XPost: alt.usage.english, alt.language.latin   
   From: HenHanna@devnull.tb   
      
           An inkhorn is a small, portable container used to hold ink. It   
   was a common tool for writers and scholars in earlier times, especially   
   before the invention of fountain pens.   
      
           Inkhorn containers could be made from various materials,   
   including horn, wood, metal, or even pottery. They often had a small   
   opening at the top for dipping a pen into the ink.   
      
   _______________   
      
   Inkhorns: A Curious Case of Words   
      
                   Inkhorns are a fascinating linguistic phenomenon,   
   referring to foreign words or phrases that are adopted into a language   
   in a pretentious or affected manner.    They often come from Latin or   
   Greek, languages that were once considered the height of intellectual   
   and cultural achievement.   
      
      
   Why "Inkhorns"?   
                   The term "inkhorn" is a metaphor that alludes to the   
   scholarly or academic setting where these words were often introduced.   
   The inkwell was a common tool in the study, and the "inkhorn" became   
   associated with the pretentious or pedantic use of language.   
      
      
   Examples of Inkhorns   
      
                   While the use of inkhorns has declined over time, many   
   have become so ingrained in our language that we no longer recognize   
   them as foreign. Here are a few examples:   
      
              Utilize:         From Latin utilis (useful)   
              Magnanimous:     From Latin magnus (great) + animus (spirit)   
      
          Ephemeral:         From Greek ephemeros (lasting for a day)   
          Quintessential:    From Latin quintus (fifth) + essentia (essence)   
      
      
   Latin-Based   
      
           Adieu: From Latin ad (to) + deo (god)   
           Gratis: From Latin gratis (free)   
           Plenary: From Latin plenus (full)   
           Sublime: From Latin sublimis (high)   
           Verisimilitude: From Latin verus (true) + similis (similar)   
      
   Greek-Based   
      
          Algorithm: From Arabic al-khwarizmi, referring to the Persian   
                          mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi   
      
          Philanthropy: From Greek philos (loving) + anthropos (human)   
      
          Technocracy: From Greek techne (art, skill) + kratos (rule)   
      
          Pandemic: From Greek pan (all) + demos (people)   
      
                    ------- i thought it came from    [Everywhere, Demons]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)