<snip>
How old are such concepts as "cold" feelings, &c? I'd think they'd go
pretty far back, and must be linked to this usage? [Alison]
<snip>
Three points here, I think. Temperature as a measure of intensity:
'relationships were rather frosty after their heated discussion'; and Cf
also 'cold fury'. One sort of metaphor theorist, wanting to see the
physical, the sensory, as a source from which to map the intangible, would
expect to find this happening more or less ab initio, I suspect. Then
there's 'cold' as applied to *help*, for which Cf 'cold comfort', which
dates from the 14th C, if not earlier. And, finally, we may say 'cold as
charity' but we don't say 'hot as temper', for example. So the direction in
which we compare is also quite important.
But I'n in Bernard mode again.
<snip>
I would say to the ancient theory of the humours that played such a role
in European medical thinking via Hippocrates - "cold feelings" sounds
like black bile, cold and dry, though phlegm, cold & wet, might also be
responsible. [Martin]
There's clearly truth in that, 'black moods' being a prime example. But it
seems to me an elaboration of something pre-existing, a local spur in other
words.
<snip>
I thought that it was St. Jerome in translating the previously Greek bible
into Latin who came up with "caritas" for "agape" [Rebecca]
<snip>
Yes. Jerome sounds right to me.
CW
____________________________________
Wasting all my days...
Boatman, I've come to the river at a bad time.
I don't know your name.
(Baul singer in Ghatak's 'Cloud Capped Star')
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