E 0666          PART

The word " part " is, via Old French, of Latin origin .

H 0724            ט ר פ

Concept of root : detail, part

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ט ר פ

perath;

parath

single thing, detail, unit;

to detach, detail, separate,

Related English words

part, from Latin

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

ט ר פ

perath;

-

 parath

-

-

single thing, detail, unit;

to detach, separate, divide

p . r . th

Latin

pars,

gen. partis

pars, partis

part, detail

p . r t

English

part, particular

part ,

particular

p . r t

 

 

Proto-Semitic *PARATH --- *PĂRT Indo-European

 

 

The similarity in sound and meaning is there. But not everything is identical. For example the meaning of "individual" is not found in Latin "pars", nor is it served by another specific noun. The Romans described this by saying "quidam homo". Neither is the meaning "to specify" found in Latin words that are directly related to "pars". Latin used "definire = to define". Obviously Hebrew has assigned a wider range of messages to this root than Latin has done, but that does not change the basic similarity , nor the probability of a common origin.

 

The English use of the word " particular " comes somewhat near to meanings of this Hebrew root that we find not covered in Latin. Such developments are semantically quite understandable, and could thus take place in modern English as well as in old Hebrew .

 

This root "P.R.TH" also says "to break off, divide", which is not too far off either. Then Hebrew offers a root "P.R.T" that also has this kind of message : transitive "to divide" as well as intransitive "to be divided". The name of the river Euphrates is said to be based on this root : "The one that is divided into branches", which is a characteristic of this great river .

 

 

Note:

     

  • Proto-Semitic The root "P R TH" in Hebrew has developed a verb with considerable variation of meanings: "to break off, divide, separate, detach; to specify; to change into small money". It is, with several related meanings also present in Aramaic "פ ר ט , perath = he specified" and Syriac "פ ר ט , perath= he rent, tore away".. Arabic "faratha = he knocked down (fruit)". This root probably was present in Proto-Semitic, perhaps with some of the same specific Hebrew meanings of this entry: "*פ ר ט , P R TH"

 

Note:

     

  • Indo-European. However clear the similarity between Latin and Semitic, there seem to be not many cognates known in Indo-European languages. It has been tried to link Latin "pars" to roots meaning "to bore, drill", but that seems too far off. Another try is that of linking "pars" to Greek "meros" and "moira" that have the same meaning. This is indeed possible but one would prefer some further supporting evidence for that.

     

    We see no real semantic link either to the Latin verb "pario, parere = to bring into the world, create; to obtain, acquire; to invent". Latin "portio, portionis = portion" instead is related. It is considered to have changed from "*partio" into "portio" as a diversification from "partio = childbirth".

     

    Some information is available though.

     

    Hittite has "parshiya- = part, breach" , in which the "part" seems the result of a "breaking" action. Instead of the Latin " T " there is "SH". This can be compared to a phenomenon seen in Semitic, where a "bull" can be a "shor" or a "tor".

     

    Pahlavi, the language of Zoroaster, shows a "pārak = part, piece" with a final "K" as indeed found in "to break". And breaking creates parts.

     

     

    Indo-European may well have had a form "*P Ă R T-" for "part, piece".

 

 

 

 
"...the town, to which was given the name Babel, because it was there that the Lord confused the language of all the world on the face of which He dispersed them. GENESIS 11,9"
 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: 20/11/2012 at 11.32.11