Name meanings: Arabella Figg

[alhewison]

No: HPFGUIDX 44108

I simply cannot resist the Latin arguments. Linquist I am not, but 
Classicist I was - well up to A'Level anyway. I can't do anything but 
concur with Eloise's Latin lesson. It brought back memories - I can 
still vividly *see* tables of Latin nouns!

Anyhow, I thought I would retry my Arabella Figg name meaning, as I 
simply cannot see "Figg" coming from "figulus. :-

To follow on from the discussion of the meaning of Arabella:
" Of Scottish origin and uncertain etymology. It probably represents 
an alteration of An(n)abella"

Annabel: "...probably an altered form of Amabel, an obsolete French 
name derived from Latin amabilis "lovable"

Quotes are from Oxford University Press book of "Babies Names". I 
think this just confirms what Eloise has already said. The dictionary 
goes on to state that the Latinised form "Annabella are "influenced 
by Latin bella
beautiful"

Eloise said (a little while ago - sorry can't remember the post 
number):-

In any case, as I have pointed out, Arabella already has a perfectly 
good Latin derivation, meaning amiable (which in itself could be used 
to back up the Sirius/Arabella theory, or to back up the 'Mrs Figg is 
really a lovely young witch who's polyjuiced/aged herself into an old 
woman' theory). It just seems a bit much to then go and work out a 
secondary derivation. 

I say: 

Well, here is a back up to the polyjuiced/ aged potion Arabella 
theory:-

There is apparently an English word "fig" meaning dress. To "fig out" 
is to dress up. This word is a variation of an obsolete word "feague" 
which comes from German, which if I understand my Concise Oxford 
dictionary correctly means "Fake". If JKR has indeed deliberately 
chosen Mrs Figg's name, then this is (IMHO) very strong evidence 
towards the Arabella "in muffty" theory.


Ali

Who apologises for rehashing an old theory, but I haven't given up on 
it (yet!)