Awe: An emotion of mingled reverence, dread, and wonder inspired by something majestic or sublime.

 

Awesome: Inspiring awe, full of awe, of greatness

 

Awful: Extremely bad or unpleasant, terrible horrible and dreadful

 

So basically, if you have some awe, it is fantasic and good. But if you are full of awe, it is a horrible and bad. What gives?

Awe: An emotion of mingled reverence' date=' dread, and wonder inspired by something majestic or sublime.

 

Awesome: Inspiring awe, full of awe, of greatness

 

Awful: Extremely bad or unpleasant, terrible horrible and dreadful

 

So basically, if you have some awe, it is fantasic and good. But if you are full of awe, it is a horrible and bad. What gives? [/quote']

 

Easy answer. whoever created the english language was very stupid, or the language was changed along the way by hippies, idiots, cowboys, and yankees.

Methinks it's the first answer.

Blame the Romans.

Blame the Romans.

I doubt they made the word aweful...

Really?

 

You said we should blame "whoever created the english language".

Really?

 

You said we should blame "whoever created the english language".

 

Ahhh, I should watch what I say...I still dont think they could have been that stupid to mke the word aweful.

Most English words have their root in Latin, and a lot of Latin words are the root of more than one English derivative.

 

It's not uncommon either for languages to have words with different - often opposing - meanings.

Most English words have their root in Latin' date=' and a lot of Latin words are the root of more than one English derivative.

 

It's not uncommon either for languages to have words with different - often opposing - meanings.[/quote']

 

I wish we could all talk in Esperanto then it would be perfect, no more confusing crap.

Most English words have their root in Latin' date=' and a lot of Latin words are the root of more than one English derivative.

 

It's not uncommon either for languages to have words with different - often opposing - meanings.[/quote']

 

If most english words are from latin why is it considered a germanic language ?

Awe: An emotion of mingled reverence' date=' dread, and wonder inspired by something majestic or sublime.

 

Awesome: Inspiring awe, full of awe, of greatness

 

Awful: Extremely bad or unpleasant, terrible horrible and dreadful

 

So basically, if you have some awe, it is fantasic and good. But if you are full of awe, it is a horrible and bad. What gives? [/quote']

 

'Awesome' means inspiring awe and 'awful' means filling with awe. 'Awesome' didn't mean 'of greatness' until colloquial usage changed 'awful' to focus on the dread aspect of awe (i.e. dreadful = awful). 'Awesome' became the opposite of 'awful' by proxy.

 

You can blame Robert Fludds King James bible for that, if you want the source. It was the first time the language was written down in context for any particular length.

 

If most english words are from latin why is it considered a germanic language ?

 

That's really more to do with sentence structure than the origin of words. We put the language back to front compared to, say, French. The grammar is Germanic rather than Latin based, unlike the French.

 

Example:-

 

'I don't understand' in french is 'Je ne comprends pas'

 

The literal translation would be 'I comprehend not' (if we ignore the verb during translation).

 

The English language is quite basic in comparison to most, and is more akin to German than any other. Keep in mind that we are really Celts and Saxons in England, and the Celts/Saxons have their own language. We also have a lot of Norse in the mix. English is just something we tacked together later on. Sort of a muddle based on German, Latin, Norwegen and the guy wandering past the window.

I still think Esperanto would be a bettre language to use.

If most english words are from latin why is it considered a germanic language ?

OK, whatever, most "European" languages are rooted in Latin. And Ancient Greek.

 

Better?

The English language is quite basic in comparison to most, and is more akin to German than any other. Keep in mind that we are really Celts and Saxons in England, and the Celts/Saxons have their own language. We also have a lot of Norse in the mix. English is just something we tacked together later on. Sort of a muddle based on German, Latin, Norwegen and the guy wandering past the window.

Don't forget French. There's been a lot of French input due to William the Bastard.

French, which basically is Latin

Is it? I never new that. I know Spanish and Italian are strongly Latin based, but I thought French evolved from the Gauls (Gallic). Well, there y'go. Learn summat every day.

Yes. The not-so-indomitable gauls.