Mysteries of vernacular: Gorgeous - Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel
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0:13 - 0:15Mysteries of vernacular:
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0:15 - 0:17Gorgeous,
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0:17 - 0:20beautiful or very attractive.
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0:20 - 0:22The source of the word gorgeous
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0:22 - 0:24can be found in the Latin word, gurges,
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0:24 - 0:26used by the Romans to describe
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0:26 - 0:29a whirling, swirling whirlpool.
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0:29 - 0:32Thanks to the aquatic phenomenon's cylindrical shape
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0:32 - 0:34and gurgling form,
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0:34 - 0:38gurges also came to mean throat.
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0:38 - 0:42By the time gurges reached England in the 14th century,
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0:42 - 0:45it had been altered to gorge.
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0:45 - 0:48This, to the English, seemed like an appropriate way
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0:48 - 0:51to describe a steep and rocky ravine,
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0:51 - 0:53a metaphorical extension of the words
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0:53 - 0:55referenced to the throat.
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0:55 - 1:00The French, however, transformed gorge into gorgias
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1:00 - 1:02and used it to describe
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1:02 - 1:03one of the most fashionable trends
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1:03 - 1:05of the Middle Ages,
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1:05 - 1:08also known as a wimple.
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1:08 - 1:10This popular article of clothing
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1:10 - 1:12revealed only the madame's visage,
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1:12 - 1:14covering her shoulders,
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1:14 - 1:14head,
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1:14 - 1:17and, of course, her throat .
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1:17 - 1:20A stylish and intricate gorgias
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1:20 - 1:22was so telling of class and affluence
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1:22 - 1:25that the word soon came to mean
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1:25 - 1:28fond of dress and elegant.
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1:28 - 1:30This newly fashioned adjective
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1:30 - 1:34voyaged into Middle English as gorgayse,
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1:34 - 1:38where it was fully anglicized as gorgeous.
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1:38 - 1:41Since then, it has been linked to all things
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1:41 - 1:44of exceptionally graceful allure.
- Title:
- Mysteries of vernacular: Gorgeous - Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel
- Description:
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View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/mysteries-of-vernacular-gorgeous-jessica-oreck-and-rachael-teel
From whirlpools and ravines to superlative beauty, what is the trajectory of the word gorgeous? Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel reveal the surprising variations in meaning (and what turtleneck-like fashion has to do with it).
Lesson by Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel, animation by Jessica Oreck.
- Video Language:
- English
- Team:
- closed TED
- Project:
- TED-Ed
- Duration:
- 02:01
Jessica Ruby edited English subtitles for Mysteries of vernacular: Gorgeous - Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel | ||
Valérie Boor commented on English subtitles for Mysteries of vernacular: Gorgeous - Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel | ||
Bedirhan Cinar approved English subtitles for Mysteries of vernacular: Gorgeous - Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel | ||
Jessica Ruby edited English subtitles for Mysteries of vernacular: Gorgeous - Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel | ||
Jessica Ruby edited English subtitles for Mysteries of vernacular: Gorgeous - Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel | ||
Andrea McDonough added a translation |
Valérie Boor
Could it be that the speaker said
@1:34 - 1:38
"where it was fully anglicized as gorgeous."
instead of:
1:34 - 1:38
"where it was fully emphasized as gorgeous."