words: etymology as a criterion discussion

As a lover of words, I tend to respond to the word's sound as well as it's meaning. Zaftig has a very sensous sound quality. It literally means "juicy or succulent" and most often refers to a woman with Rubenesque (sp?) physical attributes. I can also imagine it referring to dreamscapes and to musical compositions. I feel that DeBussey's La Mer has a zaftig quality to it.

Some great books on Yiddish are Born to Kvetch: Yiddish Language and Culture in All of Its MoodsHow to Be a Mentsh (And Not a Shmuck): Secrets of the Good Life from the Most Unpopular People on EarthThe Joys of Yiddish