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There are more ways than ever to listen to History Daily ad free. Listen with Wondry plus in the Wondery app as a member of Noiser plus at noiser.com or in Apple Podcasts. Or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts@intohristory.com oh, I love words. I bet I use them every day. I'm using them right now. There's just so many of them, and each has a melody, a meaning, and a backstory. That's especially true for US English speakers. It's probably likely, depending on how you count them, that English has a richer vocabulary than other languages because it borrowed so many words as it developed Germanic, Celtic, French, Latin, Greek. So many roots and prefixes and suffixes and stories. Boy, do I enjoy a good etymology. And if you're a word lover too, do we have a treat for you just in time for Valentine's weekend. On today's Saturday matinee, we have an episode from the podcast Edemalion, dedicated to the language of love, exploring theories about the origins of Valentine's Day, why they're called French kisses, why being a flirt in the Middle Ages was far from flattering, and finding the foolish roots of the word infatuate. I hope you enjoy While you're listening, be sure to search for and follow Edamalion. We put a link in the show notes to make it easy for you.
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Of Valentine's Day may trace its origins to a third century priest who was imprisoned for secretly conducting Christian Wed. The name Valentine has roots in a Latin word meaning strong. To be infatuated is to be overwhelmed with passion and admiration for someone. While it sounds romantic, the word originates from a Latin term that meant foolish, reflecting the sometimes irrational nature of infatuations. Infatuated is not the only lovestruck related term to derive from an old word meaning foolish. The origin of the term French kiss, referring to a passionate kiss involving the tongues, remains a mystery. However, a popular theory ties the phrase to stereotypes and observations made by British and American soldiers. Hello, I'm leon. My weekly 15 minute podcast, Etymoleon Word History, traces the origins of words and names and historical events connected to them. In this episode, I'll uncover the history of words related to love, from the foolish roots of the word infatuate to the evolution of the word passion, which once meant suffering. Listen on to find out why being called a flirt in the Middle Ages was no compliment when the term man crush emerged, and how a popular dating app nearly ended up with the name Matchbox. Valentine's Day may trace its origins to the story of Valentine of Rome, a third century priest imprisoned by the Roman emperor Claudius II for secretly conducting Christian weddings. Legend has it that while in captivity, Valentine struck up a connection with the Emperor's daughter. Not only did they form a friendship, but Valentine is also said to have cured her of blindness. Before his execution, he sent her a letter on the 14th of February signed your Valentine. This story is steeped in myth and is much debated, as is the claim that at the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius declared 14 February as St Valentine's Day. It also remains unclear which Valentine Pope Gelasius intended the day to honor. What is widely accepted is that Geoffrey Chaucer's 14th century poem Parliament of Fowls helped link the day of the 14th of February to love. The line for this was Valentine's Day. When every fowl comes there, he's made to take referred to the time of year when birds traditionally mate. The Oxford English Dictionary traces the use of the word valentine in a romantic sense to the late 15th century. The specific use of valentine to describe an anonymous love message dates to the early 19th century, initially in letter form, as cards did not become widespread until the end of that century. The etymology of the name valentine can be traced to the Latin word valeo, meaning to be strong, linking it to other English words like value, meaning to assess the strength of something valid, meaning that which is strongly or well founded, and valiant, which means to show courage. Smitten and passion are words commonly associated with romantic feelings, but their origins are deeply rooted in concepts of hurt and suffering. The term smitten originates from the Middle English word smitten, meaning to strike or or hit with a firm blow. Middle English was the form of English spoken between the 12th and 15th centuries. Smeaton was derived from Old English, the language spoken from the 5th to 12th century, at which point the word meant to blemish or strike. By the late 17th century, the meaning of smeaton extended beyond its original sense of being struck down or hit, evolving to signify being struck by love. Smitten is not the only 17th century term that uses the idea of being hit as a metaphor for falling in love. The Oxford English Dictionary also traces the compound term lovestruck to this period. The word passion has also undergone a significant shift in meaning throughout history. It traces back to the Latin word passio, meaning to suffer. Originally, passion, which entered English through Old French, was used to refer to the suffering of Christ on the cross. Over time it broadened to signify any form of suffering and eventually expanded further to mean being deeply affected or disposed to something. By the end of the 14th century, this sense of being affected led to the term passion shifting to a meaning of strong desire, particularly in the context of love. Evolving into the modern understanding of passion as an intense emotion, we often use terms that reflect irrationality to describe falling in love. People can be crazy in love, idiots in love, or madly in love. They say fools fall in love, and that certainly rings true when looking at the word origins of the terms besotted and infatuated. Both words derive from old words that mean foolish. Besotted comes from the Old English word sot, while infatuated traces back to the Latin fatuus, both of which meant foolish. In addition to besotted, the Old English word sot has also given us the modern word sot, meaning a drunkard. Both besotted used for someone taken by love, and sot meaning a drunkard, share linguistic roots with the Dutch word sot meaning crazy, and the French seu meaning stupid. The Latin fatus meaning foolish, which gives us the word infatuated, is also the source of the word fatuous, which means silly or pointless. In the latter half of the 19th century, the term mash emerged as slang for infatuation, and it is thought that this influenced the use of the word crush to have a similar meaning. The expression man crush, denoting platonic admiration between men, became popular in the 1990s.
