Wordie: Words from the German: Comments

Comment by colleen, about 1 year ago

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 18:51:53 +0000

And since I'm at it, as for mesmerize, mesmerism appears to come from the surname of one Austrian Dr. Friedrich Anton Mesmer, who came to live and work in Paris, this leading to the nouning of his surname as mesmérisme. So less German and more Austro-French?

There's room for a ouija pun here but I can't seem to spin it just right...

Comment by colleen, about 1 year ago

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 18:47:17 +0000

This is where a citation would've been handy -- I completely agree with sionnach, but out of curiosity I checked the OED to see if there was someting I was missing. The definition of mogul to which betsyshane must be referring is

"A bump on a ski slope, by which a skier's progress may be impeded."

which appears to come from

"German regional (Austria) Mugel hillock."

Comment by sionnach, about 1 year ago

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 09:49:47 +0000

Also, I think that the word "mogul" is Persian, not German, in origin.

Comment by jochenB, about 1 year ago

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 08:39:24 +0000

What is German about mesmerize?