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Word Histories Trivia Quiz

Words keep changing. In strange ways they may get new forms and/or new meanings.See if you can identify the correct "links".

A multiple-choice quiz by flem-ish. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
flem-ish

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
149,127

Updated
Sep 14 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
988

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The modern term "constable" for a policeman developed from a Latin term "comes stabuli". What was the original meaning of that Latin term? Hint

stableboy

headofficer of the stable

horsegroom

jockey

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Question 2 of 10

2. Normally "stoma" means "mouth" in Greek. Yet "stoma" was also used to describe the "mouth of the belly or intestine". Which modern English name of a vital organ developed from that secondary use of "stoma"?

Answer: (One Word starting "stoma")

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Question 3 of 10

3. Anthus in Greek and Latin means "flower". A selection of "literary flowers" might be an "anthology". Anthus also occurs in many names of flowers and plants. Which of these stands for "goldflower"? Hint

chrysanthemum

amaranth

helianthus

pyracanth

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Question 4 of 10

4. Two of these words derive from "ball". One is a little ball, the other a big ball. Which is the one that originally meant a little "ball of paper"? Hint

ballet

balloon

ballot

ballad

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which seven-letter word literally means a "little spade" in Latin, and can now be either a small flat elongated kitchen-tool or a similar doctor's tool?

Answer: (Diminutive of a Latin word for spade.)

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Question 6 of 10

6. When judges have to rule on a case, it matters that they speak the truth. Which of these words refers, etymologically speaking, to the formal finding of fact by a judge or jury, and derives from the Latin for speaking the truth? Hint

sentence

verdict

arrest

judgment

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which letters should you add to past__ to get the name of a paint obtained from a paste to which some white coloring (liquid or dry) has been added? Hint

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Question 8 of 10

8. Margrave was the original English name for what the French called a marquis. Of what was such a "margrave" in charge? Hint

a march

a market

a marsh

a mare

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which of these words is NOT related to the root "pais" (child)? Hint

pedantic

pedopathy

pediatrics

pedagogue

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Question 10 of 10

10. What is the basic meaning of "parthenos" in both "Parthenon" and "parthenogenesis"? Hint

temple

division

virgin

divine

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The modern term "constable" for a policeman developed from a Latin term "comes stabuli". What was the original meaning of that Latin term?

Answer: headofficer of the stable

Comes is the modern word "count", originally a high ranking officer at the palace.

Answer: stomach

Other stoma words are: stomatitis; stomatology; etc.
Stomachus is Latin for stomach.

Answer: chrysanthemum

A helianth is a sunflower. An amaranth is a (so-called) never-fading plant.A pyracanth or firethorn is a thorny shrub bearing small white flowers.
Chrysos means gold as in the saint's name: St John Chryso-stomos. St. John-with-the-Golden-Mouth.
Goldfinger might have been "chryso-daktulos".

4. Two of these words derive from "ball". One is a little ball, the other a big ball. Which is the one that originally meant a little "ball of paper"?

Answer: ballot

Ballad and ballet derive from "ballare" to dance. A balloon (cp. hot air balloons) might be called a superbig ball.
Ballots originally were the little crumpled balls of paper on which you had written the name of the candidate you voted for, or any other type of "little ball" used for secret voting.

5. Which seven-letter word literally means a "little spade" in Latin, and can now be either a small flat elongated kitchen-tool or a similar doctor's tool?

Answer: spatula

In many Indo-Germanic languages diminutives are made by addition of 'l'-syllables. In Latin: uva-uvula; globus- globulus.
Compare piglet; eyelet.
French has a few more derivations from "spada": "spadassins" (hired assassin) and "espadon"(swordfish).

Answer: verdict

From Latin "verum dicere".

7. Which letters should you add to past__ to get the name of a paint obtained from a paste to which some white coloring (liquid or dry) has been added?

Answer: el

Though pastel is now mostly found as "crayons", the original meaning is a dye made from a paste by adding liquid.
Pastis is a drink made from a paste of aniseed. In this case liquid is added as well, but you cannot use your pastis for painting or drawing.
Also "pastry", "pasties" and "pasta" are all produced on the basis of a dough or "paste".

8. Margrave was the original English name for what the French called a marquis. Of what was such a "margrave" in charge?

Answer: a march

A grave or count who was in charge of a "border-area" or "march" had a heavier task than other counts or earls. He had to keep out the neighbours, and neighbours seldom were friends in the Middle Ages.
The term "march" for a border-area can still be found back in the name Mercia. Also in the Italian name le Marche.
The person in charge of the mares at the palace was the "marshall".
Marsh-diggers seldom belonged to the nobility.
And market-towns were interesting to have for feudal lords but they did not derive their titles from them. It was rather the other way round.
Cities owed their market-rights to their lords.

9. Which of these words is NOT related to the root "pais" (child)?

Answer: pedopathy

Pedantic derives from "pedante"(Italian) a child-educator or schoolmaster.
A pedagogue is also an educator, but he is not seen as sucha compulsive teacher as the "pedante".

Pediatrics is the branch of medicine concerned with the treatment of infants and children.
Pedopathy however is any disease of the foot.

10. What is the basic meaning of "parthenos" in both "Parthenon" and "parthenogenesis"?

Answer: virgin

Parthenogenesis could be called " birth without fertilization".
The Parthenon temple was associated with the cult of Athena Parthenos, the Virgin.

Source: Author flem-ish

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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