BRIEF, BRIEFING, BREVITY [English words of Greek origin)

[Neos]

The word brief comes from the Latin brevis (short) that derives from the ancient Greek brahis (short).

From the same root: briefing, briefly, brevity, briefcase, briefness.

In modern Greek:
a) brahis: short
b) brahitis: shortness, brevity
c) brahino: to shorten, to cut down

brahis --> brevis --> brief

See the blog: English words of no apparent Greek origin at: http://ewonago.blogspot.com/

[annis]

[Neos]

[annis]

Instead of an answer, i would like to quote two paragraphs from the Preface of the "Etymological Dictionary of the Latin Language" by F. Valpy (London, 1828) concerning the relationship between Latin and Greek.

We should not be relying on works nearly two centuries old as etymological authorities. No modern historical linguist is going to accept Latin as the daughter language of Greek. The idea is completely indefensible.

[Lucus Eques]

Will is correct. To say that all Latin words derive from Greek is as silly as saying all Spanish words derive from Italian.

[IreneY]

You must be kidding! All words of all languages come from Greek. Haven't you seen my big fat Greek wedding where the father of the bride explains how "kimono" comes from "χειμών" ?

Edit. Found the quote:"Kimono, kimono, kimono. Ha! Of course! Kimono is come from the Greek word himona, is mean winter. So, what do you wear in the wintertime to stay warm? A robe. You see: robe, kimono. There you go!"

[Misopogon]

Oh Irene you're great, I was thinking about the same film! Lol


Regards
Misopogon

[benissimus]

This is all besides the point, since Greek derives from Chinese anyways.

[IreneY]

Ouch! That "article" actually hurt! However I suspect the writer either wanted to prove that Chinese come from Greek or this is another "Atlantis mother of all civilizations" "proof"

Misopogon, I forgot to mention that according to Gus Portokalos "Miller" comes from "μήλο", "apple". I think I like that one more (I guess millers milled apples in England).

[annis]

My brains hurt now.

[IreneY]