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The letters XOXO are recognized as digital shorthand for conveying hugs and kisses, commonly used in social media posts and text messages. The use of the letter X to represent a kiss dates back to the 18th century, when crosses were often added to letters and documents as a symbol of honesty, with the signatory often placing a kiss upon the cross. The origin of using the letter O to symbolize a hug, however, remains a mystery. The word kissing, defined as the act of caressing with the lips as a Sign of affection comes from Old English. The phrase French kiss refers to a more passionate kiss that involves the use of the tongue. One theory suggests that the term originated from British and American soldiers stationed in France during World War I, who whilst there, encountered a more sensual and intense style of kissing. Another theory is that the term simply arose from the stereotype of the French being sexually liberated. A more casual term for this type of kiss in British English is snog. It's a mid 20th century term with an uncertain origin, although some believe it may be connected to the word snug. Mythology provides us with figures such as Cupid, Eros, Venus and Aphrodite, who symbolize love and desire. The iconic Cupid, the God of love, is often depicted wielding a bow and arrow and is said to possess the power to inspire love in the hearts of those he targets. His name derives from the Latin word cupio, meaning to desire, which is related to the origin of the word covet. Eros is the Greek mythological counterpart to Cupid. His name comes from the ancient Greek word for love and desire, eros, which also gave rise to the word erotic through the French erotique and the word erogenous, referring to sexually sensitive parts of the body commonly known as erogenous zones. The Roman goddess Venus represents love, beauty, sex and desire. Her name translates to loveliness and charm. Aphrodite is the Greek equivalent of Venus. While the etymology of her name remains uncertain, she is undoubtedly the origin of the word aphrodisiac. The words flirt, seduce and charm relate to the art of attraction, desire and persuasion. The word flirt today is commonly understood as toying with someone or something. In the context of people, it refers to playful behavior that suggests romantic or sexual attraction, while in other contexts it describes a casual engagement with an idea or possibility. Between the 16th and 18th centuries, however, one of the meanings of the noun flirt was a derogatory term for a woman of loose morals engaging in casual encounters. To seduce someone, etymologically, is to lead them away. The word derives from the Latin si, meaning apart or away, combined with duco, meaning to lead. The root duco, meaning to lead, also appears in other words such as duke, referring to a noble leader. Introduce, meaning to lead something or someone in and conductor, one who leads a musical performance. The word charm originates from an old French term meaning a magic spell, which traces back to the Latin carmen, meaning song. Feelings of love prompt the body to produce a range of hormones and chemicals that affect our emotions. Oxytocin, often called the love hormone, is known for reducing stress and anxiety. According to Harvard Health Publishing, our bodies release it when we feel excitement towards a sexual partner or fall in love. Beyond this, oxytocin also aids childbirth by stimulating the muscles of the uterus to contract. Its name reflects this function with oxy, derived from the ancient Greek word oxus, meaning swift, and tocin, from the ancient Greek word tuchos, meaning childbirth. The term tuchos is also the root of the word tokology, which refers to the branch of medicine focused on childbirth and tokophobia, the fear of childbirth. The hormone oxytocin is sometimes administered to women in labor in order to speed up delivery. Dopamine, a key player in the brain's reward system, surges during romantic feelings. The term dopamine was coined in the 1950s from DOPA, a shortened form of dihydroxyphenylalanine. Serotonin, integral to mood regulation, plays a unique role in the early stages of love. According to the mental Health brand Calm, serotonin levels fluctuate during new romances, leading to obsessive thoughts. Over time, these levels stabilize, fostering a sense of calm and contentment. The name serotonin stems from serum, as the compound was first isolated from blood serum in the 1940s. The word serum traces back to Latin, where it meant watery fluid.
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This is a Reese's Peanut Butter cup sound experiment we're looking to find the perfect way to hear Reese's so you'll buy more of them. Here we go. Reese's, Reese's, Reese's Reese's, Reese's hey, get out of here, you little stinker.
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Reese's, Reese's.
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Reese's Peanut Butter Cups that breathy one sounded very creepy, am I right?
