[HPforGrownups] Re: Latin in Harry Potter

[Richelle Votaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 42565

Gretchen writes:

> I did a little checking with a latin website-a very little-and found
> a few interesting, although not earth shattering, translations.
>
> Neville= not well known
> erised (as in mirror of)= master/owner
> Draco= snake
> morsmordre (dark mark spell)= painful death
>
> I broke Dumbledor down and really didn't get a clear traslation for
> all parts-dum meaning as long as, while or until--ble meaning many
> times as great as and dor could either mean give birth to or send to
> die depending on the prefix.  This I found most interesting.  Perhaps
> a latin expert could translate the dum-ble in connection to the dor
> for us.

Well since JKR has said that Dumbledore is an old English word for bumblebee
I don't think it has a Latin translation.   However, Albus is the Latin word
for white, but can also me "fortunate" or "favorable."  erus is the closest
I can come to erised, but erised is desire spelled backwards, so I don't
know if the connection is deliberate or not.

I did find it interesting that I can get a loose translation of Avada
Kedavra by substituting a c (which makes the k sound) for the k and breaking
it apart into root words.  Even though it's supposed to be aramic, the latin
comes out to something like "to give in to greed."  Which does make sense,
because what greater form of greed is there than to take someone's life?
And by giving in to the greed, you die.  Okay, I'll stop now. :)

Richelle