Re: "par coeur" origin


retrosorter wrote:
Paul J Kriha wrote:
retrosorter <hrichler@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1145213252.994085.33590@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The organ of memory (along with some other functions) was the heart
--for a longish time.


Do you have any French citation that alludes ti this?

One, out of many examples:
The word "record" is originally from the Latin "cor"
suggesting links between heart and both memory
(original meaning) and written documents.

pjk


Once we're on the "by heart" subject, why is it that some people say
"off by heart?" Is it merely idiomatic with no logical explanation?

In M.E. the word "courage" referred not only to what we think of as
physical bravery, but its origin in thought and the mind, despite also
being cognate with "heart".

The use might also have been somewhat metaphoric -- since words like
"core" also mean "at the centre" as well as being cognate with heart.
Knowing something as if it were at the centre of your being would be
rather more solid than reading it from an external source. Of course,
I'm speculating here.

TOF

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: "par coeur" origin
    ... Do you have any French citation that alludes ti this? ... suggesting links between heart and both memory ... Once we're on the "by heart" subject, why is it that some people say ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: "par coeur" origin
    ... The organ of memory was the heart ... --for a longish time. ... Do you have any French citation that alludes ti this? ...
    (sci.lang)
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