"Reliable"

[birdgirl73]

Hiya, Marlboro,
This one caught my interest because of my affinity for words--and for etymologies. But it also caught my eye because I think in order to make your point about reliability/unreliability, you've contrived an inaccurate coupling of root verbal components for that particular word. Perhaps you were fully aware that you were creating a linguistic connection out of unrelated roots, but if you weren't, here's some some distinctly separate history of the two words you tied together in your syllabic analysis of the word "reliable."

Reliable, meaning "able to be relied upon," comes from the word "rely," which has no connnection, in part or in whole, to the word "lie" (other than similar pronunciation of that one syllable). "Rely" comes to us most recently from Middle English, where relien meant "to gather or rally." In Old English, the word was "relier," which meant "to bind back." The original root is the Latin infinitive "religare," which means "to tie back." It's probably not necessary to etymologize "able," but if you want to, you can look up habilis < hablēre (Latin).

"Lie" comes from the Old English word "lēoghan," which meant the same thing it does today: to lie. In Middle English, that word became "lien." Its etymology and meaning never crossed paths with "rely," "reliable" or its root components at any time in linguistic history. Until today, that is!

English has always been very good to me. So I try to return that favor when called upon to do so. . . .

[birdgirl73]

Oh heck, Oneironaut. You beat me to it!!! I just saw your post. Sorry, Marlboro, but you've got two linguistics majors reading in on you . . . .

[Bong30]

I hated college english............passed it though

dont say anything BG .....LOL

i.e. like we could tell.......

do you know how to use a dictonary?

you spell like my ass.............

do you know how to make a sentance?

i just lined um up for you guys and gals............ LOL

[graymatter]

Well, we all have our strengths and weaknesses... does anyone find it more difficult to hold back a fart these days?

[birdgirl73]

I would like to meet your college English teacher, Bong! (And I didn't say a word. . . . )

[Bong30]

I would like to meet your college English teacher, Bong! (And I didn't say a word. . . . )

She was HOT......................LOL

[Marlboroman]

OK, I'm wrong, the root of the words are not similiar.

I dont like to admit when im wrong, but if I was afraid to admit it, I would never think creatively.

I still dont like the use of the word, as I dont like to see myself as someone who is reliable to be manipulated, such as a car.

But that is determined upon the context the word is used I think.

Peace.