The Etymologies of Isidore of Seville - Pot-pourri

228 X.R.235–S.247 Isidore of Seville
intelligent (intellegens) from ‘understand’ (intellegere).
235.Areasoner (rationator)iscalled a great man, because
such a one is able to give a reason (ratio) for all the
things that are considered marvelous. Reviser (retractator),
one who undertakes something anew, for to revise
(retractare) means to undertake anew what you have left
undone. 236.Reconverting(resipiscens,lit.“returningto
one’s senses”), because such a one recovers (recipere)
his mind, as if after a period of insanity, or because
one who stopped knowing ‘knows again’ (resapere),
for he chastises himself for his folly and strengthens
his spirit for right living, remaining watchful so as not
to relapse. 237. Unexpected(repentinus), from sudden
(repens). Repens can be both an adverb (i.e. “suddenly”)
and a substantive. Robust (robustus), “strong, vigorous,”
so called from the strength of the oak (roboreus)tree.Fast
(rapidus), “swift of foot (pes,gen.pedis).” Ravisher (raptor),
because he is a corrupter (corruptor), whence also
‘raped woman’ (rapta), because corrupted (corrupta).
238. Accused (reus), so called from the lawsuit (res)
in which he is liable, and offence (reatum) fromreus.
‘Impeached for state treason’ (reus maiestatis) was at
first the term for one who had carried out something
against the republic, or anyone who had conspired with
the enemy. It was called ‘impeached for state treason’
because it is ‘graver’ (maius)toharmone’snative country
than a single citizen. Afterwards those people were called
‘impeached for state treason’ who were seen to have acted
against the majesty (maiestas) oftheheadofstate,or
who had conferred unbeneficial laws on the state, or had
abrogated beneficial ones. 239. Quarrelsome (rixosus),
so called from canine snarling (rictus), for such aone
is always ready to contradict, and delights in strife, and
provokes an opponent. Rustic (rusticus), because such a
one works the countryside (rus), that is, the earth.
S. 240. Wise (sapiens), so called from taste (sapor),
because as the sense of taste is able to discern the taste
of food, so the wise person is able to distinguish things
and their causes, because he understands each thing,
and makes distinctions with his sense of the truth. The
opposite of this is afool(insipiens), because he is without
taste, and has no discretion or sense. 241. Assiduous
(studiosus) ...Holy(sanctus), so called from an
ancient custom, because those who wished to be purified
would be touched by the blood (sanguis)ofasacrificial
victim, and from this they received the name of
holy ones (sanctus). 242. Honest (sincerus), as if the
term were ‘without corruption’ (sine corruptione), of
which the opposite is dishonest (insincerus), “tainted,
corrupt.” Supreme (supremus), “the highest,” because
it ‘rises above’ (supereminere). Hence we also say, “O
Supreme Father.” [Agreeable (suavis)...] Exalted (sublimis)
issocalled after the height of one’s esteem, for
strictly the term ‘exalted’ is used for what is on high, as
(Vergil, Aen. 1.259):
And you will raise him on high (sublimis) tothe stars of
the sky.
243. Good-looking (speciosus), from appearance
(species) orlooks, as beautiful (formosus) isfromshape
(forma). Skillful (sollers), because one is engaged (sollicitus)‘inacraft’(ars)andadroit,
for among the ancients
one who was trained in every good craft would be called
skillful. Terence (Eunuch 478):
Iwill grant that the youth is skillful (sollers).
244. Those called the superstitious (superstitiosus),
says Cicero (On the Nature of the Gods 2.72), are those
“who would pray and make burnt offerings every day in
order that their children might be their survivors (superstes).”
Busy (sollicitus), because such a one is skillful
(sollers) and quick (citus) and restless. Diligent (sedulus),
a familiar word in Terence, that is, ‘without guile’
(sine dolo); otherwise, assiduous (assiduus). 245. ‘Comrades’
(sodalis)isthe name for those who regularly convene
under one sign (e.g., as of a guild), as if the term
were ‘persuaders’ (suadentes). They are also called allies
(socius)because of their alliance (societas)indanger and
in work, as if they wore a single kind of shoe (cf. soccus,
“shoe”) and kept to the same track. 246.Stolid (stultus),
rather dull in spirit, as a certain writer says (Afranius,
fragment 416): “I consider myself to be stolid (stultus); I
don’t think myself a fool,” that is, with dulled wits, but
not with none at all. A stolid person is one who in his
stupor (stupor)isnotmovedbyinjustice, for he endures
and does not avenge cruelty, and is not moved to grief by
any dishonor. 247.Sluggish(segnis), that is, ‘without fire’
(sine igni), lacking native wit – for se- means “without”
(sine), as sedulus, sine dolo (see 244 above). Calm (securus),
as if the term were ‘without anxiety’ (sine cura) –
that is, unresponsive, for which reason we take such
people as unbeneficial.