Talk:espeier
Add topicLatest comment: 14 years ago by Mglovesfun in topic Definition inconsistency
Definition inconsistency
[edit]Currently this is listed as an alternative form of 'espier' meaning 'to watch' as defined there. However, espeier is linked to from spayen. Specifically, the entry is:
- From the Anglo-Norman espeier, equivalent to the Old French espeer (“to cut with a sword”), from espee (“sword”), whence the Modern French épée.
This lead me to believe that the etymology of espeier was related to swords rather than watching. Are one of these entries mistaken, are they both correct? Currently I think anyone researching the etymological roots would be confused as I am. Dictabeard 20:22, 2 November 2010 (UTC)
- Old French spelling is very inconsistent, therefore two words with identical spellings can have different meanings. The 'cut with a sword' meaning just needs some sort of citation. Mglovesfun (talk) 08:55, 8 November 2010 (UTC)