h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Warlock - A4123946
Author: Kermit - U188848

Historical discussion of etymology of word "warlock".

why has nobody looked at this yet ????

quick pickyness -

sorceror ---> sorcerer
anglo-saxon ---> Anglo-Saxon
penerate ----> penetrate
Doctionary ---> Dictionary (and please check the last few lines of this paragraph
interchangable ---> interchangeable
scandivanian , england, scotland --- > all need captials
pseudonymn ---> pseudonym

since you are quoting scots, which is seperate language to english, I think some translations are needed. Also, I think some of the larger block quotes are too big for use in the guide

Looks like the author did tons of stuff and then Elvised.

Allow me to re-phrase that: The author has done tons of stuff, but appears to have Elvised. Flea Market?

Mental note: just because *I* know exactly what I mean, doesn't mean that everyone else will.

not long enough, gotta wait a bit.

Especially since nobody posted to this for over a month, Kermit have given up

The author has apparently not Elvised - he posted to h2g2 six days ago according to his PS. Still interested in working on this entry Tony?

Still ok to work on this; been on hol recently.

My arguments on etymology of warlock are as follows:

1. Documentary History

a) tracing through extant literature, it appears in Scotland before it does in England
b) this suggests problems with the Anglo-Saxon etymology, where we would expect the reverse
c) the idea of warlock as enchanter from Norse (thence to Scotland) is an alternative which would explain the documentary history.

2. Linguistics

a) the supposed meaning of the Anglo-Saxon/Germanic etymology as oath-breaker is nowhere evidenced in any Anglo-Saxon/English documentary sources.
b) the synchronic meaning - i.e. seeing how it is given meaning in Scottish documents - is enchanter, or evil enchanter/sorceror. From thence it enters into England.
c) it is easier to explain the diachronic shift in meaning from enchanter (Norse) to wicked enchanter/sorceror than oath-breaker (Germanic) to the same.

Regarding "dictionary definitions", it seems that their etymology may well be spurious, and it seems that a lot of the etymology of warlock is often taken from granted and passed from one compiler to another.

I rather liked the entry, but I do tend to like word origin entries as a rule.

Changing the first person references would be in order. The Edited Guide tends to shy away from the use of the word 'I' - even substituting 'we' is more accepted.

Changing the title to 'Warlock - word origins' might help a bit too as simply calling it 'Warlock' doesn't know what a gem in hiding this entry is.


- Jimi X

Is the author still here?
(If not, I vote flea market)

No, they've not gone yet. They're fairly absent I'll grant you, but they've not disappeared.

So, Oi Tony, are you still working on this?

The author has not posted for nearly three months. Flea Market?

Seconded for Flea Market

Emmily

I'll pop it on my list for when the Eds get back, thank you.

boing

I already sent this one, I'll send it again.