Spanish Vocabulary: An Etymological Approach

Section 3.1. Addition of “Helping” e: esnob = snob

SECTION . Addition of “Helping” e: esnob ⴝ snob The Vulgar Latin grammarians noted an inconsistency in the Latin phonetic system. In the interior of a word, the combination s  consonant was always divided between different syllables and was never pronounced as a single “sound”. Thus, Spanish English justitia jus•ti•ti•a jus•ti•cia jus•tice monstrum mons•trum mons•truo mon• ster As the example shows, this is not a feature of English, where in many words like monster the consonant combination st is pronounced jointly. If a syllable within a word could never begin with s  consonant, why should it be any different at the beginning of a word? The Vulgar Latins decided that there was no good reason for such difference, and that what was required was the addition of a “helping” (prothetic) vowel to permit s and the following consonant to be placed in separate syllables: Spanish English spi•na S es•pi•na espina thorn, spine Italian subsequently gave up the initial e, Spanish has maintained it, while French has generally eliminated the s, which was the justification for the e in the first place. Latin Spanish French Italian English scala escala échelle scala scale scutum escudo écu scudo escutcheon, shield spiritus espíritu esprit spirito spirit sponsa esposa épouse sposa spouse, wife status estado état stato state Examples: esbelto svelte (slender, graceful) escala ladder, scale, proportion, port of call, stop (airplane) T4311.indb 93 T4311.indb 93 8/31/07 6:43:01 AM 8/31/07 6:43:01 AM  POPULAR VOCABULARY: THE SHAPE OF SPANISH —escalera —staircase, stairs —escalar —(to) climb, (to) scale —escalador —(mountain) climber —escalada —climb, rapid increase, rise, escalade —escalón —step (of a stair), stepping stone [echelon] —escalafón —roster of employees (by rank) escalpelo scalpel escama scale (of fish, snake), flake (of soap), squama —escamoso —scaly, flaky, squamous escándalo scandal —escandaloso —scandalous —escandalizar —(to) scandalize Escandinavia Scandinavia —escandinavo —Scandinavian escandir (to) scan (verse) escápula scapula (shoulder blade) escarbar (to) scrape, (to) scratch, (to) [scarify] dig into escarlata scarlet —escarlatina —scarlatina, scarlet fever escarnecer (to) mock, (to) ridicule [scorn] —escarmentar —(to) punish severely, (to) learn one’s lesson —escarmiento —lesson, punishment escarpa scarp, steep slope, escarpment —escarpado —steep, sheer, craggy escatológico () scatological —escatología () —scatology —escatología () —eschatology —escatológico () —eschatological escayola plaster, plaster cast, scagliola [fish scale] escena scene, stage —escenario —stage, scene, setting [scenario] —escénico —scenic (of or relating to the stage) escéptico (adj. & n.) skeptical, skeptic —escepticismo —skepticism esclavo slave (see appendix) —esclavitud —slavery T4311.indb 94 T4311.indb 94 8/31/07 6:43:02 AM 8/31/07 6:43:02 AM ADDITION OF “HELPING” E: ESNOB  SNOB  —esclavizar —(to) enslave —eslabón —link (of a chain) —eslavo —Slav —Eslovaquia —Slovakia —eslovaco —Slovak —Eslovenia —Slovenia —esloveno —Slovene, Slovenian esclerosis sclerosis —esclerosis —multiple sclerosis múltiple esclusa (canal) lock, sluice, sluice gate escoba broom [scopula] —escobilla —brush Escocia Scotland —escocés (-esa) —Scottish escolar (adj. & n.) scholastic, school (adj.), student, pupil —escuela —school escorbuto scurvy [scorbutic] escoria scoria (slag, dross, lava fragments) —El Escorial —Escorial (monastery & palace near Madrid) escribir (to) write [scribble] —escriba (m.) —scribe —escribano —scrivener, notary —escrito (p.p.) —writing (report, etc.), writ (law) [script] —por escrito —in writing —escritor —writer, author —escritorio —desk, office [scriptorium] —escritura —handwriting, Scripture (cap., freq. pl.) escrúpulo scrupule —escrupuloso —scrupulous —sin escrúpulos —unscrupulous ( inescrupuloso) escrutar (to) scrutinize, (to) count votes —escrutinio —scrutiny, (official) vote count —escudriñar —(to) scrutinize  Formerly escrudiñar. T4311.indb 95 T4311.indb 95 8/31/07 6:43:02 AM 8/31/07 6:43:02 AM  POPULAR VOCABULARY: THE SHAPE OF SPANISH escuadra triangle (for drawing), squad, squadron, fleet —escuadrón —squadron (military) escuálido skinny, emaciated, squalid escudo shield, escutcheon, escudo —escudo de armas —coat of arms —escudar —(to) shield —escudero —squire, shield-bearer esculcar (to) delve into, (to) spy [skulk] escultura sculpture —escultor —sculptor —esculpir —(to) sculpt, (to) engrave escupir (to) spit —escupidera —spittoon, cuspidor, urinal (Amer.) esfera sphere, dial or face (e.g., watch) esgrimir (to) brandish, (to) fence [scrimmage ] —esgrima —fencing, swordplay —escaramuza —skirmish, dispute [Scaramouch] esmalte enamel [smelt] —esmalte de uñas —nail polish —esmaltar —(to) enamel, (to) adorn esmoquin ( Eng.) tuxedo, dinner jacket [smoking] esnob ( Eng.) snob espacio space —espacioso —spacious, slow, deliberate —despacio —slowly ( lentamente) [of space] esparcir (to) scatter, (to) spread, (to) amuse [sparse] —esparcimiento —scattering, recreation, leisure activity espátula spatula especia spice...