A little bit of Latin

[Markov]

I put this together after a friend brought the idea of the literal meaning of the word 'universe' into a conversation based off of the meaning of the universe.

It may not have any relevance to a ongoing topic here, but I thought it could at least inspire a bit of thought. So I wanted to share it and see what you guys have to say about it.

Since we are discussing the literal translation of the word, I just wanted to add this.

Note, uni is not a word in Latin (the basis where I am pulling this all from), but rather a stem. However, I have looked through it rather thoroughly, and this is some of the data I have jotted down. Thought you might be interested in looking over it.

Also, do know I am not versed in Latin or the study of languages. If there is some error in this that someone spots, please point it out and enlighten me.

Ok, we will start with this, the direct latin translation of universe, the best I can find, is;

Universitas
Latin
universitas -atis f. (the whole , total; the universe, the world).

Or

universus
Latin
universus (archaic univorsus) -a -um (combined in one , whole, entire); plur. universi -ae -a, (all together); n. as subst. universum -i, (the whole; the world, the universe); phrase, 'in universum', and adv. universe, (generally, in general)

So let us dissect from here. We will start with the stem of the word, and then move onto the ending.

una
Latin
una : (adv.) in one, together. from unus

The above is also the stem for the word:
unanimous
Latin
unanimus : of one mind , agreeing, unanimous

unus
Latin
unus : one; only one; one and the same; any one; 'ad unum omnes', (all to a man); 'in unum', (into one place);
'uno tempore', (at the same time). Adv. una, (in one, together).

I believe we can agree that uni, is a form of unus. Now to the second half of the word.

verse
English
verse : To familiarize by study or experience: He versed himself in philosophy.

versus
Latin
versus : line, verse.

verus
Latin
true, real, proper, right.

veritas
Latin
veritas : truth..

Now, the second half of ‘Universitas’, the word, ‘versitas’, does not appear singularly in any documentation I have read. But seeing as how a lot of latin like to obscure its words (from what I have gathered) when creating two part words, we will assume that the closest spelling is accurate.


So from what I have gathered, the word ‘Universitas’, directly translates to una veritas

una
Latin
una : (adv.) in one, together. from unus


veritas
Latin
veritas : truth..

So our form of the word universe would really mean: One Truth, or Together Truth.

I like it.

 

[IJesusChrist]

I liked one study

 

[Markov]

Yeah, I did as well. Thats why I included that definition. But with the basis of how I really layed all this out, it didnt really fit seeing as how that was an english definition and I was basing it off of latin.

 

[Forkbender]

we will assume that the closest spelling is accurate.

That's a big assumption.

There's a latin verb 'verso' which means something like 'to turn to'.

 

[Markov]

yes it is a big assumption. I will agree, but like I said, this is all with no schooling in the subject. So if ANYONE can clear things up that I may have gotten wrong, please continue with ideas. Im just a little curious about this,
maybe Im a little caught up with language right now

ver·so
Pronunciation: \?v?r-(?)s

 

[Forkbender]

Universitas -atis f.

atis sub: you all would see, were you all to see
atis ind : you all see, you all are seeing.

universitatis is simply the plural of universitas.

the -atis ending on a verb is a conjugation which changes its meaning. So instead of 'you all (3rd person plural) x', you'd get 'you all would x'

Important question to ask yourself: how did the romans see the universe? What was their own definition? How did they see the planets? etc. etc.

 

[Forkbender]

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/universe

[quote:94qd6wda]Etymology
From Old French univers, from Latin universum (“‘all things, as a whole, the universe’

 

[Markov]

h...no. perhaps i should double check my sources.

 

[IJesusChrist]

OOps. got it.

Uni = one
Verse = turn

They called it this because at night all the stars are out and they all turned at once.

Am I right or am I right?