When we speak about etymology, Robin, we do not take into account the
Englsih speaking world, you know , since the meaning of words such
as "stupid" (studipo) and "stupidity" (stupidita') or "immense"
or "dolorous" foreruns any modern definition, and reposes in "our"
(actually, surely mine, but I am not 100 per cent sure that they are also
yours) communal ancestors, who coined those words.
We are not concerned here of the derivations that a give etymological term
(and its meanings) acquired, once IT entered - in the late XVI the century -
(practically, yesterday's world) the English language. Etymology has
nothing to do with an idiom called "English". English is a modern language,
so it bears no responsibility for the creation of s word such as stupid. It
only bears responsibility for its applications.
That is not etymology, it does not have any intimacy with any idea of
ancient root and original meaning. The 1500 that you quote (which for you
might so very ancient, but that for Old Europe , I repeat, is just
a "yesterday") is defined, in my world, as the "Modern Age".. The age of
the Modern times, so I cannot understand how possibly could you take into
account the use of a word that landed in your island in the late phase of
our declining culture, say the XVI century as being indicative of anything
but a derived application.
Etymology refers to pre- Christian ages.
This is were the roots of languages repose.
So, "stupidity", if any meaning is conveyed by this assemblage of letters,
describes the wide-opened eyed "wonder" in front of something that the mind
cannot cope with , a condition that is able to freeze emotions too (now
understood as a medical pathology out of the "common sense" usage we rely
upon, as corresponding jsut to merely being "silly").
Madness has another status. I might wish to call myself “ mad “, maybe (and
I am not) but please, call YOURSELF "stupid", you you have such an urge.
Erminia (you belong to a relatively young culture, Robin, so you are
justified in being mentally so……(what shall I say, not stupid, but ….
young!)
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