From: ljgeoff

2014-10-26 12:23 am (UTC)

Latin? From: xiphias

2014-10-26 12:25 am (UTC)

Well, you're right to go to etymology. From: tylik

2014-10-26 12:25 am (UTC)

The first glance answer is that the second to the last vowel in all is an "o". (Whether or not you count "y".) But that doesn't seem nearly elegant enough. From: redbird

2014-10-26 12:30 am (UTC)

If you're thinking "oxymoron," the "-poly" in "monopoly" is a different word from the "poly-" in "polytheist." From: xiphias

2014-10-26 12:32 am (UTC)

Yes; it's a coincidence, since the "poly" in "monopoly" comes from a Greek word meaning "to sell". But, for purposes of word games, coincidences count. So you've got it. Anyone want to fill in the rest? From: lietya

2014-10-26 12:35 am (UTC)

Hmm. "Sophomore" is of uncertain (though there's fairly solid speculation) origin, so I'm not sure where to go with an ety link... there's a mix of Latin and Greek origins, too. From: xiphias

2014-10-26 12:38 am (UTC)

Again, as with "monopoly", the ACTUAL etymology is secondary to a BELIEVED etymology. From: lietya

2014-10-26 12:42 am (UTC)

Ah, interesting. I do tend to automatically traffic in real etymologies. :)



(Although if it is the oxymoron thing... the etymologist-solid-speculation origin of "sophomore" is "wise foolish" [roughly], so that's somewhere between actual and "believed.") From: xiphias

2014-10-26 12:43 am (UTC)

So, want to fill it out and explain the similarity I'm talking about? You're most of the way there, I think. From: lietya

2014-10-26 12:48 am (UTC)

Running m-w.com froze my browser (believe me, I'm embarrassed about that site too) and I got frustrated, as I'm off the clock and can't access the real resources.



monopoly = "one many" [mistaken]

sophomore = "wise foolish" [presumed, not firm]

cephalopod = "head foot" [firm]

preposterous = "before after" [accurate, Latin, prefix for "pre-" plus "posterus" meaning "following"] From: xiphias

2014-10-26 12:49 am (UTC)

Yep! You got what I was thinking -- one-word oxymorons. From: lietya

2014-10-26 12:52 am (UTC)





http://www.merriam-webster.com/word-of-the-day/2014/06/27/



I ... may or may not be able to consider featuring "cephalopod" and "preposterous" in the WOD someday. ("Monopoly" treads too close to "monopsony," which was already done.)



So, hey, thanks! Yeah, they are pretty cool!I ... may or may not be able to consider featuring "cephalopod" and "preposterous" in the WOD someday. ("Monopoly" treads too close to "monopsony," which was already done.)So, hey, thanks! From: lilairen

2014-10-26 12:39 am (UTC)

My guess was 'mix of Latin and Geek origins', without actually checking that I was correct.



Which I'm not going to do because I'm too tired. From: lietya

2014-10-26 12:44 am (UTC)

That's a solid guess for a lot of words in English. :)



A couple of them come up as only Latin or Greek, not both, though if traced back far enough the other might be lurking - I didn't do that legwork either. I assumed this wasn't going to be found in proto-Indo-European, though anything's possible. From: xiphias

2014-10-26 12:45 am (UTC)

Jeez, no -- don't get me wrong, I LOVE PIE, but this isn't supposed to be THAT difficult. :) From: lietya

2014-10-26 12:48 am (UTC)

Yeah, you aren't that cruel. :) From: ron_newman

2014-10-26 03:05 am (UTC)

Smartass answer: at least one 'p' and one 'o'; at least three of both together From: ailbhe

2014-10-26 06:55 pm (UTC)

I'm feeling quite smug that I got this before opening the comments. Not that I can prove it. From: xiphias

2014-10-26 06:56 pm (UTC)

You don't have to prove it; we trust you. Congrats! From: thnidu

2014-10-29 04:25 am (UTC)

(commenting before reading any comments) They are composed of opposites:

1. cephalopod: head + foot

2. sophomore: wise + foolish

3. monopoly: one + many

4. preposterous: before + after From: xiphias

2014-10-29 04:51 pm (UTC)

Re: (commenting before reading any comments) Correct!



As pointed out, not all of these are ACTUALLY from their apparent roots -- the "poly" in "monopoly" is actually from "polein" -- "to sell". But for purposes of the game, apparent etymologies are fine. From: (Anonymous)

2014-11-04 04:52 pm (UTC)

The etymology of each is a pair of opposites:



cephalo-pod: head-foot

sopho-more: wise-foolish

mono-poly: one-many

preposterous: before-behind From: xiphias

2014-11-04 05:02 pm (UTC)

Correct!