Alan (on cat-sitting hiatus) Teder’s Reviews > Gently Where the Roads Go > Status Update
Alan (on cat-sitting hiatus) Teder
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‘The ancillary trades,’ Withers said. ‘But never mention it in their hearing. The word means a female slave, you know, and there’d be a riot if someone told them.’
— May 20, 2023 01:18AM
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Alan (on cat-sitting hiatus) Teder
is 99% done
‘I know a lot about killers,’ Gently said. ‘They’re lonely people, they daren’t trust anyone. And so they’re never to be trusted. Once a man goes through that gate he leaves all common claim behind him. His way back leads by the gallows or by what penalty the law provides. Until then he acts humanity like a wolf in a sheepskin. But he doesn’t have it. He’s an exile. When the wind blows on him, he’ll kill again.
— May 20, 2023 11:37PM
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I don't know what era of Latin ancillae comes from, but if it was Ancient Rome, then presumably all the servants in a household were slaves.
Alan wrote: "I don't know what era of Latin ancillae comes from, but if it was Ancient Rome, then presumably all the servants in a household were slaves."Yes, of course. But Latin was used all the way up to the end of the middle ages as an everyday language, which means the original meaning didn't have to apply to later usage.
Like the word "awesome" originally meant "profoundly referential" (1590) then "inspiring dread or fear" (1670) and now "fantastically good" (1960s). (this is from etymonline.com)
So, does that mean that awesome only means "profoundly referential"? Or does it have other meanings depending on place and time, but that all still retain an element of the original "something worthy of great respect"?
(Actually, the translation is not quite right. It more means female servant. If she was a slave or not was dependent on time and place - which you probably know!)