Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0014715, Tue, 23 Jan 2007 18:17:17 +0000

Subject
Re: AB on metaphysical metaphors
Date
Body
On 21/1/07 02:40, "jansymello" <jansy@AETERN.US> wrote:

> Perhaps this story can never be ascertained by concrete facts ( once the
> Church keeps its holy secrets under lock and key) but, for me, it is enough
> that there is a word that describes this "testimonial" ( "testes" plus
> "manus"). It is sufficient proof for me, with or without John or Joan

Jansy: here¹s YET another potential etymological trap. Which Œcame first¹ --
testis as Œwitness, spectator¹ or testis as Œtesticle.¹ ALAS, the common
myth is to assume that Œtestify¹ and Œtestimonial¹ originate from various
reported Biblical and MIS-reported Roman customs of Œswearing on the
testicles¹ (e.g., grabbing your balls [or the King¹s balls!!] while making
an oath.) The best evidence is that testis as Œwitness¹ came first, from
much earlier Indo-European roots for the NUMBER THREE. The third witness, as
it were, was outside the dispute and could testify/bear witness objectively.

The shift to testis as Œmale gonad¹ is later and metonymic: the balls being
a Œwitness¹ to male virility (not to mention female virility, as in ³Maggie
Thatcher has balls!²) In fact, there¹s no evidence that the Romans handled
their own or other¹s balls as a sign during oath-taking or giving evidence.
It¹s typically inventive folk-etymology that REVERSES the connection ‹ from
Œtesticle¹ to Œtestify¹ rather than from Œtestify¹ to Œtesticle!¹ No real
harm, like.

Even the Hebrew Bible¹s references have people swearing on the leader¹s
genitals, not their own. (Ruler James coyly says ŒPut, I pray thee, thy hand
under my THIGH!² Gen 24:2 [yarek, a Hebrew euphemism for the English
euphemism: Œthe generative parts.¹ Interestingly shaba the Hebrew for Œswear
[an oath]¹ also has a numerical connotation. Literally, you SEVEN the oath,
as though you had repeated it seven times.).

A final quirk (language moves in mysterious ways!) is that Œtesticle¹ is
quite an INSULT, coming from the Latin DIMINUTIVE testiculus ‹ whence 14th
century Œtesticules,¹ later Œtesticles¹ losing the sense of TINY BALLS.
Doctors still prefer the full-sized Œtestes!¹ Don¹t we all?

PS: Your "testimonial" ( "testes" plus "manus") is stretching the second
root rather! The Œ-mony¹ and Œ-monial¹ ending have no convincing connection
with mAnus (Œhand¹) -- more to do with mOn- roots as in monitus pp of monere
Œto warn, advise, presage¹

Stan Kelly-Bootle

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