Occam's Razor: WAS A Germanicist Revolts WAS Re: Latin in Harry Potter

[lupinesque]

No: HPFGUIDX 42673

> ~Porphyria, who is still smarting from her disappointment in 
> discovering that the Latin "severus" is not related to the English 
> verb "to sever"

Aw . . . *pats Porphyria*  Let me comfort you.  I'm with Haggridd--
etymology is fascinating, and clearly important to JKR, but a word 
can be significant in other ways than its actual etymology.  "Avada 
Kedavra" sounds like "abracadabra" and "cadaver," both of which add 
to its meaning regardless of JKR's etymological reasons; it also just 
sounds dark and ominous ("Waddiwasi" just would not work as an 
Unforgivable Curse, unless people died of giggling).  "Sirius" sounds 
like "serious," which is no less appropriate for the fact that the 
former word is Greek in origin, the latter Latin.  
Likewise, "Severus" puts the English-speaking reader in mind 
of "sever" as well as "severe."  So you just go on enjoying 
the "sever" in Severus.

Amy Z
who would like to believe that Potter is a tribute to potters, but, 
failing that, will enjoy having potterhood in common with Harry anyway