Etymology of Homorphus Charm

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 167013

bboyminn wrote:
> 
> I've tried to keep out of this discussion even though I enjoyed the
everyone's research into the origins of 'Homorphus'.
> 
> Based on my own research, 'homo' means EITHER the 'same' OR related
to 'a human being , man, mortal'.

Carol responds:
Yes, that's true. We encounter one meaning in "homonym" and
"homosexual" and the other in "Homo Sapiens." It's true, as
Goddlefrood points out, that in "homomorphous" (a real if rare English
word), the prefix means "similar" (and the word itself means "having
similar form"). But since most of the spells are based on Latin, the
Latin root meaning ("man" or human being) seems (to me) more likely to
be the one that JKR had in mind than the Greek root meaning ("same"),
as does the result of the spell (apparently, revealing the werewolf's
human form). And, of course, if the spell is the one used on
Pettigrew, the same logic would apply. I don't see how the meaning
"same" or "similar" would fit in either case since the form revealed
is different from the form of the creature before the spell is cast.

Steve: 
> Now the PREfix 'Morph...' refers to 'Form, Shape, or Structure'. I
was unable to find anything on 'morph' as a suffix. But I did find, in
the Greek and French, the implication of 'blend of form'.

Carol responds:
Many people tend to think of it, I think, as meaning "change" (as in
"morph into something), but in the key word "metamorphosis" we see
that it's "meta-" that means "change" and "morph" that means (as you
say) "form" or "shape":

1533, "change of form or shape, especially by witchcraft," from L.,
from Gk. metamorphosis "a transforming," from metamorphoun "to
transform," from meta- "change" (see meta-) + morphe "form" (see
morphine).

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?l=m&p=12

Which takes us back to Goddlefrood's comment:

> Suspect Homo + Morphus (mixed Latin and Greek etymology)

> Morphe, meaning apoproximately in English change or transform.
It is the root of Morpheus, noun: Morpheus - morfeeus, the
Greek god of dreams. 

Carol again: 

Let me say first that the reason I didn't comment on this point
originally is that I was confused by "suspect." I was unsure whether
Goddlefrood meant that he suspected this was the correct etymology or
whether he thought the etymology was suspect. Also, I knew that
Morpheus was the god of dreams and didn't see the connection. 

However, if we follow the link to "morphine" at Etymology Online, we get:

"1828, from Fr. morphine or Ger. Morphin (1816), name coined in
allusion to L. Morpheus, Ovid's name for the god of dreams, son of
Sleep, lit. "the maker of shapes," from Gk. morphe "form, shape,
beauty, outward appearance," perhaps from PIE *merph-, possible Gk.
root meaning "form," of unknown origin. So called because of the
drug's sleep-inducing properties."

So, according to this definition, Morpheus is connected, not with
change and transformation, but with "form, shape, . . . outward
appearance"--and we're back to "morph" in "Homomorphus Charm" as
meaning the shape or form of the person on whom the charm has been cast.

If we put these two roots together, "homo" = "man" and "morph" = form,
we get a charm that returns a person who has taken the shape of an
animal to his human form (presumably, temporarily in the case of
werewolves).

bboyminn:

> If we look at 'metamorphosis', [I fixed your typo; hope that's okay]
which I highly suspect is related, we get -
> 
> 1. A transformation, as by magic or sorcery. 2. A marked change in
appearance, character, condition, or function. 
 
> So, I think we can conclude from everything that has been said, that
'homorphus' mean 'all change' or 'man  change'. <snip>

Carol:
If you're deriving it from Homo Sapiens, the usual etymology is "wise
man." If you've encountered "all-wise man" somewhere, the "all"
relates to "Sapiens," not to "Homo." I think the question is whether
"homo" drives from the Greek root meaning "same" or the Latin word
meaning "man." I'm not aware of any instances in which it means "all."
However, for reasons I've already given, I agree with your second
suggestion that it means "man" (or "human").

As for "change," that was my original thought as well, but I realized
after that post that I was mixing up "meta-" and "morph." As best I
can determine, it's "meta" that means "change" and "morph" that means
"shape" or "form." Which gives us "man (human) form" as the meaning
for "Homorphus." Of course, I'm wholly dependent on my sources here,
and sources are not infallible. (Neither, I'm all too aware, is my
memory.)

bboyminn: 
> Clearly there is no cure of Werewolf-ism in the wizard world,
therefore, Homorphus is not a cure. The books impy no cure, so we
assume that is correct and look for explanations within that implied
boundary.

Carol:
I agree. What canon we have shows that lycanthropy is not curable,
either by a Homorphus Charm or by Wolfsbane Potion. I'm not aware of
any other charms or potions related to the condition, but the St.
Mungo's Healers would surely know them. And yet we have Mr. Weasley's
disgruntled werewolf roommate, of whom Mr. Weasley says, "Bitten by a
werewolf, poor chap. No cure at all" (OoP Am. ed. 488).
> 
bboyminn:
> So, Homorphus, while not a cure, must still do something. In this
case, I agree with Carol, the Homorphus Charm transforms a man back
into his natural state. That is, werewolf becomes man, but we know
that it is not a cure, so I can only conclude that the change is only
temporary; long enough to capture or identify the man. Once the man is
captured or identified, the village would no longer be in danger
because now they knew the source of the danger. They could take
whatever precautions they felt were necessary; kill the man, drive the
man out of the village and region, or lock the man up whenever the
full moon was near. 

Carol:
Yes, that's my view, too, and I think it's Catlady's as well.
> 
Bboyminn:
> Further knowing the Homorphus Charm could be used to stop an
imminent attack. If Werewolf-Lupin were about to attack Harry,
Hermione could cast the Homorphus and stop the attack. It is only
while in werewolf form that Lupin is a danger; only then is he not in
control of himself. Once forced back to human, for however short a
time, he could control himself and would not be a danger.

Carol responds:
Interesting idea. Too bad no one thought of it in PoA! I tend to think
that Lupin isolates himself at full moon and that now, having learned
a painful lesson in PoA, he'd come nowhere near the kids, or anyone,
at full moon. An there would be no point in applying the charm for
that purpose to Fenir Greyback, whose idea of self-control is to
station himself to attack a particular victim, or perhaps to control
whether he bites to kill or bites to transform. (I suspect that he'll
be killed by Pettigrew's silver hand in repayment of the Life Debt,
but we shall see.)
> 
bboyminn:
> But it seems very clear that there is no cure for werewolf-ism,
which means neither the Wolfsbane Potion nor the Homorphus Charm
solves the problem, but one way or another, it allows the problem to
be managed.
> 
> The Homorpus Charm has many practical used, but curing werewolves is
not one of them. <snip>

Carol:

I agree with your basic premise and most of your points, just not with
your etymology.

Carol, now wondering whether there's a link between "morph" or
"Morpheus" and "Morfin," whom I hope will never enter my dreams!