From: Alex Ferguson (abf@interzone.ucc.ie)
Date: Wed 06 Aug 1997 - 20:19:22 EEST
Stephen Martin:
> was not aware that the word "were" originally meant "man" [...]
> Can anyone tell me the linguistic origin of this word, or any modern =
day
> words (besides werewolf, etc.) which we can relate it to?
=46rom WWWebster:
Main Entry: wer=B7gild
Etymology: Middle English wergeld, from Old English, from _wer_ man
+ -_geld_, alteration of _gield_, _geld_ payment, tribute -- more at =
GELD
Can't think of (m)any other surviving words with "wer" (they don't call
it "Old" English for nothing), but it's related to "virile", etc.
Joerg says, of Steve's wish for a Gloranthan year of 364 days:
> I believe that prior to the Sunstop this was the case.
I too wondered if the year length had changed at this point, but Greg
seems to be fairly sure these days that at the Dawn, and probably for
quite some time before, it was already 294.
I believe Greg's current idea on the year being "shortened", at least
with his Pelorian Consciousness hat on, is that around this time the
Dara Happan calendar was changed from one of 294 days, to a 280-day
"year", divided into 4 70-day seasons, and a 14 day sacred time, which
isn't strictly part of the "year proper".
Works for me, I think, though I was Secretly Hoping for a pre-Dawn
year of some different length, such as possibly 300 days.
David Weihe, on the lack of a menstrual "month":
> Is there anything that matches "monthly", then?
Possibly/probably the "original God Time Moon" (TM), and likely also
(purportedly) the Moon To Come, aka the White Moon. Rufelza is the
"wrong" aspect of the Great Goddess for there to be a strong association
with menses, whereas the Blue Moon is Pretty Fucked Up, mythicly
speaking.
> Should the Theyalan calendar have "Courses" instead of "Months"?
I dunno, whatever's wrong with weeks and seasons?
Slainte,
Alex.
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