OT: Latin (was boggart)

[rcraigharman at hotmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 18724

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Steve Vander Ark" <vderark at b...> wrote:
> When I was working on the etymology of this spell for the Lexicon,
> I went with the verb "expectorare, which means to expel from the
> mind (literally from the chest), which suggests the sending out of
> the patronus by means of the caster's willpower. This actually
> makes a lot more sense as a spell word. It specifies the action
> that the spell is supposed to produce, which is a sending forth of
> something from within the caster. The word "patronus" comes
> directly from Medieval Latin and means "patron saint" -- not a
> different meaning, really, but an interesting observation.

But "expectorare" has a first person singular present of
"expectoro"; whereas, "expectare" has the intended first person
singular of "expecto".  They are in no wise even close.

The verb "expectorate" in English is derived from the former, and
should be understood as "spitting" or "vomiting".

While I see your interpretation of "expectorare" as "to expel from
the mind" - the intent when used metaphorically is closer to
*banishing* from the mind.  Banishment/expulsion especially when
coupled with the ideas of spitting and vomiting is not a positive
one, so I'm at a loss to understand why "expectorare" and not
"expectare"?

....Craig