this post was submitted on 28 May 2024
33 points (86.7% liked)

Showerthoughts

28288 readers
187 users here now

A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. The best ones are thoughts that many people can relate to and they find something funny or interesting in regular stuff.

Rules

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

I'm a fool if it actually means that.

top 6 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] metostopholes 21 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

The "Con" in both is from a Latin root meaning together.

The "test" in contest is from Latin testis, meaning "witness", from a root meaning "three" (as in, a third party).

The word test is from Latin testum meaning earthen pot, because metals could be tested for quality by melting them in such a pot.

Etymology is super interesting to me.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] Rhynoplaz 3 points 1 month ago

Ok, let me go get my earthen pot.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago

Speaking of testis… should I worry I only have two?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I always thought that the word "island" was just short for "isolated land" -- There has to be some reason there's an 's' in there right?. But some etymologist told me it didn't come to be in that manner.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

In ancient english we didn’t have pronouns. So when cavemen looked at far away land all they had was “is land?” and when they finally got there on the backs of dinosaurs, they said “yes is land”.

Eventually the space was lost to time. Etymology.