Krzysztof Kotynia wrote: > > > >> My wife and I saw a delightful French movie, "Amelie". A Gnome was in > > the movie. Does anyone know if the word is related to the word gnomon? ....
Maybe it is. I have just been to my reference library to consult my countryman Eric Partridge on this matter. In his "Origins: a Short Etymological Dictionary of the English Language" [1966 edition] his first entry for the word "gnome" is the 16th century Latin reference by Paracelsus (a German-speaking scholar born in Switzerland) and explains that his "gnomus" is perhaps from the Greek "gnome" meaning intelligent and adds that gnomes were reputedly intelligent. He continues. "The syllable "gnom-" occurs also in Greek "gnomon", a knower, hence a SUNDIAL's index (knower of time) and carpenter's square. Altogether he gives 8 uses of "gnome" and I have reproduced the relevant two, although all the others include the meaning "know". Hope this helps. Sounds convincing to me. (I have always thought of gnomes as first wily/wise. The diminutive size of a gnome is shared with a "dwarf" but a "gnome" is also "knowing".) Maria Brandl Mallacoota Australia -
