Actually, we do know the derivation of most words and make reaonable guesses at a lot of others. But you're right--the presence of past meanings is called the etymological fallacy. Tho a lot of writers make them present.
-----Original Message-----
>From: Peter Riley <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Jun 14, 2018 7:55 PM
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Is there a word...?
>
>I think etymology is a very contentious pseudo-science in which certainties of definition are claimed rather than proven. I.e there is less certainty than the tone suggests. It does engender quite exciting putative ur-meanings to words which can stimulate the invention. . But then we go into a further and even more contentious controversy as to whether those ur-meanings are in any sense still present in the word, and if so in what sense. Poets, of course, assume that they are, because poets are like that.
>
>And it gets mixed up in all that silly business about the wholeness of language before it was divided.
>
>With a few exceptions at the extreme, the business about plagiarism etc in poetry is a non-issue. Little boy poets playing at detectives. A poem is a public entity.
>
>A monster has arrived here called “The Poem” by one Paterson. It would help me if, should anyone catch sight of a review of it, they would let me have the reference. I want to find out what the general reaction to it is in all parts. I don’t particularly want to be told “I think it’s crap”etc. I’m feeding the monster on porridge in the hope of keeping it quiet.
>
>P
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