Word of The Day, For Ogg

[dr_mabeuse]

I subscribe to Mirriam-Webster's "Word of the Day" feature in E-mail. Today's entry is of course commonly heard in the halls of Lit thanks to the tireless work of our own great medievalist, Ogg Bashon...


The Word of the Day for July 18 is:


garderobe \GAR-drohb\ noun

1 : a wardrobe or its contents
2 : a private room : bedroom
*3 : privy, toilet

Example sentence:
"On our tour of Castle Rushen, begun in 1200 and enhanced over the years, [caretaker Ian] McKinlay made sure to point out the garderobe — because nature calls, even in a castle...." (Gemma Tarlach, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 25, 2004)
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Did you know?
"Garderobe" entered the English language in the 15th century and continues in use to this day, though its frequency has diminished significantly since the 19th century. Originally, its primary duty was to provide English speakers with a word for a room or closet in which to store clothing. Later, by extension, it was used for private bedrooms and bathrooms. Today you are most likely to encounter the word in a description of an old castle, such as our example sentence. "Garder," the French word for "guard" on which "garderobe" is based, has also served English well by directly contributing to the formation of such words as "award," "guard," "regard," and, yes, "wardrobe."

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.

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[cantdog]

Garder is usually used to mean "to keep." The two meanings overlap some, but in most French sentences using garder, the English "guard" would be a poor translation.

"Wardrobe" should clue you in that "ward" is from the same French root. "Ward" and "warden" and others.

It must have been pleasant when "garderobe" came up as the word of the day!

 

[CeriseNoire]

Actually, "garder" is still very much in use in the sense of to guard. It's just a matter of context. (Also in the larger sense of "to keep watch on", as in "garder les enfants").
While it is the most common word for the English 'to keep', when speaking of guarding something, it is the verb most commonly used. For example, "Watch the door" would translate as "Garde la porte". A guard, would be 'le/la garde'
Anyway, that's it for Cerise's pointless French Lesson of the Day.

 

[oggbashan]

The smell kept the moths away.

For those who haven't read it, try my poem: The Garderobe

Og