Can any etymologists out there answer this?
Why do we ‘lead’, but are ‘led’, yet we ‘read’ and have ‘read’? The latter in each case are past tense.
Am I a sad bastard for even thinking about this?
I only asked…
Clare.
Written by Walter W. Skeat, abridged from his larger work.
‘Lead’ comes from ‘lode’, which, while it has a definition of “a vein of ore” or “a water course,” essentially means just “course.” That is, lode indicates a path or travelling. I believe it comes from the Middle English by way of Archaic Swedish word for journey.
‘Read’ comes from Middle English (reden) for counsel, persuade, to advise. Also probably from Archaic Swedish.
Both have different past tense forms in A.S., which is where I’m stuck. I don’t have enough linguistic fervor, off-hand, to investigate tenses in A.S.
I hope that helps.
Welcome to the SDMB, Clare.
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Enjoy your stay!
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