E 0189          CORD

The word " cord " is, via Old French and Latin, of Greek origin .

H 0789             ר ו ק

Concept of root : filament

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ר ו ק

qur

thread, filament

Related English words

cord

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

      ר ו ק

qur

thread, filament

q (o) r

Greek

χορδη

khordè

intestine, cord, string

kh (o) r d

Latin

chorda

khorda >

corda

catgut, cord, string

ch (o) r d

English

cord

cord

c (o) r d

 

 

Proto-Semitic *QUR --- *KHOR-D-È Greek < *KŪR- Indo-European

 

 

We find here a similarity that can not be explained by the origin of both words, because the Hebrew word "qur" seems quite isolated , while the Greek one has been linked as seen in the note.

 

Many important and much-used words in modern languages have been derived from Greek "khordè", via Latin that made "chorda" out of it. The application of the word, its many meanings, are all of later development.

 

Hebrew "qur" stood also for very fine filaments, such as those of spiders ! But it is even used for "tissue". Then in other Semitic languages the same root is used for words that say "rope, cord".

 

It remains amazing how from the intestines used for strings of a musical instrument such a wide range of meanings as we find in English "cord" can have been developed, while other words were available. We have doubts, but cannot substantiate them.

 

 

Note:
  • Greek "khordè" are filaments, especially those for stringed instruments. The word is identical to one that says "intestines". Therefore generally it is thought to have been derived from there. Intestines were used to make the cords or strings for stringed instruments .

 

Note:
  • Hebrew has a normal word for " intestines " that is possibly or better probably related to the word " qur " of this entry . This is " ק ר ב י ם , qeravim", with the singular form " qerev ".

     

    We see the same combination of Q + R . This word is also related to some older Germanic words, as shown in entry GD 1039 (Hebrew 0771).

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic. This root is also seen in Arabic "qaur = thin rope", which gives some, be it narrow, basis for a hypothesis for Proto-Semitic: "*ק ו ר , Q W R".

 

Note:
  • Indo-European. The Latin word "corda", that has led to English "cord" has been loaned from Greek "khordè" as "chorda" and then adapted to local taste as "corda" . The Germanic words from entry GD 1039 (Hebrew 0771), with a root " K R S ", are certainly related, also seen the common origin in the use of intestines . Indo-European presumably had a form *K Ū R-", that has been expanded with various third consonants in groups of Indo-European languages.

 

 

 

 
"...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: 24/11/2012 at 16.23.18