In the following words, we trace the common origin of the Greek and Gothic languages.
Kardia} Kear } heart Ki[=o] hie Kale[=o] hail, call Koilas hollow K[=e]das heed, care Kerdas hire Keras horn, herald Axine ax Ophrun frown Pur fire Platus plate Xeras fear Mignu[=o] mingle Eile[=o] heal, hail Kair[=o] cheer Gonu knee Knix gnat Z[=e]te[=o] seek
The reader will find no difficulty in believing these words to be from the same root, when he is told that the Greeks and the northern nations of Europe pronounced with a strong guttural aspirate; and that _k_ among the Greeks was often a mere aspirate, like _h_. Thus the Romans often pronounced _c_; for which reason that letter is often omitted, and _h_ substituted in modern English. _Curro_ and _hurry_ are the same word; and so are _cornu_ and _horn_; _Carolus_ and _Harold_.
'Oinos vinum wine Dama[=o] domo tame Zeugos jugum yoke Upper super upper Gno[=o]} nosco } know Ginosko} cognosco}
Some old people still pronounce the _k_ in _know_.
In the following, the Welsh differ from the Greek in the prepositives or initial mutes; but they are clearly from the same root.
Stoma saman mouth Ikanos digon sufficient Ark[=e] d'erke beginning Air[=o] d'uyrey arise Platun lhydon broad Papyrun bruyn rushes Trek[=o] rhedeg run Petalon dalen loaf[139]
In the following words, the Welsh are nearer the Greek than the Latin; yet all came from one stock.
Helios heil sol sun Hypnos hyn, heppian somnus sleep Halon halen sal salt Hamolos hamal similis like Bounos ban mons mountain Kleas klad. _Cornish_, klas laus praise Pepto pobo coquo cook Hyle hely sylva woods Krios kor aries ram
These words are incontestibly the same, with mere dialectical variations. All are branches of the same stock, yet neither can claim the honor of being that stock.
But the most curious etymological analysis ever exhibited perhaps in any language, is that found in Gebelin's works. Take the following specimens.
In the primitive language (of Europe) the monosyllable _tar_, _ter_, _tor_ or _tro_, for it appeared under these forms, signified _force_. It was composed of _t_ and _ar_ or _d'ar_, _roughness_, _rapidity_. Hence _tar_ expressed the idea of force, with the collateral ideas of violence, rigor, grandeur, &c. From _tar_ are derived, _taurus_, a bull; _torrent_, _target_, _trunk_, _truncare_, to cut off; _terror_, _trepan_, _tare_, _detriment_, _trancher_, to cut; _retrench_; _tardus_, _tardy_, _retard_, _tergum_, because things heavy, that require force, were carried upon the back; _intrigue_, for it implies difficulties; _trop_, too much, _troop_, _ter_, _trois_, which originally signified a multitude; for many savage nations have names only for the three first numbers; _tierce_, _tres_, very; _tresses_, a braid or plait of hair in three divisions; _triangle_, _tribunal_, _tribe_, _attribute_, _contribute_, &c. _trident_, _trillion_, _trio_, _trinity_, _entre_, _enter_, taken from a relation of three objects, _one_ between _two_, makes a _third_; hence _internal_, _external_, _travers_, across; _tradition_, passing from one to another; _traffic_, _trahir_, to draw; _traitor_, _trepidation_, _intrepid_. From _tra_, between, and _es_, it is, came the Celtic, _treh_, a narrow pass, a _strait_, _strict_, Fr. _etroit_, _astringent_, _detroit_, strait; _distress_, _strength_. The compounds are numerous. _Intrinsic_, _entrails_, _introduce_, _extraneous_, _extravagant_, _transcendent_, _transfer_, _transform_, _transgress_, _transact_, _translate_, _transmit_, _transmigrate_, _transmutation_, &c.