E 0261          DISSOLVE,  SOLUTION

The words " dissolve" and " solution ( via Old French )" are of Latin origin .

H 0658         ל ש נ

Concept of root : to dissolve

Hebrew word

pronunciation

English meanings

ל ש נ

nashal

to dismiss, dissolve

Related English words

to dissolve, solution

Comparison between European words and Hebrew

Languages

Words

Pronunciation

English meanings

Similarity in roots

Hebrew

ל ש נ

nashal

to dismiss, dissolve

n . sh . l

Latin

solvere

solvere

to dismiss, dissolve

s . l v

English

solution;  to dissolve  

solution;

to dissolve

s . l (u) ;

s . l v

 

 

Proto-Semitic *NASHAL < *SHALÀ --- *SOL-U-O Latin

 

 

The concept is that of "to dissolve" in many senses, both literal and figurative. To detach, to disengage, to set free, to pay (freeing from debt) are among these.

 

Hebrew "nashal" has an initial N, but that is a prefix. The basic meaning is carried by the combination of the other two consonants, "SH and L", as demonstrated by the existence of another verb with approximately the same meaning : " ש ל ח , shalagh " that today is used for "to send, ship" and in its intensive form "shillègh" means "to discharge, dismiss". In Biblical times it was still used as well for : "to disengage, take out, expell, detach", all transitive and intransitive. The intensive form was especially reserved for the concept of expulsion.

 

 

Note:
  • Latin and Hebrew. Latin "solvere" covers many of the same meanings as Hebrew "nashal" and "shalagh". But its root "S L U/V" looks more like another Hebrew one," ש ל ו, SH L W ". That root has given words like "shalev = calm, undisturbed, unworried", and " shalewà = quietness, security, thoughtlessness", also expressed by another noun: "shalu".

     

    Interesting is the comparison between the two verbs. We keep in mind that the Romans considered the U and the V one letter, that was pronounced more like V or like U according to the case and the position in a word. In Hebrew the same was valid for the letter Waw, " ו " that is transcribed as "W", but changes all the time between the sounds O, U,W, V and even F. Now Latin "solvere" comes from "soluere", and the U-sound was part of the root: "S . L . V". The Hebrew sister of this old Latin root was " SH L W", very near to Latin. This root then has developed further, abolished the W and became written " ש ל ה , shalà ". Its message was still that of serenity, contentness and undisturbed peace. This has remained in Modern Hebrew, but in a number of flexions we still find an I-sound (English EE) as a remainder of the old Waw. Many times, in particular at the beginning of words, but also in verbal flexions the Hebrew W instead of becoming an U has developed into an "Ī " again, a vowel as in English "beer".

 

Note:
  • Proto-Semitic. This root is found in Aramaic " נ ש י ל, nashil = he cast out (from the house)". The part "SH L" , is also found in related roots like " ש ל ל , SH L L = " remove" , "to deprive", "to draw out ". These two are also related between them. They are as well found in one or more of the above meanings in Arabic "nasala = it fell off (hair, feathers)" and "salla = he pulled out, withdrew", in which one notes the consonant " S " instead of " SH ". Akkadian " shalālu = to deprive, spoil".

     

    Probably " * ש ל ה, SH L H (accentuated vowel)" and possibly also "* ש ל ל, SH L L" and "* נ ש ל , N SH L" were used in Proto-Semitic.

 

Note:
  • Latin. Scholars have had some trouble with the etymology of "solvere". The current view is that it is a composition of a prefix "se"or "sed" and the verb "luo" . But this verb does not cover the basic meanings we are dealing with. It is specialized in the more consequential one of "to pay, atone". Besides this, "sed" means "without" or "but" . All this does not mean that there is no relationship, also with words like English "loose", but that would take us a bit too far from our subject. The similarity between "solvere" and Hebrew remains very clear.

 

Note:
  • Indo-European. With the etymology of Latin "solvere" remaining unclear, we have no information that allows a hypothesis for an Indo-European predecessor. The comparison stays between Semitic and Latin.

 

 

 

 

 
"...the town, to which was given the name Babel, because it was there that the Lord confused the language of all the world on the face of which He dispersed them. GENESIS 11,9"
 
Created: Tuesday 6 November 2007 at 22.30.54 Updated: Thursday 7 February 2013 at 16.02.43