520 NATURE OF ROOTS AND WORDS. 



United States in the latter signification, a use not unknown even in 

 this country) ; Engl. m,ist=nebula ; Germ. Mist=^^ dung," &c. But 

 we need not go beyond the limits of one and the same language for 

 our illustrations. I have already referred to the change of meaning 

 in the Greek qamhros and pentheros, and the Skr. garni. In the 

 common usage of Southern Germany, Vetter means, indifierently, 

 '■uncle," "cousin" and" nephew;" and the fem. Base, similarly, 

 means " aunt," " cousin " and " niece." So the Skr. 'yarcas=" bright- 

 ness" and "dirt,"* and the German Lohe=" flame " and " tan-bark;"t 

 the Lat. %ej?os:^" grandchild" and "nephew;" the Greek kuanos 

 indicates shades as varying as blue and black. So the Engl, black and 

 bleach are the same word originally ; /ond means " afiectionate" and 

 " foolish." To these might be added words the signification of which 

 has gradually changed in course of time, such as silly, slight (German 

 selig^" happy ;" | schlecht^" bad," formerly " straight " or " levels") 

 &c. ; but I have preferred to confine myself to varying meanings in 

 use at the same time, and in the mouths of the same people. This 

 variation of meaning is sometimes indicated by a slight change of 

 sound, as Engl, band, bond, bound. 



IV. — Vaeious Roots or Words Expressing the Same Idea. 



Turning again to the Lexicon of Roots, we find the conception of 

 " binding " indicated by the five roots da, sar, bandh, ju, dja, if not 

 by more ; that of " rubbing," or " crushing," by tar (whence tero, &c.), 

 and kar ; that of "going," by ga, ki (Gr. kinein ; Lat. ci-ere), ar 

 (Lat. oriri), par (Gr. poreuein), sar (Gr. horman), and others. Of 

 various woi'ds in the same language expressing the same idea, we may 

 instance the Engl, sea and ocean, with the corresponding Germ. See 

 (fem.) and Meer ; the Germ, dunkel smd Jinster ; the Engl, room, 

 chamber, ajyartment ; the German Zimmer and Stube. These examples 

 might also, be multiplied to a much greater extent ; but those given 

 are sufficient for our present purpose. 



So much as to variability in the content, or meaning, of words and 

 roots. If we consider next their phonetic form, we shall find the 

 same characteristic of infinite variability equally developed. 



Roots have been treated by grammarians as things fixed and 

 invariable by their very essence ; but many of them are admitted to 



* Geiger. Urspr. d. Spr., p. 150. 



t Geiger conaiders them to be the same ■word. — Ihid. 



X The German selig, like the Engl, Tuxjipy, is used in slang as equivalent to " intoxicated." 



