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Why do people say "angry" instead of "mad?" Why say "Autumn" instead of "Fall?" I had a few more words like this earlier, but the idea to post was a days ago.
I believe "mad" originally meant "crazy", but fell into use as a synonym for "angry".
Often English has two words with close meanings because of the Norman invasion, although there were other reasons. For example, the Anglo-Saxons used the Germanic "swine" for a pig, but when it got onto the tables of the Norman nobility, it became "pork". "Fall" and "autumn" are two of those words--autumn is Latin in origin and came through the Normans, while fall is Old English from before the invasion. After about 200 years, the two languages blended to become closer to what we speak today, and that's why English has a lot more words than some other languages.
Brits no longer use "Fall" to mean "Autumn", but it has survived in American English.
"Eat" and "Dine" is another example of Germanic/Latin words that today have nearly the same meaning.
The Latin-derived words tend to sound more formal. An example that someone posted here a few months ago: using Latin-derived words, I would say that I "removed my garments"; using German-derived words, I would say that I "took off my clothes".
It still has connotations of insanity in English. He is mad could mean a variety of things. You could be calling him insane, completely irrational, obsessed, or angry. Especially if you're referring to someone else (Don't be mad, but I...) it would be better to use angry. Don't be mad could be interrupted as "Don't go into an uncontrolled irrational rant."
Mad is still used for crazy/insane in both Britain and the US, though less so in the US, I think.
My post did not mean that it is no longer used that way--I was just stating what was the original meaning and that over time it also became a synonym for "angry", probably because people who are very angry sometimes appear crazy.
I believe "mad" originally meant "crazy", but fell into use as a synonym for "angry".
Often English has two words with close meanings because of the Norman invasion, although there were other reasons. For example, the Anglo-Saxons used the Germanic "swine" for a pig, but when it got onto the tables of the Norman nobility, it became "pork". "Fall" and "autumn" are two of those words--autumn is Latin in origin and came through the Normans, while fall is Old English from before the invasion. After about 200 years, the two languages blended to become closer to what we speak today, and that's why English has a lot more words than some other languages.
Brits no longer use "Fall" to mean "Autumn", but it has survived in American English.
"Eat" and "Dine" is another example of Germanic/Latin words that today have nearly the same meaning.
That's way cool, Mightyqueen! Thanks for the fascinating lesson in English language history.
Why do people say "angry" instead of "mad?" Why say "Autumn" instead of "Fall?" I had a few more words like this earlier, but the idea to post was a days ago.
Any other things like this?
car = automobile
vacation = holiday (Very few Americans use these two words synonymously, but I know a couple who do.)
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