E 0169          CHOOSE

The word "choose " is of Germanic origin .

H 0259           ש ק ב

Concept of root : choosing

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ש ק ב

biqqesh

to look for, demand

Related English words

choose

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

ש ק ב

biqqesh

to look for, demand

b q sh

English

choose

choose

c . s

Old English

cēosan

to choose

c . s

Dutch

kiezen

kizen

to choose

k . s

 

 

Proto-Semitic *BAQASH > "*QOSH" --- *KUS- Indo-European

 

 

We compare with entry E 0277 (Hebrew 0258) where we find as the second consonant in the basic root an " R ", against here an " S " . We believe that in the Germanic languages we are dealing with here , either an R or an S was added to a K, in order to express two different but not too distant concepts. The in between vowels are indispensable for any good pronunciation and are also used for diversifying meanings. Some vowels may also have an indipendent specific origin in a certain consonant. This happens with for example O or U originating from W and with I originating from Y. Thus some consonants may be "vocalized" and in the process eaten.

 

Comparing the two roots "K R" and K S", we find them even combined in one special Dutch word : "kieskeurig" or "dainty, choosey". To Dutch readers : the word has nothing to do with "kies" that means "molar".

 

 

Note:
  • Hebrew. The comparison with the European words makes us suppose, as we also do in entry E 0277 (Hebrew 0258) , that the Hebrew "B" here has been added later as a prefix to an older two-consonant root "*Q S": This is only one step, for we still lack the in between basic three-consonant form, "*baqash".

     

    We are thinking of a sequence of concepts.

     

    • 1. to find something one likes (taste).

       

    • 2. to choose this something

       

    • 3. to demand the thing.

     

    The first concept might have been carried by a two-consonant-root "*Q SH" or "Q W S" We compare with the root "Q SH SH", meaning "to search, collect" , certainly based on "Q SH".

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic. In Semitic languages one finds in this case some related words and roots that are not identical, in that they use instead of the Hebrew "Q" also some different consonants . Aramaic and Syriac "ב ח ש, B GH SH, beghash = to stir, agitate" is considered related but that may be doubted. Ugaritic used "ב ק ט, B Q TH". Then Arabic has a root "B GH T" in "baghata = he searched, examined". But Phoenician again used "ב ק ש, B Q SH", just as Hebrew. Proto-Semitic may have had this same root "*ב ק ש, B Q SH".

 

Note:
  • Dutch is the tongue we once more had to refer to within Germanic, because its root has existed in Gothic, Old German and Old Nordic, but there has dissappeared from use.

 

Note:
  • Proto-Germanic . It seems useful to quote here from the text of entry E 0277 (Hebrew 0258 as follows: In the sense of "care" we find Gothic "kara", Old English "caru" and Old Frisian "kara". There are in various languages similar words with different meanings, such as Old High German "kara = sadness, lament". For the meaning "care" we may presume Proto-Germanic "K A R-".

     

    In our comparison with Hebrew in this entry and number E 0169 (Hebrew 0259) we have distinguished between on the one hand the meanings of "cure" and "care" ( roots K . R), and on the other hand "choice, to choose" ( roots K. S). But we see in Germanic languages how roots with the R express also the meaning of "choice". Swedish "kora" means "to choose". Comparable are Old Saxon, "kuri", Old English "cyre", Old High German "churi", Old Frisian "kere", Old Norse "kør". Then we have Middle Dutch that with its versions "coor, core, coire (core), cuere, keure" makes it more easy to hypothesize Proto-Germanic, that probably was expressing the concept of "to choose" with the form "*K O R-" and as shown in the next paragraph, as well "*K O S-".

     

    We note that there is some confusion as to the relation between the roots with "K . S" and "K . R". Obviously the supposition that the words with "S", like English "choice " and Dutch "keus " have been created ( later), influenced by the verbs "to choose" and "kiezen ( Dutch)", is off the mark, as they just have a common origin with these. This is confirmed by the fact that in older languages both roots "K . R" and K : S" are used to express the concept of choosing. Old Norse "kjosa" , Middle Dutch "kies, cose, keuse, ", Old High German "kiosan", Gothic "kiusan". The most probable form for Proto-Germanic would be "*K O S-"., that we thus find together with the already mentioned "*K O R-".

     

    Concept "cure". In Germanic languages we find words like English "cure", but the general opinion is that they have been derived from Latin, basically via Old French. This is not quite certain, as we find in Middle Dutch various meanings for a word "cure". 1. Cure; 2. Care; 3. Choice of an object" 4. Election of a person; 5. Sudden sickness. This indicates a wider basis. Interesting and a bit puzzling is the fact that the German word "Kur = cure" , given as loaned from Latin ( improbable without the final A) is anyhow rather new, known from the 16th century. So we shold not exclude for the concept of "cure a possible Proto-Germanic "*K Ü R-", not derived from but a cognate of Latin "cura".

 

Note:
  • Indo European is supposed to have had a root "*geus" from which English "choose" would have developed. One chooses the thing one likes, one has taste for. Thus also the Latin word "gustare", to taste, and Greek "γευσις , g(eu)sis " , to taste are seen as cousins of "to choose".

     

    Old Indian indeed also has words with such a different but possibly related meaning, that are considered cognates of "to choose". So "jótsati = to like, delight in, be satisfied" and "jótsa- = approval, pleasure, satisfaction". Obviously the initial " J " has developed out of an earlier " G ".

     

    German has as well a verb "kosten" with the same meaning as Latin "gustare". It is identical to a verb "kosten = to cost" that is of different origin and related to Vulgar Latin "costare", that is sometimes wrongly seen as derived from classic Latin "consto, constare = to be firm, certain" and many other meanings. It is instead of Germanic origin. Old Saxon had "kostōn", Old English "costian" and Old Icelandic "kosta" with the same meaning. Gothic "kausjan = to taste". The probable Proto-Germanic is "*K Ŏ ST-". This may indeed be related to, or rather an extension of abovementioned Proto-Germanic "*K O S-".

     

    Celtic gives a hand with a hypothesis of "*gustu- = to choose ". This is based on Old Irish "asa-gusi = he desires" and "do-goa = he chooses" as well as "to-gu = to choose; choice".

     

    Indo-European may have had "*G Ū S-" or "*K Ū S-" for the concept of "to choose". The enjoyment after choosing and obtaining are secondary or subsequent developments.

 

Note:
  • Bakshish is a well-known word for English speakers. It is the word with which Arab beggars tell tourists they want money. Do they ask or demand ? The basis is in the root of this entry.

 

Note:
  • Bewakashà is known to anybody who visited Israel. It is the word people use to say "please" or "here you are", like Italian "prego" and German "bitte" in its semantics. And it is also based on the root of this entry.

 

 

 

 

 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 23/12/2012 at 16.19.28