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Among the most prominent names in the online dating industry. The word tinder originates from Old English and refers to the material used to light a fire. This name was chosen to symbolize the spark of attraction that can ignite between potential partners. The app was initially going to be called Matchbox, which carried the double meaning of match as both a connection and a firestarter. The word match, as in a connection between two people, comes from the Old English word matcha, meaning companion, mate, or equal. This is also where we get the word match, as in a game based on the idea of companions or equals facing off. Match in the context of a firestarter comes from an Old French word, matcher, meaning a candle wick. That term is believed to trace back to an ancient Greek term for a lamp. The word darling has its origins in Old English, with the da element deriving from the same root as the word dear. In the Old English language spoken by the Anglo Saxons, the word dear meant expensive or precious. This concept evolved into both the term darling, referring to someone precious to us, and dear, which became synonymous with pricey. The use of the word dear to open written correspondence is a natural extension of the word's affectionate usage in speech, similar to that of its cognate, darling. Thanks for listening. For more word history, follow my podcast Search etymoleon Wherever you get your podcasts, that's E T Y M O L E O N Packages by Expedia.
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History Daily: Episode Summary – Saturday Matinee: Etymoleon
Release Date: February 15, 2025
Host: Lindsay Graham
Produced by Airship | Noiser | Wondery
In this enlightening episode of History Daily, host Lindsay Graham delves into the linguistic depths of love through the lens of the podcast Etymoleon, hosted by Leon. Titled "Saturday Matinee: Etymoleon", this episode explores the rich etymology behind Valentine's Day and various love-related terms, uncovering the historical and linguistic journeys that have shaped our modern expressions of affection.
The episode begins by tracing the origins of Valentine's Day back to the third-century priest, Valentine of Rome. According to legend, Valentine was imprisoned by Emperor Claudius II for conducting Christian weddings secretly. During his captivity, Valentine is said to have formed a bond with the Emperor’s daughter, even reputedly curing her of blindness. Before his execution, Valentine sent her a heartfelt letter signed, "Your Valentine" (03:09).
Leon highlights the mythological debates surrounding Valentine’s legacy, including the ambiguity over which Valentine Pope Gelasius intended to honor in declaring February 14th as St. Valentine’s Day. The connection between the day and romantic love was popularized by Geoffrey Chaucer’s 14th-century poem, "Parliament of Fowls", which links the date to the mating season of birds, symbolizing human romantic endeavors.
Delving into the etymology, the word "Valentine" is rooted in the Latin term "valeo," meaning "to be strong." This connection extends to other English words like "value," "valid," and "valiant," all emphasizing strength and worth (03:09). The use of "valentine" to describe a love token emerged in the early 19th century, evolving from anonymous love letters to the widespread greeting cards we send today by the end of that century.
Leon explores how words like "smitten" and "passion" have transformed over time. Originally, "smitten" derived from Middle English, meaning to strike or hit, symbolizing being struck by love (03:09). Similarly, "passion" stems from the Latin "passio," meaning "to suffer," initially referring to the suffering of Christ before expanding to denote intense emotions and desire.
The term "infatuated" traces back to the Latin "fatuus," meaning "foolish," highlighting the irrational nature of intense attraction (03:09). "Besotted," originating from the Old English "sot," also connotes foolishness, further emphasizing the sometimes irrational aspects of love.
Historically, "flirt" carried a derogatory connotation from the 16th to 18th centuries, referring to women of loose morals engaging in casual encounters (03:09). In contrast, "seduce" derives from the Latin "si" (apart) and "duco" (lead), meaning to lead someone away, often in a romantic or persuasive manner.
Leon delves into the mythological figures associated with love:
The episode also touches on the biological underpinnings of love, discussing hormones like oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin:
Leon explores the origins of terms related to kissing:
Leon discusses how words related to love have evolved to reflect modern sentiments:
This episode of History Daily offers a comprehensive exploration of the linguistic roots of love-related terms, illuminating how language evolves alongside human emotions and societal changes. By unpacking the origins and transformations of words like "valentine," "passion," and "flirt," listeners gain a deeper appreciation for the rich tapestry of language that shapes our expressions of love.
Leon on Valentine's Day Origins (03:09):
"Valentine's Day may trace its origins to the story of Valentine of Rome, a third century priest imprisoned by the Roman emperor Claudius II for secretly conducting Christian weddings."
Etymology of "Smitten" (03:09):
"Smitten... originally meaning to strike or hit, now signifies being struck by love."
On the Mystery of "French Kiss" (12:35):
"The origin of using the letter O to symbolize a hug remains a mystery."
"The term French kiss remains elusive, with theories ranging from military encounters to cultural stereotypes."
Hormones Influencing Love (03:09):
"Oxytocin, often called the love hormone, is known for reducing stress and anxiety."
For more captivating historical insights and word histories, subscribe to History Daily and explore episodes like Saturday Matinee: Etymoleon. Whether you're a history enthusiast or a language lover, this episode offers a fascinating journey through the words that define our romantic expressions.