The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville - Pot-pourri

218 X.E.81–F.98 Isidore of Seville
E. 81. Eloquent (eloquens), “profuse in speech (eloquium).”
Exertus, “ready in speaking,” because exerere
(ppl. exertus) means “bring out” or “set forth clearly.”
Erudite (eruditus), because not uncultivated (rudis), but
already educated. 82. Expert(expertus), much skilled
(peritus), for here the prefix ex- means “very much.”
However, ‘lacking experience’ (expers), one who is without
‘practical knowledge’ (peritia) and understanding.
‘Decked out’ (exornatus), “very ornate (ornatus),” for
the prefix ex- means “very,” as in ‘noble’ (excelsus), as if
‘very lofty (celsus),’ and ‘excellent’ (eximius), as if ‘very
prominent (eminens).’ 83.Efficacious (efficax), so called
because one has no difficulty in doing (facere) anykind
of thing. Hence also effective (efficiens), so called from
‘accomplishing’ (facere). Hopeless (exspes), because one
is without hope (spes). Destitute (expers), because ‘without
a share (pars),’ for such a one lacks a share. Deprived
(exsors), because one is ‘without an allotment (sors).’ 84.
Exile (exul), because one is ‘outside his native soil’ (extra
solum suum), as if sent beyond his soil, or wandering outside
his soil, for those who go outside their soil are said
to ‘be in exile’ (exulare).
85.Banished (extorris), because one is ‘outside his own
land’ (extra terram suam), as if the term were exterris –
but properly speaking one is banished when driven out
by force and ejected fromhisnativesoilwithterror
(terror). Also extorris, driven‘fromone’sownland’(ex
terra sua). 86. Banished (extorris), ‘outside the land’
(extra terram), or ‘beyond one’s frontier’ (extra terminos
suos), because one is frightened (exterrere). 87. Expeller
(exterminator), not the one who is commonly said
(“to be destroyed”), 4 but the one who casts
out and expels someone from the boundaries (terminus)
ofacity.Expelled(exterminatus), because such a
one is drivenout‘beyondhisboundaries’ (extra terminos).
[Thus also] foreign (externus), because one is
from an alien land (terra). 88. Needy(egens) anddestitute
(egenus), “indigent (indigens),” without a nation
(gens)and without a family (genus). [Egenus ...]‘Poor’
(exiguus), very needy (egens), for the prefix ex- means
“very.” Lank (exilis), “thin,” because one can ‘go out’
(exire)ofaplace even if it is narrow. 89.Emaciated (exesus),
because one is ‘entirely eaten away’ (percomedere,
ppl. percomesus), for such a one is withered, thin, lank.
Drained (exhaustus), because one is consumed and made
empty (cf. haurio,ppl. haustus,“drain”). Feeble (exsanguis),
because such a one is without blood (sanguis).
90. Lifeless (exanimis) means “dead” (cf. anima, “soul,
life”). Further, we say exanimis or exanimus, aswesay
unanimus or unanimis (“of one mind”), and inermus or
inermis (“unarmed”), and this is a matter of our whim.
91. ‘Burntup’ (exustus) issaidofoneof whom nothing
remains, as if it were ‘very burned’ (ustus), for the prefix
ex- means “very.” Hateful (exosus) issocalledfrom
hatred (odium), for the ancients would say both odi (“I
hate”) and osus sum (“I hate”; an alternative older form
of the verb), and from this is exosus, whichweuseeven
though we no longer say osus. Destructive(exitiosus),
because one is a cause of destruction (exitio)tomany.
Executor (i.e. an official who summoned to court and
enforced the court’s mandate), from ‘carry out’ (exequi,
ppl. executus); the same person is an exactor (“superintendent,
tax-gatherer”). 92. Burglar (effractor), because
such a one is a breaker (cf. frangere,ppl. fractus,“break”)
of locks. Fierce (efferatus), ‘affected with asavage(ferinus)
spirit’ and passing beyond the nature of humans.
Unrestrained (effrenatus), because such a one is impulsive
and headlong and without the rein (frenum)ofreason.
93. Eunuchus is a Greek term (i.e. ) meaning
“eunuch” (spado). Although some of these have sexual
intercourse there is no strength in their seed, for they
possess and emit a fluid but it is useless and impotent
for begetting. 94. A‘wornout’ (effeta) woman, because
she is exhausted from frequent childbearing (fetus), for
incessant parturition makes her weak.
F. 95. Fluent(facundus), because one can speak easily
(facilis). Merry (facetus), one who devotes himself to
jokes and games in gestures and actions (factum), so
called from ‘act’ (facere). Frugal (frugalis) issocalled
from crops (frux,gen.frugis), that is, from profit (fructus)
and parsimony, or, as others would have it, from moderation
and temperance. 96.Money-lender (fenerator, i.e.
faenerator), one who entrusts money to a debtor, as if
‘the handler of interest (faenus),’ for faenus is money. A
fenerator in Latin is also one who gives and receives loans.
Flamines (singular flamen) are the high priests of idols.
97. Happy (felix) isone who gives happiness (felicitas),
happy, one who receives it, and happy the thing by which
happiness is given, as a ‘happy time,’ a ‘happy place.’ 98.
Trustworthy (fidelis), because the good such a person
4 The Greek form is passive; an active form meaning “to destroy”
would fit the sense better.