"a step," from Late Latin ​ degredare​ , from Latin ​
de­
"down" (see ​ de­​
)+​gradus​ grade​
"step" (see ​ (n.)).

Most modern senses date from Middle English, from notion of a hierarchy
of steps. Meaning "a grade of crime" is 1670s; that of "a unit of
temperature" is from 1727. The division of the circle into 360 degrees was
known in Babylon and Egypt. It is perhaps from the daily motion of the sun
through the zodiac in the course of a year.

72. graduation (n.)​

early 15c., in alchemy, "a tempering, a refining of something to a certain
degree; measurement according to the four degrees of a quality," from
graduate​ (n.). General sense of "a dividing into degrees" is from 1590s;
meaning "action of receiving or giving an academic degree" is from early
15c.; in reference to the ceremony where a degree is given, from 1818.

73. mind (n.)​

gemynd​
late 12c., from Old English ​ "memory, remembrance, state of being
remembered; thought, purpose; conscious mind, intellect, intention,"
Proto­Germanic ​ *ga­mundiz​ muns​
(cognates: Gothic ​ munan​
"thought," ​ "to
think;" Old Norse ​ minni​"mind;" German ​Minne​ (archaic) "love," originally
"memory, loving memory"), from PIE root ​ *men­​ (1) "think, remember,
have one's mind aroused," with derivatives referring to qualities of mind or
matih​
states of thought (cognates: Sanskrit ​ "thought," ​munih​ "sage, seer;"
Greek ​memona​ mania​
"I yearn," ​ "madness," ​mantis​ "one who divines,
prophet, seer;" Latin ​mens​ "mind, understanding, reason," ​memini​ "I
remember," ​mentio​"remembrance;" Lithuanian ​ mintis​"thought, idea,"
mineti​
Old Church Slavonic ​ pamjat​
"to believe, think," Russian ​ "memory").

Meaning "mental faculty" is mid­14c. "Memory," one of the oldest senses,

now is almost obsolete except in old expressions such as ​bear in mind​ ,​
call
to mind​.​Mind's eye​"remembrance" is early 15c. Phrase ​ time out of mind​ is
pay no mind​
attested from early 15c. To ​ "disregard" is recorded from 1916,
American English dialect. To ​have half a mind to​"to have one's mind half
made up to (do something)" is recorded from 1726. ​ Mind­reading​ is from
1882.