Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Etymology 101: A Free Public Service From The Friendly Folks At Apoloblogology



Twelve

As is the case with most Westerners, we base our numeric system on tens. That being the case, in Old English (our primary Western holdover language), the word "ten," already implied, is spoken about as though it weren't in the room. All that remains is the "two left," which, when spoken in inebriated Chaucerian tavernese, comes out as "twelve." Something analagous can be found in other language groups who use number systems based on tens, such as in Lithuanian, where the word for twelve, drylika, literally can be broken into dry- (two) -lika (left over). Consider yourselves informed.

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