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ArchivesRe: and of course, they fell for the Roman Katherine
in reply to a message by lala
Hayley = Amazing? Now, that IS amazing!
But I must take issue with you on the Katharine question. Yes, certainly it was a false etymology a couple of millenia ago. But by now I think it's gained a meaning and a status of its own. Words do change their meanings, look at 'nice' and 'silly', and in this case the, admittedly sanitised, version is the one that namers want.
I don't think that it's in the same league as all those strange people who were posting about Damian recently - they're mysteriously fixated on old movies, and intent upon ignoring facts. Whereas the long-ago lads who tried to find a meaning for Katharine - which is still tricky! - were actually trying to be scholarly. There's a difference!
But I must take issue with you on the Katharine question. Yes, certainly it was a false etymology a couple of millenia ago. But by now I think it's gained a meaning and a status of its own. Words do change their meanings, look at 'nice' and 'silly', and in this case the, admittedly sanitised, version is the one that namers want.
I don't think that it's in the same league as all those strange people who were posting about Damian recently - they're mysteriously fixated on old movies, and intent upon ignoring facts. Whereas the long-ago lads who tried to find a meaning for Katharine - which is still tricky! - were actually trying to be scholarly. There's a difference!
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