The origin of "abandon" and "random"

Modern English ban and related lexemes will be shown to have their origin in common with abandon, the latter of disputed etymology. This applies to a still greater extent to random, for the origin of which a plausible solution will be presented. A last paragraph is devoted to the etymology of Modern English PLAN

Phonological aspects of the integration of Romance loans in English

English lexemes containing intrusive nasal consonants mostly have a difficult origin in common. In what follows (part I), the relevant word material will be ordered according to its phonological structure. In principle we follow the ordering of Gustav Muthmann’s Reverse English Dictionary. Based on Phonological and Morphological Principles of 2002. In cases such as jig v. and its frequentative jiggle v., paralleled by most probably related and nearly synonymous jog v. and its frequentative joggle v., the attested forms are not only rare but also late. Therefore, we have been constrained to base some etymologies on roots, mostly of imitative origin. In part II, some French loan verbs, which show unusual retention of Old French -er/-re in Middle English, will be examined

Phonological aspects of the integration of Romance loans in English

English lexemes containing intrusive nasal consonants mostly have a difficult origin in common. In what follows (part I), the relevant word material will be ordered according to its phonological structure. In principle we follow the ordering of Gustav Muthmann’s Reverse English Dictionary. Based on Phonological and Morphological Principles of 2002. In cases such as jig v. and its frequentative jiggle v., paralleled by most probably related and nearly synonymous jog v. and its frequentative joggle v., the attested forms are not only rare but also late. Therefore, we have been constrained to base some etymologies on roots, mostly of imitative origin. In part II, some French loan verbs, which show unusual retention of Old French -er/-re in Middle English, will be examined

Further Problems in the Integration of Anglo-French Loanwords

The present study in a way continues an earlier article by the present writer entitled “Problems in the integration of Anglo-French loanwords” (Diensberg 2011: 109–145). That article dealt with the phonological reception of Old French loanwords. It focussed on the structures vowel plus -ff, -fl, -ft, which are mostly due to borrowing from French (including Latin and Greek) and, occasionally, from other Germanic languages or dialects. Their position and ultimately their integration in the Middle English phonological system will be examined. The structures vowel plus -ff, -fl, -ft may be at most peripheral within native word stock (see Muthmann 2002: 64b; 107c–108c; 264c–265b). Here, loanwords of the structure -er + C- 4 -ar + C- are discussed

The Origin of Aroint and Other -oint-Words in English

Regarding the word form AROI NT, I am going to propose an etymological base for it in the group of French loanwords of the structure OI N + consonant. As far as verbal loans are concerned, the root -oint can either stand for the 3rd pers. sing. pres. ind. or for the past participle of Old French verbs of the type poindre ‘to pierce, prick; to sting, bite’ (AND: poindre), uindre, oindre ‘to anoint; to rub, smear’ (AND1: oindre). Apart from a short Bibliography, the Appendix contains a selection of illustrative material