CRATYLUS by Plato - Complete text

Part 2 Page 4

Soc. What is the meaning of zemiodes? - let me remark, Hermogenes, how right I was in saying that great changes are made in the meaning of words by putting in and pulling out letters; even a very slight permutation will sometimes give an entirely opposite sense; I may instance the word deon, which occurs to me at the moment, and reminds me of what I was going to say to you, that the fine fashionable language of modern times has twisted and disguised and entirely altered the original meaning both of deon, and also of zemiodes, which in the old language is clearly indicated.

Her. What do you mean?

Soc. I will try to explain. You are aware that our forefathers loved the sounds i and d, especially the women, who are most conservative of the ancient language, but now they change i into e (long) or e (short), and d into z; this is supposed to increase the grandeur of the sound.

Her. How do you mean?

Soc. For example, in very ancient times they called the day either imera or emera (short e), which is called by us emera (long e).

Her. That is true.

Soc. Do you observe that only the ancient form shows the intention of the giver of the name? of which the reason is, that men long for (imeirousi) and love the light which comes after the darkness, and is therefore called imera, from imeros, desire.

Her. Clearly.

Soc. But now the name is so travestied that you cannot tell the meaning, although there are some who imagine the day to be called emuera because it makes things gentle (emera).

Her. Such is my view.

Soc. And do you know that the ancients said dougon and not zugon?

Her. They did so.

Soc. And zugon (yoke) has no meaning, - it ought to be duogon, which word expresses the binding of two together (duein agoge) for the purpose of drawing; - this has been changed into zugon, and there are many other examples of similar changes.

Her. There are.

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Plato : CRATYLUS

CRATYLUS part 2 of 2

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