pencil/pensil/pencel/pensile
Oct. 25th, 2006 07:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
prettygoodwordNot alternate forms this time, but homonyms:
pencil - n., a slender tube of wood, metal or plastic, containing a core of graphite used for writing or drawing.
pencel (or pensil) - n., narrow flag or pennon, especially one carried at the top of a lance or spear.
pensile - adj., hanging loosely, as in the nests of certain birds.
The first is ultimately from Latin pēnicillus, painter's brush or pencil, diminutive of pēniculus, little tail, from penis, tail. (Yes, that's what name for the malepart means.) The second is from Old French penoncel, diminutive of penon, pennon, from Latin penna or pinna, feather. (From which also pen.) The third is from Latin pēnsilis, hanging down, from the past participle of pendēre, to hang.
Got that straight? Good, because there will be a quiz at the end of the week.
---L.
pencil - n., a slender tube of wood, metal or plastic, containing a core of graphite used for writing or drawing.
pencel (or pensil) - n., narrow flag or pennon, especially one carried at the top of a lance or spear.
pensile - adj., hanging loosely, as in the nests of certain birds.
The first is ultimately from Latin pēnicillus, painter's brush or pencil, diminutive of pēniculus, little tail, from penis, tail. (Yes, that's what name for the malepart means.) The second is from Old French penoncel, diminutive of penon, pennon, from Latin penna or pinna, feather. (From which also pen.) The third is from Latin pēnsilis, hanging down, from the past participle of pendēre, to hang.
Got that straight? Good, because there will be a quiz at the end of the week.
---L.
