E 0480          IDLE

The word " idle " is of  Germanic origin .

H 0417            ל ד ח

Concept of root : empty, inactivity

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ל ד ח

ghadal

to abstain, rest

Related English words

idle

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in rootלs

Hebrew

ל ד ח

ghadal

to abstain, rest

gh . d . l

English

idle

inactive

. d l

Middle Dutch

idel, hydel

idel, hidel

inactive, empty, useless in behaviour

h . d l

 

 

Proto-Semitic *GHADAL --- *HĪDEL Proto-Germanic

 

 

The English and Dutch words are full sisters but it is the English one here that in its limited meaning comes nearest to Hebrew. The Dutch word instead is nearer in sound to Hebrew, with its initial consonant " H ". It has acquired several further meanings, amongst which that of "vanity" in "ijdelheid", just like German "Eitelkeit". An etymology has not been found and it is the similarity with Hebrew that may shed new light.

 

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic This root in Hebrew also expresses the concept of " to begin to abstain", which results in the various forms of idleness it represents. It is also found in Arabic "ghadhala = he foresook, abandoned, left" and Ethiopian "ghadala = he ceased". It may well have existed already in Proto-Semitic : "*ח ד ל , GH D L".

 

Note:
  • Proto-Germanic. Older words are found in Old Saxon, Old English and Old Frisian "īdal", Old North Franconian and Middle Dutch "īdel". Old High German, changing from "D" to "T", had "ītal". But then we see in Middle Dutch also "hydel" and that initial "H" brings us nearer to Hebrew initial "GH". Proto-Germanic probably had the form "Ī D e L-", as well as a more original "H Ī D e L-", that continued into Middle Dutch.

 

Note:
  • Indo-European. We have no indications for cognates in other branches of Indo-European. Therefore the comparison remains between Semitic and Germanic.

     

     

     

 

 

 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 27/12/2012 at 14.16.42