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HelpEtymology
in reply to a message by Pink Princess
I, too, have seen various meanings for Emily. The "industrious" one seems quite popular, and "eager" and "admiring" both are quoted fairly often.
However, this site is correct 99% of the time in my experience, and in this case it's right. From http://snipurl.com/4o8t (a respected online Latin dictionary):
"aemulus -a -um [emulous , rivalling]; in bad sense, [jealous]. M. or f. as subst., [a rival], esp. in love."
and
"Aemilius -a -um [name of an old patrician family at Rome]. Hence adj. Aemilianus -a -um , [relating to the 'gens Aemiliana'; a surname of Scipio Africanus minor]."
Despite its overuse, I still do like Emily, though it's not one of my favourites anymore. If you love it, I think you should disregard the meaning...I'd worry more about how common it is.
~ Caitlín
"Blue tinted individuals who go about armed to the teeth and quoting twelfth-century poetry are not easy to comprehend." ~ Lloyd Alexander
However, this site is correct 99% of the time in my experience, and in this case it's right. From http://snipurl.com/4o8t (a respected online Latin dictionary):
"aemulus -a -um [emulous , rivalling]; in bad sense, [jealous]. M. or f. as subst., [a rival], esp. in love."
and
"Aemilius -a -um [name of an old patrician family at Rome]. Hence adj. Aemilianus -a -um , [relating to the 'gens Aemiliana'; a surname of Scipio Africanus minor]."
Despite its overuse, I still do like Emily, though it's not one of my favourites anymore. If you love it, I think you should disregard the meaning...I'd worry more about how common it is.
~ Caitlín
"Blue tinted individuals who go about armed to the teeth and quoting twelfth-century poetry are not easy to comprehend." ~ Lloyd Alexander
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yeah and..
It's really not such a bad meaning. It's just subtle. I mean, the name was probably bestowed on the clan by someone else who considered them a recognizable rival, not just pathetic imitators. My guess is, since it became someone's name, it was probably intended as the kind of slight that is actually flattering -- the fact that they went by the name meaning "emulous" implies that they had enough status to bear the name in good humor. I think of it that way because names with "bad" meanings were not infrequent on ancient Romans of high status, and they were borne with self-conscious dignity. Claudius and Cicero (who is said to have had a chickpea-like wart on his nose), to name a couple.
- chazda
"I don't want to look like a loser for the rest of my life!" ~ Georgia Ford, on needing a signature
It's really not such a bad meaning. It's just subtle. I mean, the name was probably bestowed on the clan by someone else who considered them a recognizable rival, not just pathetic imitators. My guess is, since it became someone's name, it was probably intended as the kind of slight that is actually flattering -- the fact that they went by the name meaning "emulous" implies that they had enough status to bear the name in good humor. I think of it that way because names with "bad" meanings were not infrequent on ancient Romans of high status, and they were borne with self-conscious dignity. Claudius and Cicero (who is said to have had a chickpea-like wart on his nose), to name a couple.
- chazda
"I don't want to look like a loser for the rest of my life!" ~ Georgia Ford, on needing a signature1